Refillable Notebooks

[broo...@gmail.com]

I've been recently thinking though my journaling/journal usage.
Currently, I regularly use a Lee Valley log book and a moleskine. A
bit of everything goes in the moleskine, from grocery lists to various
wrestlings in writing. Browsing hte Levenger catalog, I saw their
Infinity Journal, holding 600 pages, leather backing. The price is a
bit more than I like, $88. Refills, 2 per, are $28, 600 ppg each,
60lb paper. Nice, size is about the size of a classic planner or half
letter. The Stanley Pocket may work as well, 180 pgs 60lb paper.
Triple pack refills - $20.

As for my LV Logbook, it's usually doing work duty for genealogy
research, sermon notes, Sunday School notes, etc. I've found that as
I write these wrestlings, I'm coming and going. Writing them in the
Lee Valley breaks them up.

For the more serious thinking, and keeping, any other alternatives
that are refillable? I like Moleskines, but a bit of a different size
would be better. The large book is too big, small too small for many
things. Maybe a Miquelruis like I picked up my wife some time ago -
about 400 ppgs. I also may go the route of pocket Moleskine for
thinking, cahiers for the ephemera.

Any suggestions will be considered.

Thanks all,
jason

[JimL]

No, not scarcasm here, but a reality suggestion:

A three-ring binder. Plain or fancy. Then buy the best paper you can
find/afford, for pens, fp's, or computer printer. Athree-ring punch,
and computer to, if you like, customize with headings, lines, caldnar
pages,etc. It never runs out.

It helps if the office has a three-hole punch and a paper cutter
available.

I bought two cases of paper that I came across and liked (10 reams per
case), and that was three years ago. This paper, two colors, is for
my notebooks, correspondence (computer and handwritten), and cut in
half for personalized memo sheets. I estimate these two cases will
last me into retirement and beyond.

[van]

I don't know. It's kind of a pain to write on the left page of a 3ring
binder -- the rings get in the way (or the right page if you're left-
handed). Also he mentioned he was looking for maybe a more unique form
factor.

We have a GBC wirebinder here at work that I could see myself using,
but the spines and covers are a little expensive, so it's not cost-
effective for one-off productions.

[JimL]

On Jun 26, 3:44 pm, van <velcro...@mailcan.com> wrote:
> I don't know. It's kind of a pain to write on the left page of a 3ring
> binder -- the rings get in the way (or the right page if you're left-
> handed). Also he mentioned he was looking for maybe a more unique form
> factor.
>
> We have a GBC wirebinder here at work that I could see myself using,
> but the spines and covers are a little expensive, so it's not cost-
> effective for one-off productions.

-----------

Another idea, I had forgotten about. Years ago I worked for a place
that had its own printing room. They had industrial size paper
cutter -- coujld do a ream at a time. Then a rack press to hold down
a stack of paper, and you would take a brush and a jar of some kind of
rubberized goop to paint on the edge of the stack of paper. With
chipboard at the bottom, I printed and made personalized memo pads for
people. Always got compliments and requests for more.

I discovered that by using extra "goop" I cojuld make a book, top or
side bound, where used pages coujld be turned back and use the next,
and I had my own books. Some pages could be torn out, others remain.
I never thought about putting a cover on the top, as well as the
chipboard backing on the bottom.

I know various Kinkos and other places will custom cut paper for you,
and punch and bind with those plastic things. I wonder if they can
also do the padding.

I've been watching tghe Levenger catalogs with their Circa system. --
plastic rings and they sell a matching paper punch so you're not stuck
with ordering proprietary refills. I may try that some day, since I
like to use my own paper and could probably improvise on making
front and back covers.

Hmmm.... with computer printing custom pages, I may have an idea for
this year's office holiday gifts.

[broo...@gmail.com]

I've recently started using Circa/Rollabind and like it pretty well.
Still debating it's uses for me. I really like it for pre-printed
stuff. For instance, I do teaching and preaching on occasion at my
church. My notes are now printed in classic (1/2 letter) size, circa
punched and bound. No more having papers slip and fall! And they lay
flat wonderfully!

[JimL]

Brook -- Did you have to pay a fortune to get a starter system with
the Circa rings? Did you get their paper punch too?

> > this year's office holiday gifts.- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

[broo...@gmail.com]

I initially picked up the portable punch and the 1/4" rings. Built
the first system for my wife, a planner. She likes it, but isn't in
the swing to use it much yet. I'm going to try and find out why for
next year.

I've since bought the desk punch. Neither punch is cheap. I'm
waiting for discs from Rollabind, the company that makes them and owns
the patent (I believe). Their discs are cheaper and work with the
Circa punches. Their punches are the same cost as the Circa ones.

The startup costs are somewhat high, but after that, all you need are
discs (fairly cheap through Rollabind) and at least 24# paper. For my
wife's next, and maybe one I'm theorizing, I'll probably use 28#.

brookswv