Uses for Binder Clips - Prevent Sliding Folders

First I'll show you the binder clip use from Lifehacker reader Mike, then I will tell you why I didn't post it the very day I saw it.

Mike didn't like the way his hanging folders slid around when he opened his file drawer, so he cleverly used this binder clip to stop them from sliding.

Now Lifehacker appears to have had no conflict over showing this as another of the wonderful uses of binder clips, but I was torn. I had to think about whether to file it under "Uses for Binder Clips" or "Inappropriate Uses for Binder Clips". This is because to me having the folders slide around is part of the fun of a file drawer. However, I am trying to learn to accept that for someone else my fun can be their annoyance and if a binder clip removes an annoyance, that is a good thing.

This is not the reason I didn't post this use right away. No, I'm afraid I had a more venal and embarrassing reason. I am filled with jealousy. I have been hoping since I started the binder clip series that Lifehacker or Merlin Mann would notice these postings and give them some props. But no. I've gone unnoticed. Reader Mike has one fairly obvious idea for solving a marginal problem and he gets his own posting on Lifehacker. Meanwhile. the bigtime binder clip boosters ignore the contributions to the field that I've made or reported on.

I should be content with the acclaim and adoration that I receive from all of you loyal readers. I shouldn't need recognition beyond what I have. I know that. But still, I feel discouraged. And who pays the price? You do. Instead of just posting Mike's picture and moving on, I procrastinated ten days and have now burdened you with my petty complaining.

But from now on, I will do my best to accept the vicissitudes of fame and put your interests ahead of my own selfish whims.

If Lifehacker, Merlin Mann or BoingBoing do come across this posting here are the top 3 binder clip uses I think you might want to feature:

• Uses for Binder Clips - Fashion Accessories
• Uses for Binder Clips - Stopping the Progress of Nature from Pearl.
• Uses for Binder Clips - Emergency Eyeglass Repair

Uses for Binder Clips - Thoughtful Gifts and House Forts

In her latest delightful post, the elusive Woodsy demonstrates two prime uses for binder clips. First we learn that one of her cherished gifts from her father was a metal box of binder clips.

Then we learn that one of her innovative uses for binder clips was building indoor forts with her sons:

My favourite use for binder clips will always be the bed sheet forts that the boys and I would build using clips to secure the half dozen or more sheets to tables and chairs - hours of fun.

Of course, long-term readers of this blog already knew that binder clips are a perfect gift for hipster indie girls, but now you know that they are also a perfect gift for single moms (and especially so for hipster indie single moms).

Uses for Binder Clips - Fixing a Knitting Mistake

Zoom made a huge mistake just as she was finishing a sweater. She didn't know how to fix it, but her knitting guru did. Among the ingredients, 2 binder clips.

You can read all about it on her blog.

It turns out that there are many uses for binder clips in the field of knitting. For example:

• Britt uses one in her Row Counter;
• According to Nicky Epstein, in Knitting Never Felt Better, you can add texture and interest to "regular" knitting by pleating the knitting with binder clips;
• Terryd says they are useful additions to a homemade cast-on comb;
• I gather they can be used in blocking (someone might want to update the Wikipedia entry to mention the possible use of binder clips); and
• SL Beeson suggests using binder clips along with a pillow case to keep big projects clean during the lengthy time it takes to complete them:

When knitting (or crocheting) a large item, such as a baby blanket or afghan (especially when working with a light color), once I have completed several inches, I put the item inside a pillow case, leaving only the last few rows outside. On each side of the case opening, I then clamp a small hair "claw" to secure the project inside. This then goes in my knitting/crochet bag, along with the needle, directions, etc. Simply release the clamps whenever you have worked several more inches, dropping more of the item into the pillow case, then replace the clamps. This keeps the project clean! You could use clothes pins or binder clips instead to secure your work inside the pillow case.

Of course, you don't have to use binder clips. You could use clips especially designed for knitting like knit klips only $15.49 for 10 (plus $14.50 shipping to Ottawa).

[Did you know that Mike Binder is writing the screenplay for the Friday Night Knitting Club? There doesn't seem to be a clip yet.]

Uses for Binder Clips - Cords and Hardware

Since binder clips are back in style, I have no reservation about passing on two new methods innovators have discovered for using our favourite clips to more easily connect hardware to power and data cords.

Yesterday, Bob (using Google Reader!) kindly emailed me a new post from Lifehacker, Clip Your Laptop Plug to the Back of the Desk, that details how one of their readers, LT, used a binder clip to attach a power cable for a MacBook to his desk so that he doesn't have to go crawling around on the floor any more. LT's innovation didn't come out thin air. He built on the previous work of Lihab, who came up with the previously blogged DIY binder clip cable catcher that was not specifically for MacIntosh cables. LT says:

My MacBook's power cord has two parts—midway through it the brick plugs into another cord, and I never take the bottom half of the cord with me. So, using the clip, I secured the first half of the plug to the desk, and now I plug in the brick when I get to the office—no climbing required.

