13 August 2013

Free for all Tuesday No. 132

Tuesdays are your chance to ask any Filofax related questions you might have.

So fire away and we will collectively try to answer your questions or offer opinions.

33 comments:

  1. Does anyone have a red Daytimer Malibu? I am trying to find out what color it is. True red, brown-red, burgundy? Which red Filofax is it similar to? TIA

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    1. I'm waiting for a desk-sized red Daytimer Malibu! When it comes I'll let you know the colour.

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  2. I'm getting ready to 'list' a few Filofaxes on the Adspot page. However, I'm a bit perplexed as to packaging. I don't have any original boxes, but I feel they should be mailed in a box.
    If you have sold or purchased a Filo from an individual, can you explain how the item was shipped so it arrived in good condition?
    Thanks in advance!

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    1. For US Postal, I recommend a box that allows you space to:
      - "prop" an empty binder level (imagine using a wedge of cardboard, for example) so as to minimize stress on the ring side and prevent bending of the cover;
      - a generous bubble wrap, 2x or 3x - this would prevent any damage from gouging of the box, or a torn exposure.

      Hope this helps.

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    2. Take are read of this post I did a short while ago:

      http://philofaxy.blogspot.com/2013/03/packing-filofax-for-postage.html

      One of the key things is to remove the inserts off of the rings otherwise they act as a dead weight and if the parcel is dropped it can put a shock through the ring mechanism. So remove the inserts put a paper band around them and tuck them inside the organiser and then wrap it with bubble wrap etc.

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    3. I don't have any A5s but I always ship personal size in a Priority Mail medium box; which costs about $12. The box is a good deal bigger than the filo, but I pad it on all sides (bubble wrap is great stuff), especially on the inside of the filo.

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    4. All good. What you don't want to do is what happened to me. I bought a personal Kensington from the UK and it had been wrapped (once around) in brown heavy wrapping paper. It arrived with several major tears in the paper but fortunately the Filo wasn't damaged...at least not that I can tell.

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  3. John,
    Brilliant! I wouldn't have ever thought about propping the binder with cardboard but that is smart thinking.
    In fact, I think I'll do that and the 3 layers of wrap.
    Thanks so much=)
    PM

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    1. You're welcome - and I look forward to seeing what goodies you're putting up on the Adspot...

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    2. John,
      Since you asked, I'll tell ya! Send me an email: iheartplanners AT yahoo DOT com.
      PM=)

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  4. Steve,
    Is there some way you can add titles to each of the new binders? So, if I hover my mouse over the blue M2, a little label will pop up with it's name?
    Just a thought...
    PM

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    1. Nice idea but I can't do that.

      But Left to Right they are: A5 Malden Ochre, Personal Malden Crimson, M2 Cross Blue, Pocket Sandhurst Tan, Pocket Eton Black, Gillio Amica Dark Brown and Gold, A5 Original Green.

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    2. For some reason, the picture looks much brighter here than on the Facebook page. Nice picture!

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    3. Steve,
      Have you done a write up of that Sandhurst? It's a beaut!

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    4. Not yet, but I can...

      Steve

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    5. Please do, Steve! I'm assuming it's an older one though, huh? I don't know WHY, but I always fall in love with the old ones that never appear on eBay or Adspot...sigh.

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    6. I'll be putting a tan Slimline personal on Adspot soon.

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  5. Which Filofax has the biggest binder rings? The bigger the rings the better, I think, and I would be appreciative to know the answer(s) in both new and old (or even discontinued) styles. I hope to eventually purchase a Filofax in an A5 size, but good-sized rings are a MUST for me! ~tina

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    1. In personal size the Cuban Zip has 30 mm rings. In A5 several have 30 mm rings including the Finsbury, Malden, Holborn Zip and a few others

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    2. Thank you Steve! I'll keep these in mind! ~tina

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  6. Steve,is there a maximum amount of paper a Filofax can hold safely, without ring damage? I see so many stuffed Filofaxes on videos nowadays and was wondering if there is a maximum limit of sorts. Just curious to know the maximums for my A5 Malden, personal and pocket Maldens. Thanks muchly! PS- Bumped into my friend Vicky yesterday, who is moving to France.... a 2-3 year project of theirs. House here is going up for sale this week.I said you had done the move. She was thrilled that you touched base with her and said.... what a lovely guy!! High praise indeed!!She downloaded your info on speed cameras and said that was so handy. So vive La France!!

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    1. Hi Jane
      On the amount of paper, I generally recommend filling only one side of the rings when open and that will result in less of the 'Fat bulky' look. But I know what you mean about over stuffed organisers in videos. I sometimes wonder why people need to carry so much in their organisers! But it's a personal thing really.
      Good luck to Vicky with her house sale, I exchanged a couple of emails with her, I forget where they wanted to move to in France... it's a big country!
      Steve

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    2. I certainly carry a lot in my organizer, which I treat as a sort of portable desk. I'm a very disorganized person and am somehow able to maintain a very organized organizer. If I put something in my planner I am confident I will know where it is when I need it. I also hate being caught in a meeting without a necessary document so tend to shove things into the planner. When I do a review I find very little is actually obsolete or unnecessary. Of course, half of my organizer is monopolized by three months of 2PPD and two years of 2PPM.

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    3. Portable desk is such an apt description. I'm 'just' a stay-at-home mum, so I'm not just organising myself, but three other people as well. And I don't have a desk or office of my own. Everyone else has a space for their things, but mine has to easily shift from the kitchen to the coffee table to my bedside table. My main binder is very fat, with week on two pages to the end of the year + a month of 2PPD + sections for all my different hats. I would kill for a personal with 30cm rings (and no zip)!

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  7. Greetings! Can anyone recommend a nice paper similar to Filofax cotton cream? I would like to do some on my inserts but I realize that it is the paper and the consistency of it.
    Thanks

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    1. Not sure where you are located Patricia, but Clair Fontaine paper is excellent

      http://www.papiers-clairefontaine.com/en/clairefontaine/clairefontaine-papers.html

      It's a French brand but I think it is available in the US as well as Europe.

      Steve

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    2. I'm using International Paper Opaque Digital Text paper in Warm White. I got it at a local paper store, but it can be found online. It's slightly thicker than the FF, but it prints beautifully. I just finished printing my A5 calendar for the upcoming school year. Now to print my Personal one.

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  8. Does anybody have a template on Microsoft Word for pocket and A5 size? Thanks. :)

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    1. Ray Blake is your man for these things. See http://mylifeallinoneplace.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/template-for-printing-directly-on.html?m=1

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  9. Help! Having gone back to my Filo a few months ago I'm on the verge of giving up. The rings on the personal one make it really awkward to write on the left hand page. Plus the pages are pretty cramped. An A5 would be too heavy I think (I cycle). Am thinking of - gulp - buying a standard A5/A4 diary for 2014 instead of Filo refill. Any thoughts?

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    1. Hi Nos - suggest you re-ask this question on Friday or next Tuesday, as many folk will now miss it here! I agree about big rings and Personal size paper. I'm left-handed and struggle to write on right-hand pages. I think some A5 Filofaxes are fine (I cycle a lot too) but I personally prefer an A5 Flex for lightness and portability. I'm currently experimenting with a Slimline Holborn, which fits into my cycling top pocket for carrying my essentials.

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    2. Thanks Tim.

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    3. Try the ARC from Staples in A5. It is a thin card cover with loose pages.

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