Mystic Premium Binder Vs. Scott Binder

The issue I see with needle nose pliers is that the grip will be very difficult to maintain (depending on the pliers.) If you see the plier start to open while bending, that's a sure sign.

I would look for vise-grip, or at least a heavier plier - like regular slip-joint, or lineman's pliers. As you probably know, there are a number of special metal bending tools, but the difficult part here is that the rings are attached to the mechanism.

It's almost a given that the ring will be marred by the tool after crunching and twisting it with a tool. Then it's a question of filing/emery paper. The plating in that area will of course probably be lost. The cat must have done a real number on it. Not surprised. I've forgotten half the things my cats purposely slid off the table.

The cat knocked if of the table. The binder opened and landed on the rings. It was a perfect storm

apastuszak,

What weight of paper do you use? I use 67 lb/147 GSM paper and mounts, and I can only get about 215-230 pages in the 3" version before it gets too stuffed.

I asked him this too, and I think it's Southworth, No.: RD18ICF Ivory, wove, 32 lb., 100% cotton. I got some, and it's very nice paper too. It's a bit heavier than the Mystic paper.

I have a few Mystic blanks, and used a couple for a page I made a while back. Once I figure out how to replicate the outer page border, I'm very anxious to use the Southworth.

I'm using these for the Mystic Heirloom. So, it's Mystic's paper. I just got 3 more binders in, and I'll be putting my Ukraine pages in there, which will be on Southworth 32 lb. 100% cotton paper. I'll let you know how many pages fit in that later today.

I've noticed with binder makers that the binder rings are almost always an afterthought, especially when it comes to craft binders. I found a very nice and expensive binder with a full leather cover, and the rings were super cheap.

Even expensive binders like the Scott and White Ace binders have cheap rings. I think the Scott rings are the way they are because of the hinges. The rings and metal hinges look to be one piece.

I loathe 3-ring binders. I do have a bit of nostalgia for them, since that's what my late father used (3" green cloth, shelves of them). But there's better out there: SG's 22-ring models, Leuchturm (Lighthouse) and their 6-ring, Shaubek's turn-post, even Palo's slightly maligned 5-ring jobs.

I don't know how you all suffer through the grade-school flashbacks.