A question I have seen asked a couple of times before... You already have a Filofax punch for Personal size paper. But you have just bought an A5 and you are shocked at the price of an A5 metal punch....
Yes a standard punch works... but... you have to punch the page twice, once from each end. The three rings are spaced the same, but the distance between the two groups is bigger than personal size.
So to use a personal punch you need to mark your punch with a line or a paper label at the point 32 mm from the top or bottom hole of the page. The page will then be just beyond the centre of the punch
Insert the paper up to that line, punch, reverse the paper and repeat for the other end of the page.
The easiest way to work it out is to take a piece of Filofax A5 paper that already has the holes in it. Place it in the punch and align the punches with the three holes. Then put your label on the punch to mark, the edge of the page.
Then experiment with lots of scrap paper!!! use all edges of the pages to get it right!! It works, you just need to be patient and practice lots.
There are other punches other than the Filofax one. They have been mentioned before on here, but let's bring them together.
Filofax A5 punch
KW Trio 6 hole adjustable punch this punch will do A5, Personal and Pocket sizes Also available here
If you are in the US there is a Time Systems A5 punch for quite a reasonable price.
Also Bind do multiple size punches, see their website for details
Note the Rapseco 6 hole punch although adjustable does not work for A5, unless you use the method above
There is also the Filofax plastic portable 6 hole punch, but to be honest with you, you would be better off saving your money and getting the metal one. The plastic ones can only punch one sheet at a time and become blunt fairly quickly.
Punches sometimes become available on Ebay, but always check with the buyer what the size is, they often get confused and they aren't always Filofax experts like ourselves
Do you know of any other suitable punches in your part of the world? Please add a comment.
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Thanks so much for this post - I was going to email in a question this week asking the very same thing! I have the plastic one for A5 and it's very hard work, even doing one sheet at a time!
ReplyDeleteThanks Cathryn, the question also came up on Twitter this afternoon and I was replying by email... by the time I got to the end of my explanation about using a personal punch.. I thought, hold on this could be a post in its own right!
ReplyDeleteMy experience with a pocket portable punch was not good, that is quite small, so using one that is A5 can't be any easier.
It's a nightmare! I'll let you know how I get on with a metal punch - just gotta wait for pay day first ;o)
ReplyDeleteNote my additional comments about Ebay.
ReplyDeleteSteve
Also suitable: the KW-Trio hole punch. Metal and exact match for A5 Filoax! Cheap and widely available in Holland (haven't checked availability in other countries). Germany (e.g. ebay.de)offers the bsb opbacher Hole punch. Adjustable holes to fit A5, personal AND pocket! Not yet tried this myself.
ReplyDeleteI'm currently using a Timesystem A5 metal punch. Got it for a steal through ebay and it's really perfect! I also have the portable plastic pocket hole punch from Filofax, and I agree that those are pretty useless. It was cheap but still a waste of money!
I bought th KW Trio and it was delivered today. Forgot to mention in my earlier post that this punch is adjustable for A5, Personal AND Pocket.
ReplyDeleteI just tried it out and it's working brilliantly!
I uploaded some pictures on Flickr.
I just wanted to let you know that I invested in the Filofax A5 metal punch yesterday, as I was able to visit the fantastic store on Neal St in London! It was quite an investment but considering the freedom I now have to make my own paper I'm pretty pleased and the punch itself seems very good quality. AND yes I can use it for my personal pages if I'm careful aligning it! Thanks again for the advice, Cat :O)
ReplyDeleteJust wanted to add that in the U.S. the Franklin Covey Compact size metal punch works perfectly for the Filofax personal and is only $24.95 (and you can get a coupon for 15% off just for signing up for e-mail updates). It is way more sturdy and heavy than my Filofax metal pocket punch (larger though). It is designed for the FC Compact and Pocket size by way of one set of three punches sliding towards the other, and when this is done, it is quite easy to punch A5 by using the method described in this post and aligning the edge of the paper almost up to the edge of the non-used set of three punches.
ReplyDeleteTo avoid any confusion, I wanted to add that the FC pocket size is NOT the same as the Filofax pocket -- it is more like the personal size but with less space dividing the two sets of three rings. That said, the spacing within each set is the same as FF personal and pocket (3/4").
ReplyDeleteYour instructions for personal->A5 holes saved me £28, thanks
ReplyDeleteGreat information (I've been reading this blog for the last week from the very post onward, having just bought a finchley 15 in black - beautiful!)
ReplyDeleteI'm looking for a hole punch and am interested in the KW trio - they seem widely available in France (where I live) but I can't seem to find the 6 hole variant - any ideas on model number or a supplier in France.
Thanks for the great blog ! Allan
Just so that it is recorded in the most popular places for filofax, here is another adjustable punch - very expensive - but fully configurable at http://www.euroffice.co.uk/i/5gj/Rexel-420-Adjustable-Punch-Expandable-with-4-Dies-Capacity-30x-80gsm-Black-and-Grey-Ref-08909
ReplyDeleteIf anyone has already purchased or planning to get one please review.. (I bought a filofax a5 punch which has already driven me to depression.. as it is no better than the plastic punch as I can only punch three 100 / 120 gsm papers at a time and even then exert a pressure which can lead to my heart attack faster.. Also bought a rapesco 6 puncher which is yet to see action)
Hi
ReplyDeleteI assume to be able to punch 6 hole you set up the alignment of three of the punches, move the fourth out of the way and then punch three holes, turn over the paper and punch the other three?
