3-Hole Punch – Product Review 002

Almost all (nine out of ten) of the 3-hole punches that I personally tested worked.  They met the houseoforder.com criteria of punching three symmetrically round holes in 20 sheets of 20 lb. bond printer paper. But the more I punched, the more it started to matter to me how it felt to punch those 20 sheets of paper.  Did I have to put my foot up on the desk for leverage?  Did I run the risk of dislocating my arm while performing this operation? I concluded that these would not be preferable for the general population.

My New Criteria: Ergonomically Correct

According to Dictionary.com, ergonomics means “an applied science that coordinates the design of devices, systems, and physical working conditions with the capacities and requirements of the worker.”  Yes, ergonomics was what I was looking for in a 3-hole punch.  With today’s technology, couldn’t they make a 3-hole punch that takes the strength of only one arm?

Other Extras to Look For

Might as well throw in some helpful features, too: a lock to keep the arm of the punch closed (this makes it more compact and easier to store) and a simple emptying mechanism.

Swingline Light Touch. Photo courtesy amazon.com.

First Choice

Such an invention exists: the Swingline Light Touch®. It has all the features I mentioned above—one arm usage and a lock; except the emptying mechanism isn’t the most convenient–you have to pull off a piece of rubber that covers the bottom.  Make sure you look around, though, the price for the same model varied from $28.99 down to $13.99.

It’s carried at Office Max stores and online. I also found it at Office Depot (but I couldn’t  find it on their website). Both locations had it listed for around $25.00.  I got lucky; in September 2010 I found the exact same one at the Costco in Sandy, Utah for $13.99 and snatched it right up.  I also found a comparable deal on Amazon.com.

Staples One Touch. Photo courtesy staples.com.

Second Choice

There’s also the Staples® One Touch™ at Staples for $14.99. It was easy to use, has a lock, and an emptying drawer.  However, it costs substantially more online at Staples.com: $32.99. I think it looks a little weird, too.

OXO Good Grips. Photo courtesy staples.com

Third Choice

I also like OXO Good Grips™ at Staples because it’s more compact and looks nice, but it is not as easy to use as the first two I have mentioned.  It would be my third choice if the first two are unavailable.

In Short

When you are looking for 3-hole punches, just remember: ergonomics. The next time you have to punch 20 sheets of paper at once, you’ll have me to thank.

If you have comments or questions, please feel free to write stephanie@houseoforder.com.

©2010 Stephanie Kelley/www.houseoforder.com, 091310