How to Bind your Notebooks…

This week I made a big purchase.

There has been something on my homeschool “wishlist” for quite some time.

I’ve spent the last year rationalizing away the cost.

Quietly planning all the different projects that I would use it for.

Promising myself that I would get my monies worth.

Do you know what it is yet?

It’s a binding machine!

It does things to my e-books that a stapler NEVER could.

(Oh sweet notebooking heaven)

I can’t believe it has taken me this long to get one!

So wondering how it works?

Here’s the deal:

Step 1: Print up your e-book.

Make sure to use cardstock for a cover page, and a back page.
(note: you can get special coverpages at the store if you want)

Step 2: Load your weapon:

This means you put your curly binding comb between the prongs,
pull the special lever to open it

Step 3: Poke all your holes:

For my machine that means entering the paper like so

And pulling down the big handle.

Crunch.

All the papers are stored in a drawer inside the machine. No mess.
(note: my particular machine can handle up to 10 sheets at a time)

Step 4: Start assembling your book.
Slide your freshly punched papers onto the open prongs of your binding comb.
(the black curly thing you opened in step 2)

Step 5: Continue until you have all the pages you want included.

Step 6: Release side lever and the binding comb closes back up.

Step 7: Enjoy your fancy looking notebook!


If your interested here is the machine that I purchased.
It’s called Fellowes Star Manual Comb Binding Machine
I also picked up some different sized combs:

Fellowes Plastic Comb Bindings
Note: Combs come in different capacity…
Some do up to 55 pages, some up to 150 pages.
You want to get a variety, but I use the 55page and 90pages the most!

Pssst: Like my garden notebook?
STAY TUNED!!

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Comments (5)

  • Sallie @ A Quiet Simple Life Reply

    This has been on my wish list, too. I looked at them last week at Office Max and couldn’t quiiiiite bring myself to pull the trigger. But I have a feeling I will shortly. :-)

    July 18, 2012 at 5:16 am
  • Tina Marie Reply

    I bought the exact same binding machine a few months ago for many of the same reasons. I also used it to bind the tests for my kids math programs and some free online literature units. It is one of the best purchases I have ever made.

    July 18, 2012 at 6:40 am
  • Jodi Reply

    Why must you show me these amazing things . . . be still my heart. I now have a binding machine on my wish list. You made me want a Kindle . . . now this. Sigh.

    July 19, 2012 at 4:47 am
  • Trish Reply

    I bought a comb-binder years ago, best purchase I ever made!

    July 23, 2012 at 9:53 am
  • Jenny Kurtz Reply

    I am drooling! This has been on my wish list for the last year! I am in the process of putting together my own homeschool planner & was thinking of going to a office store to get it bound this next week. Maybe I should just break down & buy my own binding machine instead! I know I would use it a ton! We have a lot of notebooking & E-Books that are laying around that need to be bound. Thanks for sharing your pics of your machine, gives me some ideas on what to buy! Happy Homeschooling!!!! :)

    August 4, 2012 at 2:27 pm

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