How to Use a Three-Hole Punch

Three-hole punches are a staple of every office and classroom. By using one, you can put your loose sheets into a binder, keeping them safe and organized. On the downside, they can also be messy and a headache to maintain. Most three-hole punches are of the same basic design--a slot on the side provides access for the paper, and a lever or button activates the punch.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Position your paper in the slot on the side of the punch and push down on the lever. This should push three even holes through your paper. Make sure you have your puncher on a hard, flat surface and that you push down with even pressure; failure to do so may make your holes not line up properly.

2. Experiment with the number of sheets of paper to see how many your puncher can handle. Most three-hole punches handle 5 to 8 pages at a time. Trying to punch through too thick a stack of paper can cause the three-hole punch to jam or not punch completely through.

3. Empty your puncher over a trash can. Nearly all punchers have a hole collection area where all of the punched paper bits are held. This needs to be emptied periodically, or the area will fill up and the puncher won't work effectively. If you aren't careful when you empty the trap, waste paper will fly everywhere.

4. Maintain your puncher in two ways. If the puncher seems to be sticking or you can hear the sounds of metal on metal when you punch, punch holes in a few sheets of wax paper to help with the problem. If the holes don't seem as crisp as they should be, you can sharpen the punchers by punching holes into a sheet of aluminum foil.

Tips & Warnings

• Many punches come with an adjustable slide near the paper slot. This allows you to adjust your slot for custom-sized paper. However, it can sometimes be a big pain to get back into the right position.