20 November 2012

Free For All Tuesday No. 94

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.

50 comments:

  1. I love the (homemade) diary inserts. The only thing I am dealing with is the cutting. I cannot get it nicely cut. I have a paper cutting machine or sometimes a small sharp craft knife and ruler. I like my paper nice, same size and neatly. Does anyone has this issue and how did you solve it?

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    1. I've just bought two packs of 500 sheet, A5 paper via Amazon UK, I've used this paper before, it's standard copier paper, nothing posh, but at 80 gsm it does take more pens better than the normal FF paper.

      The A5 paper will not duplex on my laser printer, but I know some printers can do this. So what I do is put a stack of paper in the manual feed tray and print ODD sides only, turn the paper over making sure the stack is in the right order, then print Evens only.

      Don't forget to include printing the blank page at the start otherwise the pages end up in the wrong sequence.

      Steve

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    2. Thank you Steve for your commit. I also print my inserts like you do. But stupid me, I forgot to add that I have a Personal. Can you help me, please??????

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    3. Ah that's ok. Well just the same... except I have printed on to Filofax Personal size paper!

      Filofax sell the plain white paper as a value pack of 100 sheets, I've used this in the manual tray, but fan the pages first because when the paper is punched in the factory it tends to stick together. With this paper it will curl slightly after it has gone through the printer the first time. So I let the paper cool down put a heavy book on top of it and it flattens out again. Then print the other side in the same way.

      For my diary insert for 2013 in my own personal I bought the Filofax cotton cream plain paper, this comes in 25 or 30 sheet packs a bit more expensive than the plain white, but it is nicer paper to write on.

      Likewise I've had issues with getting all the paper the same size and cut neatly if you print on A4, hence why I print on to personal size paper.

      Is the particular insert you want to print available from our selection on personal size paper? I need to enhance that side of our offering a bit more, a job for when I return home next week!

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    4. Hi Steve,
      I would love to see the 2 days per page and the 2 pages per day (if you follow me!) ready to print on personal size paper :) the cutting is just too much faff for me. X

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    5. O, great thank you for your information. I bought this week a lot of plain Filofax paper personal size. I prefer plain above lined paper. Give me more freedom in writing. I have been testing on printing on the plain paper and it comes out very nice. The only thing is that I sometimes it is printed to close to the holes in the paper. But I think that that a printing issue is.
      I love your inserts. They are great! I don’t know if there are some missing. I pretty much printed a lot on the A4 paper and been cutting it out, but is does not come out nicely. So I was on the right track with printing on the personal plain paper. Thank you once again for the information.

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  2. Anyone else who has a Malden and a Holborn, could you please compare the softness of the leathers, and tell me how old your Malden is? I remember 2 1/2 years ago when I first felt a Malden it felt buttery soft to me, like my Holborn does now. My Malden I bought over the weekend isn't nearly as smooth or soft as my Holborn. I wonder if the newer (crinkly) Malden leather isn't as soft as the old Malden leather?

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    1. I have a buttery soft personal Holborn, I LOVE the leather. I had a grey A5 Malden and have a Vintage pink mini and they don't even compare to the Holborn in terms of floppy, soft to the touch leather. I never got the Malden love. Well, I did for the looks, but not for the suppleness. I still can't believe they're made of the same leather. The Holborn folds up on itself.
      So I think this is very interesting. Thanks for pointing it out. It makes me want to touch an older ochre personal Malden.

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    2. Hi Laurie, I think I prefer the Holborn leather as it seems alot more natural to the Malden which I think is coated with something. In terms of being floppy, I would say my older Maldens were alot more floppy than the newer Purple ones I bought but I think that is due to the addition of some type of stiffener on the spine rather than the leather. Plus I do think the leather becomes better on both Holborn and Malden the more it is handled.

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    3. JasJan thanks so much for this info. The more I read about it online the more it seems to me the stiffening around the spine is a feature of the newest Maldens because the older ones are much floppier.

      I don't mind the stiffness so much, in fact I like it because it's easier to write in just holding it in my hands. I'm disappointed the leather isn't softer to touch because I had heard so much about the softness of the Maldens. Interestingly, the leather on the inside of the back cover is the softest on the whole binder. In the end, it's probably for the best as I wonder if this less-soft leather will wear better.

