The Akiles Megabind 2 is a heavy-duty legal sized manual plastic comb binding machine, made by Akiles, a manufacturer of equipment with a reputation for high-quality desktop binding systems. Legal sized comb binders can be difficult to find, and well-made, well-engineered legal-sized comb binders are nearly impossible to find, but your search can end with the Megabind 2. The machine is similar to its predecessor, the Akiles Megabind 1, but includes a built-in wire closer for added functionality. This additional feature makes the Megabind 2 more efficient, easier and a bit more like the older, highly-popular Ibico binding machines.

Features:

This manual plastic comb binding machine has disengageable dies, giving you the ability to punch any length of document up to 14 inch with a single punch. In addition, the machine's open-throat design allows you to punch longer documents with a two step punch process. The features don't end with lengths of documents, however, but also with depth. The Megabind 2 has a depth of margin control, which allows you to choose the distance of the holes from the edge of the paper.

The Megabind 2 also offers a heavy-duty legal length plastic comb opener, and a wire closer that allows it to be used with 19 loop spiral O wire, or ibiwire, as it is sometimes known. . This feature is specifically for a 19 loop comb binding pattern, which the majority of comb binding machines cannot accommodate. This gives the Megabind 2 an edge over the competition, and makes the machine unique in its class to provide excellent added value.

Finally, the Megabind 2 Includes a convenient size selector on the binding table. This additional feature will allow you to choose the right size of spine for your documents, quickly and consistently - every time. This is truly a sought-after and valuable feature in a binding machine.

Limitations:

The Megabind 2 is well-built, extremely functional machine, but it does have a few limitations. For instance, it can only bind documents up to 9/16" with spiral o wire. Documents larger than 9/16" will need to be bound with combs, not wire, which can be a problem depending on your preferences.

In addition, the spiral-o wire is more difficult to come by that either plastic combs or standard twin loop wire, and you can't purchase the standard 3:1 pitch wire at all for the machine - so buying the right supplies for this machine is critical.

The manual punch on this machine is great for low to medium volume users, but not efficient for high volume production, where an electric machine would be better suited. In addition, the horizontal wire closer is a little bit more difficult to use and master than the vertical variety on most Akiles wire binding machines.

Construction:

Like other Akiles models, this machine is extremely well-built, with heavy duty all metal construction. This includes the solid, well-made wire closer that holds-up very well for moderate binding volume, although higher-volume users may consider a heavy- duty stand-alone-wire closer instead. If you are a medium-sized operation, however, with a low to medium volume, the Megabind 2 is exactly the type of binding machine you need.

Even though this machine is backed by a 1-year Akiles warranty, its very doubtful that you will ever need it. The quality of this wonderfully-made biding machine is really that incredible. The Megbind 2 is truly built to last, and last it does.

Recommendation:

This machine is an excellent value and is highly-recommended among manual plastic comb binding machines. It gives you the ability to use plastic combs, spiral-o wire and Zipbind spines and holds up under a great deal of use. Even with it's heavy-duty construction, however, the Megabind 2 It should not be used to punch more than 2 clear covers at a time or to punch metal, wood or other non paper materials. Other than these minor limitations, the Megabind 2 is a great value and a big bang for your buck!