Clever Tool To Remove Pages From Wire Books Without Tearing

[Plume145]

Have you ever wanted to remove some pages from a wire-bound notebook but without actually tearing them out? For instance, maybe because you don't want the fluffed out bits and there's no micro-perforation, or maybe you wish you could bind them in a different order or move them to a different notebook?

 

So far you could only pry the coil apart or just cut it with pliers, but that left you with an unuseable notebook.

 

Well, it turns out that some designers over in Japan maybe got tired of that and created a little tool that neatly opens out the coil evenly from end to end, so when you have removed the pages you want, you can use any wire-binding machine to clamp the wire coil shut again and continue to use your notebook.

 

Here it is in action:

 

It's made by Lihit Lab, and so far the only place I know of to get it is Rakuten; just search for Lihit N-1811 (that's the product code - thanks again to gsalazar for helping me find that!!)

 

To be honest, I think it might be possible to get the same result using one of those tools for opening packages, like this one (as suggested by FPNer Michael/my63 on the thread I created asking for help on where to get this tool ) That one would be cheaper and easier to obtain outside Japan, but it's probably a bit unwieldy - bulkier and heavier. Also, most of these things will have a little piece of blade in that notch; that might give some trouble as well. If anyone has one of these, will you try it and post the results?

 

 

 

[amberleadavis]

Hmm.... I can see opening it up, but did it have any pictures of closing it back up? One problem I've had is that the wires end up bent so they don't move smoothly. Of course, I've never tried this tool.

 

I'd love to hear some real experience stories.

[Plume145]

This IS a photo of the actual tool, being used - by yours truly . The tool only opens the binding, it doesn't close it; for that, you need a wire-binding machine, one for light office use or one for crafts (eg Bind-it-All, Cinch, etc).

 

I didn't include photos of that because I didn't want to clutter up the thread with photos of something I wasn't sure would be a priority for everyone who might need to open out a wire notebook, or with info about a tool other than the one I am talking about.

 

Basically what this tool does is open out the wire binding so it's the same as when you put it on your project. I don't know if you've ever had a stab at the (ahem) rewarding art of wire-binding, Amber, but basically most home/light office use machines work the same way: you get the hole punch and the wire closing device in one unit. First you punch the holes, then you thread the wire onto the holes by hand, then you close the wire.

 

The wire looks like this when you take it out of the package to thread it onto your project, and what the tool does is to get it looking like this again, so that you can remove the pages from the binding without either tearing the page or destroying the binding. So you zip with this thingy, rearrange your pages, then put it in the machine, and clamp it shut again. Easy

 

Or if you don't care about reusing your notebook, then it's still easier than cutting out the coil, which is a giant pain I can tell you (I've done it several times already)

[amberleadavis]

This looks really cool. So, do you like it?

[Plume145]

uh, yeah! isn't it obvious? lol. I thought I was being a little too fawning, basically, and tried to tone it down so I'd save face and not look like a total fangirl - did I tone it down too much or something? Generally though, if I create a whole new thread about something, it's because I like it at least a little

[amberleadavis]

Since we have a lot of the same tastes, I think I may have to acquire one of these gadgets. Then, I'd have to buy one of the wire benders.

[Plume145]

I'd look at the wire benders first, because they're larger and more expensive than the opener. So they are more likely to be a problem if you have space/budget constraints (I have both, so I know!) If you are intrigued by the idea of binding your own stuff, notebooks, handouts, reference materials, etc, then go for it, they're pretty reliable little guys, but if it's just to reclose the wire, it might not make sense unless your budget/space allowance are not stingy like mine

One thing to bear in mind if you want it specifically to use with a lihit lab twist rings notebook: make sure your wire-binder is in the '3:1 pitch', ie it punches three holes per inch. That's the hole pattern on the lihit thing. The two most popular craft binding machines, the Cinch (made by We R Memory Keepers) and the Zutter Bind-it-All both have a 2:1 pitch as far as I know. So that's something to bear in mind as well.

[amberleadavis]

Oh, that's good to know. I think my current wire / coil binds are 4:1.

[Plume145]

If it's 4:1 that sounds like a spiral coil binder, so it probably just punches holes. With spiral coil there's no wires to close after threading them onto the project, you just need to crimp the ends so the coil doesn't slip off. Pretty neat in its own right, but not what you'd need here I guess!

[amberleadavis]

You are so smart and geeky. I love it!

BTW, have you ever tried the papershark? It had the WORST name ever when it was marketed in the US .... RapesClip by RapesCo ... really?????? It's also called a clam clip.

