* The Fellowes Quasar 130 is a low cost, stylish 3:1 pitch double loop wire binding machine designed for small and medium offices that want to bind their own documents using twin loop wire.

* It includes a medium duty punch along with a wire closer all in a contemporary shell that is designed to blend into an office environment.

* Plus, the Quasar 130 offers an easy to use stylish alternative to the more industrial looking binding machines that are available from Akiles, Tamerica and DFG.

Strengths / Features:

* Although there are several things that are great about this machine, the thing that really sets it apart is its design. Most of the other pieces of wire binding equipment available on the market are awkward and industrial looking. The Quasar-130 offers sleek style lines and folds flat when the machine is not in use allowing it to be easily stored away without demanding large amounts of counter space.

* It has a convenient ergonomic handle that stretches across the front of the machine. This punching handle is designed for use by individuals who are both left and right handed.

* The Quasar 130 is capable of punching a respectable 15 sheets per lift. The model that we tested punched 12-15 sheets of 20lb paper fairly easily. Although there are certainly more powerful machines available on the market, 15 sheets is excellent for a machine that sells for under $300.

* This machine includes what appears to be decent quality wire closer. One of the biggest problems with less expensive wire binding machines is that the closers slip over time. In our testing there was no indication that this would be the case with the Quasar-130 and we have not heard any reports from customers about problems with the wire closer.

Weaknesses / Limitations:

* The Fellowes Quasar 130 is a 3:1 pitch twin loop wire binding machine. That means that it punches three holes per inch and is designed to be used with 32 loop twin loop wire binding spines. Three to one wire binding spines are available in sizes ranging from 3/16" up to 9/16" in diameter. Users who need to bind documents larger than 9/16" (approximately 130 sheets) will need to consider a 2:1 wire binding machine or a combination binding system such as the Akiles WireMac Duo Combo.

* This machine is designed for binding documents that are 11 inches in length. It does not have any disengageable punching pins. This means that it can not be used to punch documents that are shorter than eleven inches without leaving a partial hole on the edge of the document. It also can not be used to punch longer documents such as A4 size or legal size sheets.

* This machine will fit well in a medium sized office environment that needs to do occasional binding. However, the machine is made out of plastic and is not designed for high volume binding applications. Larger offices and production environments should really consider upgrading to a more industrial, all metal wire binding machine.

Recommendation:

* The Fellowes Quasar 130 wire binding machine is a high quality, low priced system that is an excellent choice for medium sized offices.

* This machine offers a professional and contemporary design that folds flat when it is not in use and can easily transported or stored.

* However, this machine is not a good choice for users who need to bind documents that are thicker than 9/16". It is also not a good choice for users that need to bind documents that are shorter or longer than eleven inches.

* It is also not a good choice for high volume applications or larger offices.