Stamp Album Binders, Dividers, And More

I have several questions on the use of binders for stamp albums:
1. There is a metal or stainless steel thin pole with a screwdriver tightening end you use to load the pages into an album. Do you put the screwdriver end in the front or back of the album?
2. Does anyone use blank cardboard pages or plastic dividers for their albums? Would you put these pages or dividers in front or back of the albums?

For albums that use the 2 or 3 post, the "screw" is usually facing front (or top) so that you can undo it when you open the album.

Not clear what you are talking about regarding the dividers. Dividers would go throughout the album depending what sections you want to divide, right? Why would you put a divider only in the front or back?

I put two blank pages (flyleaves) at the beginning and end of my albums, to provide protection between the binder and the pages containing stamps.

Robert

I meant to use the term "sheet lifters" for "dividers". Does anybody use them for their albums? Are they placed in the front or back?

I'm not sure what you mean by a "sheet lifter." Like Robert, I put two blank pages; somewhat thicker card stock; in the front and back of my Scott International Big Blue albums.

I have a few large divider cards that I use. I also use some cardboard divider strips between the pages. Scott/Amos apparently doesn't make divider strips sized for International albums at this time. However, one can "play around" with divider strips that they do make for the National and country specialty albums. I generally get this stuff from Subway Stamp Shop in Altoona, PA as they make the same stuff that is of better quality than what Scott/Amos sells.

I don't use sheet lifters, but I believe they are put at both ends to keep the pages out of the hinge areas of the binder. This applies to circular ring binders. I'm not sure D-ring binders would need them.

Robert

Sheet lifter.

Page-turners placed at the frint and rear of the set of pages certainly ease the use of ring binders - most of the major album manufacturers offer them.

A blank "fly leaf" goes at the very beginning and the very end of an album. It's usually of heavyweight paper in whatever color is available. Makes it look nicer.

Some people also add "dividers" for different sections of their albums so they can locate "Airmails," for example. Most don't. You probably want to avoid cheaper "acidic" paper as it can ruin stamps over time. Look for "acid-free" on the label of whatever paper you buy. Nearly all stamp album pages are now acid-free, thank goodness.

The "screw" type albums you're referring to are usually called "two post" binder albums. The head of the screw can go either in the front or the back. I don't think it really matters.

Other types of binders are ring binders with various numbers of rings (I think the more the better, myself) and spring binders which have heavy duty metal "springs" that clamp the pages together. Some consider that method the more classic system for albums, but these binders usually cost more. Only ring binder albums open completely flat which is a consideration.

Thanks for the information; I am using a heavier 90 index paper for the beginning and ends of my world albums. I couldn't find any sheet lifters for two post (two hole punched) binder albums.

You shouldn't need them for peg binders - they're really designed for ring binders.