Hand Made Album Assistance Please.

Since I started back collecting I have been using 5 inch three ring D binders for my Germany collection. Recently I have been looking at the Vario-G Binders and think a deal I found for them at 5 for $100 is a decent deal. My problem is that I have never messed with these albums and after reading several posts here on the boards have mixed emotions about it.

Can anyone here that actually uses or has used the albums give me some info. For instance... how is the actual ring system placed in the binder? Is it riveted at multiple locations to prevent sag or spine bending? Do the seams hold up well? Does the bottoms wear heavily, and does the slipcase and binder fit snug or is there reasonable movement room?

Currently I use pretty high end 5 inch Dring binders that run about $30 each and keep them in an enclosed bookshelf. However, I'm getting tired of getting them all out and putting them all back when I decide to work on them. I wanted something that I could place on my desk and keep dust free as well as look good.

Next quandary I have is I'm looking for a new suppler of hole reinforcements. I know there are lots of those Mylar things you can buy from the office stores or walmart, but I'm actually looking for fabric ones. Many of the old timers may know what I'm talking about. They look like regular hole reinforcements, but they are made from fabric and often come in a green or white color. I cant find them anywhere, and don't get me started on what hole reinforcements will pull up on an internet search... Try explaining that at work ;)

Last but not least.... Long ago when I was in the service they had these little inserts that fit in three ring binders and were made of aluminum. They were an entire sheet with a lip at the bottom of the sheet that actually went under the pages in the binder. On the back side was the same thing but a little longer than the front one. When closed they supported the pages in the binder from the bottom. Anyone know what I'm talking about and what these things were called. I remember cursing them like crazy in the Army, but now I'm wishing I had some or knew what they were.

Any help would be great guys. I'm having surgery in the morning and will be bed bound for a few weeks I think so I'm thinking about doing some album work while I'm down.

Thanks

Chief

Is there some way to put reinforcements on a large number of pages easily?

Perhaps you're thinking of polyvinyl hole reinforcements.

http://www.amazon.com/Self-Adhesive...56894&sr=8-3

These are the ones that aren't supposed to tear.

This is along the lines of what I need, but not in the Mylar or plastic types. The ones I am searching for are actually made of fabric. It's very similar to a book binders tape or like the fabric of a book spine. Tightly woven and cut to reinforce the holes of paper. They often come in a "bankers" green color or off white "eggshell" color. I have seen them before in a burlap like color, but it has been some time. I used a local office supply to get them long ago, but they recently closed and they were never in a labeled package. I got them in bulk and he had them in a bin for sell. Most people use the Mylar ones, but for looks I like the green fabric. My pages are a pale blue parchment color and the two colors work very well on the page.

I know what you're talking about, but Google yields nothing. I wish there was an easy way to reinforce all the pages in my album.

chief - I know exactly what you mean by the cloth hole reinforcements. You had to lick them and the glue had a funny taste to it which seemed to stay on your tongue. I'm not sure, if the are any longer made. I would think an art supply store would be a good place to check.

Try a search on "Denney Reyburn Gummed Reinforcements." Is that what you are after?

With my Scott Internationals, the worst problems are with the pages at the front and back of the binder. I couldn't find anything that wouldn't tear until I came across C-Line's self-adhesive reinforcing strips. So far these have not torn but they are pricey. But you get 200 pages worth in a box.

Holy cow does that Denney Rayburn bring back memories! Just found them on Amazon and the picture brought back instant memories of grade school in the 70s!

Thank you very much ... they are not green, but I will use them :) I prefer the cloth ones to the mylar ones. They seem to hold much better and add a better look to the page (in my eyes).... As for the strips.. I tried those once. Both the Mylar and the binders cloth ones. The problem I had with the cloth was that I would have to use it on the page before I punched holes or I would end up with "wobbly" pages that didn't sit right in the binder.. not to mention the weight. I use 90 - 120 lb paper so my binders already are heavy as heck... the tape just added more to it. It looked really good... but got rather expensive. With all I have spent on supplies and mess ups ect... I probably could have bought Specialized Germany Albums that were hingless but I don't think I would have had as much fun and as good a learning experience.

Please Pardon.. spelling and grammatical errors... Two days after surgery and I'm still three sheets to the wind. This is the fist time I got up to move about. So I appreciate the help of finding the reinforcements.

Chief