Today, Kerri sent me a link to DIY iPhone Binder Clip Dock, a 10-minute video that shows you how to turn 15 binder clips into an iPhone dock. I don't have an iPhone, and now I think I will not get one. Because:

1. I don't have the patience to watch 10-minute long Youtube videos;
2. I don't think I could give up 15 of my precious clips for one gadget; and
3. Nothing I would do, not even a 30-binder clip iPhone dock would be as cool as the input device that James wired for his iPod.

What did James do? He wired a rotary-dial phone and a hand-crank phone so they can plug into his iPhone and be used for listening and talking while the iPhone stays flat on the ledge of the crank phone.

Links:

• Pictures I took at Kerri's opening at the Manx
• Some of Kerri's photos
• Previously on this Blog: Uses for Binder Clips - Cable Management

Inappropriate? Uses for Binder Clips: Art

I have been meaning to blog about this since March. It has taken so long partly because I was so disturbed.

A bloke named Mada put up an Instructable for making Industrial Picture Frames. The frames relied on alligator clamps for keeping things together. Naturally, I asked if binder clips could substitute. The answers dismayed me.

Mar 13, 2008. 3:45 PMdscrimshawsays: Perhaps binder clips could substitute for the clamps... Mar 15, 2008. 2:11 PMbbqpopesays: Yeah, but no..... binder clips are already associated with art. I have seen too many shows hung with them. I think the clips he uses are cool because they are not art related. Mar 14, 2008. 10:37 AMmadasays: Sure would - I actually tried that at first but liked the looks of the clamps better.

Could it be that binder clips are no longer stylish? I wondered.

Fortunately, my faith was recently restored when I had the opportunity to take a tour of the new apartment of the always-in-style Megan Butcher. Megan's apartment has nothing out of place and she had a set of decorative binder clips displayed in plain view.

Dubious Uses for Binder Clips: Boot Storage

Unclutterer posted a reader suggestion this week for people who need to store lots of boots: Use binder clips to suspend up to 5 pairs from a hanger. The reader, Lisa, recommends putting fabric between the teeth of the clip and the boots to prevent indentations.

I love hanging things and I love using binder clips, but I cannot support this binder clip use. As the clever commenters point out:

• Even with fabric, the clips will probably permanently indent leather.
• The point of being an "unclutterer" is to not have so much stuff that you need to hang 5 pairs of boots from a hanger.

Storage is not a big issue for my 2 pairs of boots, but I can tell you that I'd make a huge mess if I started storing them in a clothes cupboard without putting them in plastic bags first. And if they're in plastic bags, no need for binder clips.

I suspect these people hanging their boots in the closet don't live in winter geography. I'd wonder why they have boots at all, but they make it clear that it is not about necessity.

Wikihow has some better ideas for boot and shoe storage.

Uses for Binder Clips - Parchment Bag Cooking

Weeks and weeks and weeks ago, the Other Kerri sent me a clipping of an article describing binder clips used for en papillote (or "parchment bag") cooking. It thrilled me that she'd been so kind, that it was a completely new use of binder clips and it was a cooking method I had never heard of!

So why has it taken me so long to post it? Well you see, she got the clipping from Cook's Illustrated magazine and when I went to their website it became clear that while some of their content is online and can be linked to, this article was behind their subscriber firewall.

So, I could have written them and asked for permission to reproduce the article that Kerri sent me, but I didn't because it annoyed me that they didn't make the content freely available in the first place. Especially because it looks like they got the idea from a contributor, Jana Volavka, and all she probably got was a free issue of the magazine or something.

There are all sorts of places you can go on the web to find out about cooking en papillote. Until a few minutes ago, none of them mentioned the use of binder clips. But now in Wikipedia we see:

En Papillote (French: "in parchment") is a method of cooking in which the food is put into a folded pouch or parcel and then baked. The parcel is typically made from folded parchment paper, but other material such as a paper bag or metal foil may be used. The parcel holds in moisture to steam the food.

The moisture may be from the food itself or wine, butter, water, oil or another moisture source may be added.

En Papillote is perhaps most often used to cook fish. Choice of herbs, seasonings and spices depend on the particular recipe being prepared.

The pouch may be sealed with careful folding or through the use of staples, paper clips or binder clips.

External Links A basic Fish en Papillote recipe How To: Cooking en Papillote Using Reynolds® Parchment Paper

This is the beauty of Wikipedia: If it is missing something important, it can be fixed.

Meanwhile, I'm not even going to give a link to Cook's Illustrated. If they want to guard their intellectual property that carefully, they can't expect free advertising.

Missing the Point with Binder Clips?

Either binder clips are about to get really big or they're about to jump the shark.

Here are the signs:

• They now have their own fan blog;
• CBC radio is negotiating with several local bloggers for an interview on their uses (sticking point: use of aliases); and
• Mumsnet dissed my use of binder clips to hold up my sleeves.

Yes. It's true.

