Does The Binder Rings On Your Looseleaf Binder Hinder Your Writing?

[titan75]

Hi All,

 

Did a search and did not find anything similar to my problem.

 

I have a B5 26 rings looseleaf binder that I use since my school days. I always have trouble writing on the page to the left of the spine rings. I cannot use the space closer to the rings as my hand is block by it.

 

Am I the only one with this problem? How do you guys/gals deal with this? Or do you simply do not use the reverse side of the paper (with is on the left of the spine when flipped)?

 

 

 

Cheers,

Alan

[Newjelan]

I'm left handed and I avoid ring binders as much as possible. If I have to use one. I remove the paper from the binder to make it easier.

[Komitadjie]

That's the same approach I take, Newjelan. Smaller spiral-bound notebooks give me the same trouble, although larger ones aren't nearly so bad that way. Large in terms of paper size, not thickness. By and large I've solved the notebook problem by buying top-bound ones, and the binder problem by using a folder and loose leaves, then just STORING all the sheets in a ring binder after I'm done.

[Paddler]

I remove the paper from the binder to write on it. The written sheets go back into the binder between tabbed dividers.

[wikeh2004]

Binder rings such as you can find in Franklin-Covey, DayTimer, FiloFax, etc. planners or 3-ring binders always bothered me too when writing on the back side of the page. I would sometimes rotate the binder so my hand wouldn't hit the rings (I'm a rightie). Still a problem especially with smaller binders, as someone noted earlier. Spiral-wire bound notebooks not as bad because the spiral wasn't as big.

 

I've settled on using disc bound notebooks (Atoma, Levenger Circa, Rollabind, Staples Arc, Myndology,...). The discs are available in various sizes so you can make your own. I still found larger discs (>= 1" or 25 mm) to get in the way and have more or less standardized on 3/4" (19 mm) rings. And, because it's easy to remove and replace paper in a disc bound notebook, you can take the pages out to write on easily if necessary. Just need paper 80 gsm or heavier to withstand the handling.

 

I would think your 26 ring binder would be better than those with fewer, larger rings. What is the diameter of the rings? Some of the Japanese 26 ring binders use quite small rings (Kokuyo, etc.).

[ac12]

As with other, I use the binder only to store paper, not to write in the binder.

I will remove any paper that I want to write on, then put it back when done writing.

[titan75]

Thanks for all the replies and ideas. Seems like the only way around it is to remove the paper to write with and using the binder as a storage unit of sorts and not a notebook per se.

 

 

 

 

Cheers,

Alan

[Baric]

I'm left handed and I avoid ring binders as much as possible.

 

+1

 

I never use a ring binder. I also avoid spiral bound, top or side. I love top staple bound notepads (Clairefontaine/Rhodia), and side bound.

[penrivers]

Since a child, I hate metal or plastic spirals in notebooks, it is unnatural.

[BBU]

I practice handwriting in cheap, spiral-bound notebooks, and the rightmost one-third of each row on left pages doesn't get used. I write on those pages until any part of my hand gets close to the binding, then I go to the next line. A binder would be even worse, but at least then you could take out the pages. I'd make an even bigger mess of my desk if I did that with a notebook. Besides, I like to keep everything together for convenience of measuring any progress. I've accepted that dealing with the annoying metal rings is something I just have to do.

[titan75]

Seems like this is a common problem faced by many of you guys as well, I thought I was alone or the minority.

 

I have tried finding binders with low profile rings but only manage to find something of plastic construction which doesn't seem very robust to me.

 

It just seems like an awful waste that the pages are not fully utilised and it does look awkward that there is a margin of blank space.

 

 

 

Cheers,

Alan

[Bookman]

Hi All,

 

Did a search and did not find anything similar to my problem.

 

I have a B5 26 rings looseleaf binder that I use since my school days. I always have trouble writing on the page to the left of the spine rings. I cannot use the space closer to the rings as my hand is block by it.

 

Am I the only one with this problem? How do you guys/gals deal with this? Or do you simply do not use the reverse side of the paper (with is on the left of the spine when flipped)?

 

 

 

Cheers,

Alan

 

I use 3-ring binders. Normally I write on loose sheets outside the binder and insert them when I'm done. But I do the following when I plan to do my writing in the binder. I remove the paper ahead of time and I punch the fore-edges of the sheets so I'll have holes up and down both sides. When I get to the bottom of the first page I remove the sheet, flip it over, reinsert it, (the process takes longer to recount than to execute), and keep writing. If you already own a 26-hole punch, this would the easiest fix. If not, I'm sure you know a 26-hole punch is rather pricey.

[dothgrin]

I quit ring binders years ago, and now I pretty much "ban" them from my classroom. If my students have handouts, I have them use a folder. This year, I am requiring my students to carry an interactive notebook (composition book or journal). I do not like the bulk and I feel they are limiting.

[wallylynn]

 

It just seems like an awful waste that the pages are not fully utilised and it does look awkward that there is a margin of blank space.

 

Back when I was student, yes, the rings also got in my way.

Near the end of college, I switched to using plain sheets of paper, taken from the recycling bin. The "fronts" were already printed upon, so I could only use the "backs". They went into a clipboard for day-to-day use. End of day they went into a folder.

 

Another way to deal with the blank space, is to deliberately leave the space. Take a look at the Cornell Method of note taking. Big margins.

 

[Inga]

Simple solution: on the left side of the rings write with your left hand and on the right side of the rings write with your right hand. Works every time. :-D

 

Fine, I have the same problem. Since my left-hand penmanship needs to be sharpened up a little bit, most of the time I just take the paper out. When I feel too lazy to do THAT, I just endure the hardship of writing in a 3 ring binder.

[TMac]

I find rings to be irritating. They get in the way too often. I tried using disc bound notebooks but am feeling the same way about the discs as I do about the rings. Right now, I am using a Midori Travelers Notebook and a Leuchtturm.

[Mezzie]

Simple solution: on the left side of the rings write with your left hand and on the right side of the rings write with your right hand. Works every time. :-D

 

If only!

 

I always take my paper out to write, as do most of my students. The binder just keeps things neat and orderly; it's not much of a writing surface.

[gwyneddd]

I don't usually write in those notebooks. I take out the pages, write what I want, and snap the pages in. A punched tablet can help.

[titan75]

The consensus seems to be:

 

1. Remove paper

2. Write stuff

3. Re-insert paper in binder

 

Well I started doing that and now there's another problem!

We have hot weather here around 30 deg Celsius and I usually have my fan on, with the paper out of the binder the fan makes the paper dance around. Guess it's time to get some paperweight.

 

 

Cheers,

Alan

[Baric]

The consensus seems to be:

 

1. Remove paper

2. Write stuff

3. Re-insert paper in binder

 

Well I started doing that and now there's another problem!

We have hot weather here around 30 deg Celsius and I usually have my fan on, with the paper out of the binder the fan makes the paper dance around. Guess it's time to get some paperweight.

 

 

Cheers,

Alan

 

Get one of the 3-hole punched Clairefontaine bound pads. Write on the pad and file in the binder. Or just use the bound notepad/book, whatever your preferred style is. I'll never use another 3-ring binder.