Reviewing the Akiles DuoMac 421 Combination 4:1 Pitch Coil and 2:1 Pitch Wire Binding Machine

By: Jeff McRitchie
Submitted: 2009-11-06 15:15:16
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The Akiles DuoMac 421 is a combination binding system that offers medium volume users with three different binding styles. Here is a list of what we consider to be some of the strengths and weaknesses of the DuoMac 421.

Strengths:

1. All told, you can bind documents in three different styles with the DuoMac 421. First of all, using the 4:1 pitch punch, you can make books that utilizing standard four to one pitch spiral coil. The 2:1 pitch punch function allows for the corresponding twin loop wire, and you can also use it to bind thick books if you use 0.400 pitch spiral coils.
2. On the four to one side, you'll find a thirteen inch throat with a strategically-placed five disengageable pins. Depending on which pins you choose to disengage, you will be able to bid documents that are the more common letter and legal sized, as well as A4, A5, and half letter sized documents.
3. The two to one side is fourteen inches in length, and gives you the ability to disengage whichever punching pins you choose, meaning that you can punch documents up to fourteen inches in length.
4. Both of the DuoMac 421's punches feature open-throated designs which means that using a fairly easy two step process, you can punch documents of just about any size. In order to do that, all you will have to do is to punch one side of your stack, then flip it over and punch the other.
5. Akiles saw fit to include a really high-quality wire closer on the front of the DuoMac 421. With a lot of the other wire closers we have seen over the years, we've doubted their durability and have seen some of them start to lose accuracy over short periods of time. The high quality steel construction of these wire closers, however, left us impressed, and we see no reason why they shouldn't last a good many years.
6. Along those same lines, we have to say that we appreciated the fact that Akiles includes a pair of crimping pliers with the DuoMac 421. These pliers are essential to the process of spiral coils binding, and a thirty dollar value to boot, which is nothing to sneeze at.

Weaknesses:

1. One thing that we missed having on the DuoMac 421 is a spiral coil inserter. Spinning your coils onto you document by hand is no bid deal if you are only doing a few (and we mean a very few), but if you are going to be producing any sort of volume at all, you will need to look for a standalone coil inserter. Akiles recommends that the Roll @ Coil be purchased to go along with the DuoMac 421. It's not a very expensive addition, but it is something that you should be aware of.
2. Because it includes so many features, inexperienced users may be a little intimidated by the look and operation of the DuoMac 421. It's got handles and levers and buttons all over the place and looks perhaps a little bit like a misplaced octopus. You really won't have much trouble figuring it out, though, just be aware that it will just take a little bit of a learning curve.

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