I wonder if you can fit another two punch dies to that punch? Then you could do all six in one go.
Steve
I've found the Rexel 420 on Amazon at a much lower price than EuroOffice. I've added a link.
ReplyDeleteYou can get extra punches for this model so it would be possible to punch all 6 holes at once. Looks like a great punch for A5 Filofax or A5 Mulberry, A5 QV, etc etc. They are all different hole spacing!
Additional punch heads are available here:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.gobrand.co.uk/acatalog/Rexel_430_Adjustable_Punch.html
Steve, Thanks so much for your info on the punch and the extra punch heads. I have been planning to switch from Filofax to Mulberry, after 30 years of loyal custom followed by their flat refusal to fix a bent ring on my Cuban A5 Zip. The only thing putting me off was the ability to punch my own paper, as I have to do a lot of A4 printing at work and carry spreadsheets etc with me regularly. This should fit the bill perfectly. Its expensive but so was my list price A5 Cuban Zip. The only thing lacking now is a portable version which fits in the organiser. I know most people have bashed them, saying they are useless, but I frequently have to use mine when out and about. Its never let me down, I use it at least once a day and it is still functioning fine. The metal one is my home-based punch, and although it works well, its over-priced and inefficient. Thanks again.
DeleteExcellent blog. I have a pocket metal punch, and I can use your trick to punch holes for A5. You saved me $$$s. Thanks heaps!
ReplyDeleteBought a Rexel 420 punch from Amazon UK, damaged packaging, for 30 pounds sterling. Arrived 2 days later. Box had the smallest dent you could imagine. Ordered 2 extra heads from the GOBRAND link provided by Steve. I have owned the metal filofax punch for years. But seriously.......I paid a couple of pounds m0re for this beast which looks like it could take 100 pages and still be stood there standing saying "who`s next?". Filofax, please look at your competition and realise that you are being left behind. You have a legion of fans who just want,and love, to buy your products. But if you aren`t in the arena, you wont come out victorious. Listen to your customers. Its Sales 101. we love the brand but give us high quality, give us products we want.
ReplyDeleteHow have you got on with the Rexel 420 an adding the extra punch heads? Is it easy to do and does it work perfectly for A5 Filofax pages???
DeleteReally want to get a proper A5 punch as doing it with my personal size takes loads of time! I am currently torn between the Rexel 420 and the Time/System A5 punch so any opinions would be useful!
Jar,
ReplyDeleteI finally took the plunge and ordered two punch heasds today, from Harvey at GoBrand stationers (http://www.gobrand.co.uk/acatalog/Rexel_430_Adjustable_Punch.html). He was very helpful and friendly. Total cost with postage was £25, so a considerable addition to the punch, but as I said above, I got mine on ebay for £30 so I was happy enough. I'd recommend looking on Amazon, then click on "other sellers" or "used", as mine was brand new, just the corner of the box was damaged, and it was less than half price. I can't recommend it enough. It vertiable minces its way through 35 sheets and doesn't strggle at all. I'll do an update when I receive them, as they have to be sent to a friend in UK, who will then bring them out to Dubai for me.
I decided to get the Rexel 420 adjustable punch and have now used and reviewed it on my blog.
ReplyDeleteI got the punch for £54.38 on Amazon.co.uk and the extra punch dies from Mayfair Stationers online. The 2 extra punch heads set me back £30.19 including VAT and delivery.
Definitely not a cheap option but it is a very sturdy punch that does the job!
I already had a six hole Rapesco Model 66 punch for my standard size filofax. My solution was to glue a strip of plastic 32mm from the outer punch on the right hand set of punches. I then folded my paper in half, inserted it up to the plastic strip as a 'stop' - works perfectly.
ReplyDeleteMy simple solution was to glue a strip of plastic as a 'stop' inside a Rapesco Model 66 punch. I positioned it 32mm to the left of the last punch on the right hand set of three. Fold the paper in half - position against the 'stop' and you have perfectly positioned six holes.
ReplyDeleteHello ... The above info is fascinating ! I'm just in the process of trying to buy a punch for a 'mini' Filofax, the only one I've seen is their branded one which is a shade under £28. I'd be interested to find out if anyone knows or a cheaper but sturdy alternative ? I only want it to utilise scrap paper and probably to replace a-z tabs with my own.
ReplyDeleteHi
DeleteRead this post: http://philofaxy.blogspot.com/2012/01/reader-question-which-punch.html it's has more up to date info...
But for the Mini, the Rapesco one will be perfect for your needs.
Steve
Hi, I have a KW Trio 9170 (bought off ebay for £25 inc postage) but it hasn't come with any instructions!
ReplyDeleteCan anyone tell me how I adjust the cutters? I'm desperate to get started organising my A5 filofax but this is stopping me.
Thanks in advance!
Sam
You question has been answered in this post http://philofaxy.blogspot.com/2012/01/reader-question-which-punch.html
DeleteThis post was really helpful and saved me time and money. I'm very grateful.
Delete