Seeking compact professional looseleaf binder

February 21, 2008 8:57 PM

Where can I buy an attractive, compact loose-leaf binder that uses standard lined or graphed paper? I want something I can carry around with me that is suitable for business settings, does not contain proprietary personal organizer sheets, is not as thick as the Manhattan Yellow Pages, and is not outrageously overpriced.

Something like this would be pretty good, but I can't for the life of me find simple lined or graph paper to put into it.

The Levenger Circa products are ok (they are compact and the sheets of paper can be moved around and replaced), but I'd prefer leather or vinyl to open-backed cardboard and the paper refills are proprietary and outrageously expensive.

This place seems to have small standard loose-leaf binders I could use if I didn't care about looking professional (which I do).

DYI Planner has all sorts of tips if I wanted to make something myself with duct tape, a paper cutter, and a three-hole punch. But I don't. I want to buy something.

What I really want is a simple padfolio, but with a 1/2 inch three-ring binder in place of a pad of paper. Is that such an odd thing to want? I'm amazed that I can't find this anywhere.

Oh, preferred size is on the order of 6 x 9 inches.

posted by alms to Shopping (7 answers total)

If you're looking for something that is approximately 6x9 I'd have to say that you're already looking for something non-standard. I've thought about doing something similar in the past. What is likely to be the cheapest, easiest solution would be to get a nice Franklin-style binder and one of their specific hole punches. That way you could get plain paper in either 8.5x11 or cut it in half for a binder that's 5.5x8.5 and punch holes. The hole punching would likely be tedious. I've called Kinko's before to see what they would charge to do it for me and it was almost cost effective. Or you could use a drill press if you happen to have one lying around.

I ended up just getting a moleskine.
posted by ericales at 2:43 AM on February 22, 2008

An 8.5x11 binder could work, too, if it was relatively trim.
posted by alms at 6:00 AM on February 22, 2008

Oh, a moleskin won't cut it because I want to put in section dividers.
posted by alms at 6:00 AM on February 22, 2008

Franklin Covey is probably the best. I have a smaller zippered leather binder I bought about 5 years ago which is standard sized. This one was even still made in the US although they may have since shifted their manufacturing facilities. Still the quality is top notch and is a lifetime investment. There have been some I've seen made by Franklin that are over 50 years old. I spent over $100 on mine but consider it money well spent.
posted by JJ86 at 6:12 AM on February 22, 2008

This will provide templates for all manner of graph paper, in whatever size you like.
posted by Orb2069 at 6:59 AM on February 22, 2008

The 5.5 x 8.5 inch size is a standard size, but not one that you'll find lots of paper in. The paper you do find will be unnecessarily expensive. If you want graph paper that size, look for letter size graph paper and have your local Kinko's or equivalent cut it in half for you. You'll probably have to invest in a hole punch too, if your copy/print place won't punch the holes.

Franklin Covey is an option, but you may also want to check Day-Timer or DayRunner for other options. Visiting a few office supply places may turn up something that will work for you.

I use a plain black vinyl 3-ring binder in the 5.5 x 8.5 size as my planner, but it has 1 inch rings (Wilson Jones 79671). Lately I've been hoping to find a binder with 3/4" rings, but I'm not having any luck. Plain binders are available with 1/2" rings, but I don't know about nicer/fancier binders -- you may be stuck with 5/8" rings as your smallest option.
posted by flexiblefine at 7:29 AM on February 22, 2008

Flexiblefine: you can get a plain black vinyl 3-ring binder in the 5.5 x 8.5 size with 1/2" rings at Linton Labels, which I linked above. They also sell view binders, paper, and dividers. Maybe I'll give that a shot and see how it feels. At $5 it's not a lot to lose.
posted by alms at 9:29 AM on February 22, 2008