[Plume145]

You are so smart and geeky. I love it!

BTW, have you ever tried the papershark? It had the WORST name ever when it was marketed in the US .... RapesClip by RapesCo ... really?????? It's also called a clam clip.

*groan* OMG, I think I know the one you mean!! These things, right? I did use them briefly years ago, but I never had so many pages to bind in one stack that plain paperclips wouldn't work - and you didn't need a special tool to put those in. So it fell into disuse and I think it got booted in one decluttering or another

 

But the name...omg. Makes you lose the will to live lol. Couldn't they at least style it RAPESCO or rapesco to play it down a little?!

[amberleadavis]

*groan* OMG, I think I know the one you mean!! These things, right? I did use them briefly years ago, but I never had so many pages to bind in one stack that plain paperclips wouldn't work - and you didn't need a special tool to put those in. So it fell into disuse and I think it got booted in one decluttering or another

 

But the name...omg. Makes you lose the will to live lol. Couldn't they at least style it RAPESCO or rapesco to play it down a little?!

 

Yep, that's it. Talk about marketing idiots!

 

We use these things everyday in our office. Best product ever. We use them in place of staples (not paperclips). No more jams at the copier or the scanner. Hooray!

[Plume145]

it's a law office, right? I imagine that generates some pretty big piles of paperwork, much of it needing to be kept for years - so that makes total sense why these would be perfect! you can bind them together securely but with zero clutter - no need to worry about manila folders inside folders inside even more folders with these. If I had to organize a mountain of paperwork, I can totally see myself buying these by the gross lol. And they're bigger than staples too so if/when you need to shred stuff, you're less likely to accidentally leave one in place!

[amberleadavis]

it's a law office, right? I imagine that generates some pretty big piles of paperwork, much of it needing to be kept for years - so that makes total sense why these would be perfect! you can bind them together securely but with zero clutter - no need to worry about manila folders inside folders inside even more folders with these. If I had to organize a mountain of paperwork, I can totally see myself buying these by the gross lol. And they're bigger than staples too so if/when you need to shred stuff, you're less likely to accidentally leave one in place!

 

You totally nailed it!

[Plume145]

hehe, thanks. I guess you and I really are terrible dorks - this thread is just us geeking out lol. Hey everyone else, join in (so we can save face). Ahem

Edited March 5, 2014 by Plume145

[eviltwin]

I don't know about these papershark things, but I'm kinda a stapler nerd (its my Dad's fault though). About six monthes ago he started buying them from SVDP and its went down hill ever since. We have a Swingline 747, Swingline 711, Arrow 210, a random black stapler, I think its a Plastico, a couple of the modern pocket Swingline staplers. Maybe later I'll upload a picture if anybody wants to see them.

[amberleadavis]

I don't know about these papershark things, but I'm kinda a stapler nerd (its my Dad's fault though). About six monthes ago he started buying them from SVDP and its went down hill ever since. We have a Swingline 747, Swingline 711, Arrow 210, a random black stapler, I think its a Plastico, a couple of the modern pocket Swingline staplers. Maybe later I'll upload a picture if anybody wants to see them.

 

Welcome!

 

 

My favorite stapler is the paperpro.

 

http://www.ohgizmo.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/01/paperpro_stapler.jpg

[Inkling13]

 

Welcome!

 

 

My favorite stapler is the paperpro.

 

http://www.ohgizmo.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/01/paperpro_stapler.jpg

I had tried this, but all the packets I needed to staple were 40 some pages. And the paperpro doesnt allow for a good banging, especially if you just want to squeeze the last few pages of it's capability out.

[amberleadavis]

I had tried this, but all the packets I needed to staple were 40 some pages. And the paperpro doesnt allow for a good banging, especially if you just want to squeeze the last few pages of it's capability out.

 

Oh, you need the larger model with the high capacity staples. I use this one for when I am keeping something stapled and it's under 30 pages.

[eviltwin]

I had tried this, but all the packets I needed to staple were 40 some pages. And the paperpro doesnt allow for a good banging, especially if you just want to squeeze the last few pages of it's capability out.

Go vintage, no really, go to your nearest thrift shop there will probaly be some staplers there buy which one you like most it'll probaly cost about $5. I like Swinglines and Arrows but YMMV. Go for metal ones there less likely to break if you hit them with a hammer. I don't know as much heavy duty staplers though, I geuss you could always use binder clips.

 

Sorry Plume145 for hijacking your thread. I do see the opener useful in ink journals if you organize by brand and need more pages to a certain brand you could move some blank ones from somewhere else.

Edited March 6, 2014 by eviltwin