13 February 2014

Miracle Bind by Blueline

Filofax UK have today introduced another type of notebook in both A4 and A5 sizes.  It is from Blueline in Canada so our readers in North America might already be familiar with the system.

The notebook has a wire binding and this allows the cover to fold write back on itself. The pages are punched so they can be easily removed and replaced or moved around in a different order.

This video shows the details of this system:


The full range is available now on the Filofax UK website

11 comments:

  1. Looks similar to Staples Arc system.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Just reminds me that I really want A4 or A5 filofax slimline. Any news in this area?

    ReplyDelete
  3. It looks kind of like the disk systems but without the disks. A plus for me - the disk binders always appealed to me but they look so clunky with the disks, especially the big ones....

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I agree. I'm always amazed at people who can get the disc books to work for them, as I can't get past the way the discs look. They just don't look sleek to me -- very clunky and a lot to work with. Of course, I've never tried them, so my opinion is not based on fact or personal experience, just what I THINK it might be like. Either way, it just doesn't appeal to me for that reason.

      So this system that works the same way but has the spiral rings rather than the discs appeal to me more.

      Delete
  4. Staples definitely does something similar, as I've been using it for work.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I really like the look of the Miraclebind system but having already forked out for the ARC punch and binders, I am reluctant to order any of the Miraclebind products in case I need a new punch and different paper. Can you use ARC paper in a Miraclebind binder? If you have the ARC punch, will it punch paper for the Miraclebind binders?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You can use the ARC punch to punch paper for the MiracleBind books. I didn't realize this until after I ordered the MiracleBind punch. (Even though this is a Canadian product, I can't get it in a local Canadian Staples store, but have to order online.) You will have one extra hole in the pages, but that shouldn't be a problem.

      I have tested with the small MiracleBind book, which is 8x5 inches and has 7 wires. The small ARC is 8-1/2x5-1/2 inches and uses 8 discs. I have an ARC card holder sheet in my MiracleBind book and it fits okay. The other MiracleBind book I have is 9-1/4 by 7-1/4, and the small ARC size items will fit in that as well.

      Delete
  6. A legal publisher produces several titles with this same type of spiral bound looseleaf. It works fine but we only insert the pages one time; when they get removed they are discarded and replaced; they do not reinsert very well and I would be concerned about this in the blueline system as well. Lots of my colleagues use Circa notebooks and I notice that once a page has been inserted and removed a couple of times it gets pretty ragged on the punched edge. I really like the concept but for me ring binders just work better. These are undoubtedly less bulky, though!

    ReplyDelete
  7. I bought the Staples Arc system. Whilst I though it was an amazing and concept, after purchasing I found it was not 'perfect'. The covers were either a flexi plastic which would bend. It is fine if you make notes on a desk, but sometimes, I need a notebook whilst walking around. Staples Arc do have a rigid cover, but it is too heavy and bulky.



    The MiracleBind is perfect, as it is has a sturdy cover, which is light. However, the downside of the Miraclebind, is that papers were not A4, they were 'wider'. In the photos, the blue strip area is extra. It means, I cannot buy blank paper and put in my printer, as the maximum width is A4 sized. The blue bit, is glossy paper, and I imagine, it is to provide protection to the ring areas.

    Compared to the Arc range in staples (UK), there is a lack of choice of re-fills for the MiracleBind. I can't see plain blank paper in A4...

    "You can use the ARC punch to punch paper for the MiracleBind books."
    The above statement is not correct for A4 paper. Whilst I could put my A4 sheet into the binder, it would stick out from below by 1.5cm. The punch one are similar, except the centre line is bigger to accommodate the Arc disks. As they use a different paper size in America, it may be different over there. If the paper size was shorter, then it should not be a problem using the Arc hole punch e.g. A5.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Just weighing in on the Miraclebind vs Staples/Levenger/Diskbound systems. Although a Staples ARC punch slot will fit the Blueline binder wire, The spacing between holes/slots is NOT the same. The Staples/Levenger system spacing is 25mm (slightly less than 1 inch) and the Miraclebind spacing is 25.4mm (exactly 1 inch). So for a few holes, the Staples punch will probably work, but for an 8 hole A5 sheet, the end holes will be out of alignment by about 2.8mm or nearly 1/8".

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The cutouts are inverted though, so the Staples punch isn't suitable for the Miraclebind/Filofax system. See this post for a photo of the difference:

      https://philofaxy.blogspot.com/2016/04/william-hannah-notebookplanner-review.html

      Delete