I had no business ordering another binding machine but I'm sure glad I did! I had seen several videos about the Cinch and how easy it was to use...and the more research I did, the more convinced I was I needed it. One of the most heavily-weighted reasons I decided to go ahead and purchase the Cinch is because it is made by We Are Memory Keepers - the same great company that produces the amazing Crop-o-dile and Corner Chomper. Both of those products are well built, strong, durable, and punch 'like butta', with no effort at all. I have been so pleased with them that I had confidence in the reliability and construction of the Cinch - sight unseen.
I think I found the last on-line store in Canada that had a unit available. In this case, given the cost of shipping and handling, it was a better deal than ordering from the States. I was quite surprised how heavy the package was when it arrived and pleased how substantial the Cinch is. While most of the comparison videos I've seen suggest the Cinch is preferable to the Bind-it-All, some mention (in a negative way) that the Cinch is too big. I feel its larger design offers more stability and punching power and see it as a positive trait. When I used the Cinch for the first time I was blown away by how simple it is and how effortlessly it punches. There are so many great features:
- You can customize the hole punching by engaging, or not, any of the 12 pull pegs
- The calculating is all done for you and printed right on the base of the tool - SO easy to use!
- There is a sliding measurement guide so longer projects are perfectly punched every time
- The paper is laid down flat for punching so it's easier and more accurate
- The handle is comfortable and large and the motion is smooth and easy
- There are binding wire hooks on the side which hold the wires while you load on the pages and covers
- Large waste bin catches all the punched paper and doesn't clog
- Binding is done with project horizontal - much easier than holding everything up in the air vertically
- Handle clips down for storage
This tool worked great the first time I used it. I wasn't frustrated by misaligned or unevenly punched holes, or stumped trying to figure out how to punch a longer project. The punching mechanism was smooth and effortless and went through card board and paper so easily (up to 20 sheets of printer paper at a time). I did find I needed to cinch the binding bar a few times to get the wires closed where I wanted them, and I didn't get perfect circles in my o-wires (but close) so I will work on that a bit.
I'm pleased the machine works with Zutter o-wires, but since the Cinch only compresses wires 3/4" up to 1-1/4", I will still be using my Bind-it-All for small projects and albums. I still do like the B-i-A and am glad I have both, but I think the Cinch is a wonderful product and I would highly recommend it if you plan on binding lots of larger projects. True to the advertising, it certainly does make binding a Cinch!