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    4. I own a Crimson Malden that I purchased early in 2012 and a Brown Holborn Slimline that I purchase in August of 2012. The Holburn's leather is more supple and softer and the binder more floppy. Between the multitude of pockets and the thin supple leather, I find this to be a great slimline wallet. The Malden's leather is quite nice, but I find that the binder has some sort of foundation inside that helps the binder keep its shape, plus it has more levels of pockets that make it a little stiffer. The leather is still wonderful and has a certain softness to it, but it is not as supple as the Holborn. I don't mind this aspect in the Malden because it makes it easier to write in when on the go. I find that I like both of the Filofax organizers equally.

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    5. Hi Laurie, I also have both Malden and Holborn binders and love them both. The leather on the Maldens is much sturdier than that of the Holborns though. The Holborns are just super soft and smooth whereas the Maldens feel a bit more rugged. My Maldens are all relatively new though (all bought within the last year). Although I find the Holborns softer to touch, I love the textured feel of my Ochre and Purple Maldens - the red is totally different...

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    6. Call me crazy but I returned a black Personal Malden a few months ago because it was so crinkley and didn't feel soft at all. Although I have a grey Malden A5 and Pocket which I love, they are so soft and smooth and buttery. The just this past Friday I returned a black Holborn that I only had a few days. I just didn't love it. Am I the only one? Yes, the leather was very soft and the pocket configuration was great. But I just found it so...I don't know. Plain? I tried to love it but it just reminded me too much of the many Franklin Covey binders I've had over the years. So I returned the Holborn in exchange for the grey Personal Malden. I didn't like the black Malden's leather so I am hoping I will like the grey Personal as much as I like the grey A5 and grey Pocket. When I sent my Holborn back they had grey Personals in stock. Today I look online and they are out. So now I don't know if they already filled my order or if I'll be waiting awhile for it. I hope I love this one and keep it because the return shipping is killing me. Call me indecisive.

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    7. I originally started my FF obsession with a Personal Crimson Malden....still have it because I can't even imagine parting with it. I also bought an Ochre about a year ago in the same size, and whilst I loved its beauty, I never really loved its feel. Having now experienced Holborns, I can't call the Maldens soft....they're floppy, not soft. The holborn is truly soft (and, by the way, the holborns achieve much greater consistency between colours and sizes).

      I've since sold both a personal and A5 ochre malden as I just never clicked with them despite loving how they looked. I've since realised that the HOborn is my absolute favourite model as it's sophisticated, soft, sooth, smells right, and feels like leather (not too thin and not painted like crimson Malden). I now have a Compact, Personal & A5 holborn collection and I can't imagine ever tiring of them because they feel the way I want my filofax to feel.

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  3. I'd like to speak to Duplex owners out there.
    I found this interesting Duplex on Ebay.
    http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-DUPLEX-Filofax-DHLF1-2-RARE-RARE-/221155524687?pt=UK_BOI_Office_Office_Supplies_Stationery_ET&hash=item337de5804f
    And it got me to wondering if I could find 2 old day planners and make my own out of the poly binder type thing.
    Would anyone out there happen to have measurements?
    Or be willing to discuss the CONS of this model?

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    1. They were made in two different widths. The narrow variant suffered the disadvantage that the pages overlap even when fully open. And the wide version requires care in closing to make sure one stack of leaves sits above the other correctly.

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    2. Thanks, gmax! Sure appreciate the information=)
      PaperMeister

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    3. Good luck if you decide to try a DIY model PaperMeister.
      For the wide model the gap between the rings is just enough to allow the two stacks of pages to sit next to one another - so twice the width of the pages plus about one ring diameter. My DVF7/8 model has a gap between the ring centres of just under 8".

