Reinforcing Album Page Holes

Has anyone tried to reinforce their album page holes? I would like to do this but I can't stand to use those little white circles. They look really bad. I've thought of clear page protectors but they would make the pages stick out past the edge of the album. Any ideas would be appreciated. Thanks.

Avery makes clear reinforcements. I don't know if that would work for your aesthetic, but you could check them out.

I also have no idea how they would hold up for thirty years.

Leoh, I agree with Cjd that you might prefer clear reinforcements. I have both types but use the clear ones 80- 90% of the time.
Mike

Mystic sells short, thin, clear strips that align with album pages, so are much better than the round reinforcements.

Donald

I use tape and a hole puncher.

dlambert1, I just checked with Mystic and they don't have them. I think I'll go with the clear reinforcement "donuts". Thanks everyone.

Personally, I prefer the white reinforcements (easier to line up), but I apply them to the BACK of the pages. I have reinforced over 500 pages in my White Ace albums with good results.

Hi Larsdog

Never thought of putting them on the back of the page. Nice idea That way they do not detract from the page with stamps. Also, that gives one the option of using the really tough hole reinforcer. I know it "bulks" up the Album but the Scott, or something similar, filler strips seem to work fairly well in evening out the bulk.
I have seen a few albums using them.

Jerry B

Jerry,
You're right. Bulk can be an issue, but I use White Ace binders which aren't very big. It means I need a lot of binders (3 for definitives; 13 for Commemoratives; 1 for Airmail; and 1 for BOB), but it also means that hole reinforcements don't cause problems.
Lars

I have used, depending on the paper size and use, either scotch tape or clear packing tape and whatever hole punch works best for the hole pattern. Works well for tab dividers, too.

(O)

I use the clear strips myself. I tried the donuts but I didn't like how the page bulked up at the holes only. My problem is that I also use the square post Scott binders so I have to individually cut, with an exact knife, the square holes, once I put the clear strip on. But I haven't had any of my pages fail me yet, so it's worth it.

Has anyone ever seen paper that has a strip down the left-hand side that reinforces the entire side of the page. If we could get that kind of paper in a decent weight and a nice cream color, they would be ideal for album pages. It's almost like the edge of the page is coated in plastic. They're almost impossible to tear.

Hi apastuszak

I have seen them before. I have seen ones with a thin metal (looks like copper) strip down the side and also the ones you describe that are like plastic. The plastic ones would look better in a stamp album. I don't remember seeing them in an office supply store.

Here are a couple of links I found by Googling:

http://www.thefind.com/office/info-...filler-paper

http://www.quill.com/rediform-20-lb...k/63064.html

The last link is to paper with a Mylar strip. What we think is plastic is actually Mylar. For stamp albums that is even better.
Based on one of the links it seems that Staples is a preferred source.

I wonder if your local independent printer can get heavier
re-inforced paper. It seems most advertised is 20lb.


Jerry B

I can't believe that nobody has commented on the posts about using scotch or packing tape. In all of my experience with stamps, those tapes are supposed to be kept far, far away from your albums. One of the albums I am transferring to a new one (an old Harris Statesman) was reinforced with scotch tape, and every stamp within 1" to 1.5" from that edge has turned brown/yellow. I have also heard of the clear reinforcements doing the same thing, as they are made almost the same way as scotch tape. I haven't heard of the white ones cause any problems, so I think it must be something in the plastic or the glue that is used to keep the tapes clear.

I don't use the white hole reinforcers for their lack of strength and longevity.
For my workbooks, I have had good luck with glue-sticking strips (3/4") of construction paper along the edges on both sides, pre-punching with a three-hole punch.
It's a cheap, convenient, and easy solution. I do like the idea of the copper strips for a permanent and esthetic solution, providing the adhesive is (more or less) permanent.
Regards
Art (newbie)