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    4. Gmax,
      Thanks for the intel!
      Do you have a Flickr account or website where you have pictures posted perhaps?
      PaperMeister=)

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    5. I used to have a DUplex in the 80s when I was in the Armed Forces. I still have one now, but its vinyl, military issue binder, not the leather one I used to have. Think I have a photo on FLikr. If not, I will upload a couple for you, so you can see it in close up. I like them, they are ideal to separate business and work in one binder. The narrow version did mean the ends of the pages mesh but its not a big deal. The wider version avoids this but the binder is bigger as a result. I saw the vintage one but think its way overpriced. They don't come up that often but I think 125 pounds i a bit too much for a starting bid. See what you think of the photos and hope it helps. In short, a great product which they should never have discontinued.

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    6. http://www.flickr.com/photos/burjmax/sets/72157630894384656/
      I only have one photo on there but I will take a couple of open ones so you can see how the pages lie.

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    7. The post here has links to some photos of mine PaperMeister.

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    8. A DIY approach could also be used to make something similar to the Lefax "duplex" model from c.1992 called Charterhouse that was effectively two standard binders joined down one edge, with a cover extension that wrapped over. This was rather big when open and very chunky when shut! Quite fun though.

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    9. Paul B: Thanks for the photo. I think I like the compactness (is that even a word?) of your military issue one. I'm really floored that Filofax hasn't brought them back. To me, it'd really be the ideal way of combining work and personal life in one volume.

      Gmax: Great article--thank you so much for forwarding me to it! I have to admit, I'm quite envious of your 'babies.' I tried to search for the Charterhouse, but couldn't find a picture of it. I'm even more intrigued now than when I started my fact-finding mission=)

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    10. Glad you found it interesting. I have a Charterhouse that holds old diaries, which I plan to post pictures of sometime soon and will try to get them published on Philofaxy.

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    11. Papermeister, I'll do a post on the Commanders Battle Book with more photos so you can see how it compares to a standard 7/8 binder next to it. The military binder has two sets of half-inch rings, and works perfectly for what it was designed to do. I also have a very special Duplex binder which I am picking up next time I'm back in UK, and which will be featured in an extra-long post on www.themusingsofmax.com as its quite a special binder. More to come......

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    12. I've just published a post for you on the Army Duplex Filofax at www.musingsofmax.com and the shortlink is: http://wp.me/p2Dj6W-4h
      Hope it helps give you a better idea of how the pages lie and the overall size of the product. Gmax, I'd love to read a post on the Charterhouse!

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    13. I've just published a post for you on the Army Duplex Filofax at www.musingsofmax.com and the shortlink is: http://wp.me/p2Dj6W-4h
      Hope it helps give you a better idea of how the pages lie and the overall size of the product. Gmax, I'd love to read a post on the Charterhouse!

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    14. I enjoyed reading more about the army duplex thanks Paul.
      I have an inkling of what the special one you mention might be.

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  4. This may be a very odd question, but I would love to know are the FF card holders different sizes in certain countries? I like in Australia and all my business cards I want to keep in the front of my Metropol which I purchased from the US but all my business cards are too long to fit in...

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    1. Hi, not odd at all because I wondered for a bit myself. I believe business and credit cards are different sizes because I can fit credit cards in the front cover of most filos, but business cards would be too big. Does that answer your question?

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    2. I THINK that there are business card holders AND credit card holders (not necessarily filofax brand) as the two are definitely different sizes... i have a business card holder that came with my holborn and credit cards are too tall for it and end up sticking out the top, business cards fit perfectly.

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  5. Another area where there is no agreement around the world! In the UK and most of Europe the standard business card is 85mm x 55mm - the same as a credit card. In Australia, New Zealand and some Nordic countries it is 90mm x 55mm. The USA still sticks to Imperial measures and is 3.5 inches x 2inches - that's 89mm x 51mm (roughly).

    Only slight differences, but enough to stop you getting a good fit in your Filofax!

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    1. Wow! I just read over that post, really wasn't worded the best, (damn iPad lol) it's rather interesting. I thought business cards were a generic size, never thought they would be different across the world, you really do learn something new everyday...

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    2. You've just caused me to rummage in an old box. Like many people, I kept one of each of my business cards from different jobs I've had over the years. All the early ones (1980's) are longer and narrow - imperial sized. My 1990's ones are all 90mmx55mm.

      Only the batch I had printed when I became self-employed in 1998 are the modern credit card size. They'll outlive me. I've still got several hundred of the damn things!

      Of course, it wan't an issue with vintage Filofaxes, Time Managers etc. Most binders didn't have business card slots.

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  6. I've just bought a Mulbery Planner and it's fantastic,got everything I need from Mulberry except a "To Do" section.
    I've e-mailed Succes in Holland to ask if their Senior "To Do" sheets will fit but as yet no response received,could anyone confirm if that would work?
    I'm not into DIY as photocopying and hole punching isn't my strong point :-)
    cheers,
    Chris (Mr)

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    1. Never got a reply from Succes so took a gamble on the Oxford A5 Activebook and it works perfectly.

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  9. I noticed that the fly sheets in this vintage slimline on Ebay (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/221155470528?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649) appear to be very thick and made of some type of plastic.

    What a brilliant idea, compared to the rubbish clear plastic sheet that is supplied in the modern binders. If anyone at Filofax reads this, I'd certainly be willing to pay (perhaps a couple of quid each) for fly sheets of better quality.

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  10. Ok, so I am looking to buy my first ever Filofax! I have an iPhone, but I like to have a standby A5 diary as back-up and quite frankly just love a bit of stationery! The main issue I currently have is my tendancy to carry round bits of paper stuffed into my paper diary (bills etc) so that I have them to hand when needed. I don't see this tendancy changing anytime soon, so I'm a bit stuck as to whether to go for a Personal sized Filofax or opt for the A5 instead, to makesure I can still have A4 pages folded in half easily....anyone else have this issue, and does anyone have any advice for me? I'm tempted by either the Personal Metropol or A5 Domino at the moment...

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  11. I've just linked Helen's guest post on her health filofax to someone (http://philofaxy.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/guest-post-helen-health-filofax.html) and I just wondered if Helen had any updates for us on how her set-up is working out.

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  12. I don't comment much because I don't own a Filofax, but I am a daily and avid reader of philofaxy. I currently cannot afford to buy one at the prices I have found, so i thought i would turn to you wonderful bunch of people! I anybody has an A5 they want to sell to a new home or knows of a good deal somewhere I would greatly appreciate it! I am in desperate need of a real organization tool, but i usually have tO choose between food and filofax lol. Thanks very much ! This would be a great benefit to my littlefamily :)

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    1. Hi Liz, I have an A5 Domino in red that I've been thinking of getting rid of. If you would like to have it, I'd be happy to send it to you for free. If red isn't your color or if you'd rather have a different binder that's totally fine. You can see the binder in my post about it here:

      http://www.plannerisms.com/2010/04/my-new-a5-domino-filofax-with-dodo-pad.html

      I can also include the week on 2 pages vertical diary inserts that came with the A5 Boston I got recently, there are weekly pages for the rest of this year and all the way through 2013. That would get you started at least then if you wanted different diary pages you could either print or buy something different.

      If you would like to have my red A5 Domino, or would like more information about it, just email me at laurie at plannerisms dot com! :)

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    2. I've got a bunch of A5 calendasr as well if you need more than one or if anomther strikes your fancy, they're up on adspot (the sale page) but I'm happy to post what you'd like to you free, they just want someone to love them :-) email me at sarahelps [at] hotmail [dot] com

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    3. Hi Liz, did you get yourself sorted? Late to the party here due to being in London yesterday, but update appreciated.

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    4. Hi Liz, the red A5 Domino is going out to you today! I loaded it with weekly pages from now through the end of 2013, colored paper, A-Z tabs and address pages, a new notepad in the back and a Today marker so it will be good to go straight out of the wrapper! I hope you love it! It really is a great binder and the red color is really nice, great for home or work or anywhere. I'll email you let you know what the postage was and what the post office says about delivery time.

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    5. Thanks for all the replies! Now to wait.... :)

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  13. i noticed on the filofaxusa site they are having a HALF OFF sale going on for a couple of days maybe til thursday?? It is on just certain items though, not all of them lol I just saw it in my email box and thought I would share, if anyone in States interested.. (or anywhere else if you like) They also have gift box sets too. good deals.. Im tempted to get another lol

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