On April first, I noticed a spike in my traffic. This was odd because I hadn't posted for weeks. I thought maybe someone had picked up on a clever joke I blogged. Except I don't remember blogging any clever jokes other than the chia keyboard and it wasn't my idea.

It turns out the hits were coming from a discussion forum on Mumsnet (by parents for parents) that was started by someone calling herself Dumbledoresgirl who wrote:

I've just driven past a couple of young men, ok boys and one had his sleeves pushed up and I couldn't take my eyes off his naked forearms. But it isn't naked forearms per se otherwise men in t-shirts would be sexy, it is the pushed up sleeve business.

Why is this, do you think? (assuming you also find it sexy and it is not just me with some weird perversion)

This generated 142 comments: responses to the question, discussion of what makes a sexy forearm, how exactly the sleeve should be rolled, the importance of the shirt being tucked in, and other fine points. Other comments linked to photos with examples of rolled sleeves. Sexy examples and non-sexy examples.

And at 14:06:33 on 1-April-2010, on the fifth page of comments, FalafelAtYourFeet wrote:

this man has totally missed the point

and linked to Uses for Binder Clips - Holding Up Sleeves, which features this photo:

If you mouseover the picture you'll see it comes with excellent advice. I don't think I missed the point at all.

Uses for Binder Clips: Wedding Presents

The box of binder clips Real Grouchy gave Manon and me for our wedding was an excellent gift that keeps on giving.

What makes it especially good is that they were free binder clips. Real Grouchy has a relative who works somewhere that receives lots of documents. Apparently even though they tell the people submitting the documents not to clip them together, the submitters ignore the instructions and send in their documents with all manner and sizes of binder clips attaching them together.

Instead of throwing all these unneeded clips in the garbage, the relative saves them for Real Grouchy and he was able to spare some for us.

At his workplace back in May, Real Grouchy had an identity card machine. This meant he was able to make Manon and I official wedding cards.

I carry mine in my pocket.

Uses for Binder Clips - Holding Up Sleeves

The first thing I do when I put on a long-sleeved shirt is roll up the sleeves. This habit is so engrained that whenever I am wearing a suit I have to unroll my shirt sleeves before I put on the jacket.

I am good at rolling sleeves so they stay put. But some sleeves will fall down no matter what you do. Especially if you are doing something like washing dishes where you really don't want them to fall down.

Can you believe it was not until this weekend at the Bloggers' Brunch that I realized I could clip my sleeves in place?

I owe this discovery to XUP because she brought a selection of beautiful binder clips to the brunch and I wanted to wear mine.

Hard as it may be to believe, some of the bloggers there were not familiar with the "Uses for Binder Clips" series. Jo Stockton and I tried to explain about it but I got side-tracked when the phrase "king of the binder clip" was spoken. Side-tracked because a king must have a crown. I was anxious to get home and make one. But I stayed to the end because I was having fun.

Questionable Uses for Binder Clips: Getting Organized

Unclutterer and Lifehacker have reported on a binder clip use by Christine of Compass and Coffee Spoons. Christine took three binder clips, and put labels on them saying “To Do”, “To File”, and “To Pay”. She uses the clips to hold papers that need to have one of these things done and hangs them on the back of a closet door.

I've delayed several weeks in posting this because while I'm happy to see binder clips being used, holding papers together is not exactly an innovative use for them.

Furthermore, I'm not convinced they are the appropriate tool for this purpose. My preference would be a cut-out envelope.

Adding, finding and removing papers from a cut-out envelope is much easier and reduces the risk of everything falling onto the floor each time you add or remove a paper.

Uses for Binder Clips - Protecting Water Fountains

Pearl kindly sent me this earlier today:

Our water fountain is about ready to open for the season. With a bit of rubber liner, the binder clips kept snow and leaves out all winter.

From her blog, I can tell Pearl is a thoughtful person who weighs her actions.

This must mean that she has concluded that the greater good of protecting her water fountain from snow and leaves outweighs the harm exposing her beautiful, multi-functional binder clip to rust.

[I just realized that I momentarily forgot the point of binder clips. They exist to be used so that other things may achieve their purpose, not to be cherished in and of themselves. Does anyone else ever forget this about binder clips?]

A Mock Winter Photo Roundup

Tim Horton's Today

I was out at the Provincial Offences Court with Matt C today. Before we came back downtown, Matt insisted on getting a coffee at Tim Horton's. Even though I didn't have a free coffee coupon on me, I decided I could buy one for a change. At the counter, he ordered a medium black and I ordered a large black. His came in two nested Roll Up the Rim cups. My coffee came in two nested ordinary cups. "This isn't fair," I said. "I don't get a Roll Up the Rim and he gets two?"

Just like I'd failed to persuade a justice of the peace earlier on a fine recommendation, I failed to persuade them to give me a Roll Up the Rim cup.

As we were leaving the building, Matt said, "Just so you know, if either of these is a big winner..."

"I know," I said, "I'll get nothing."

"That's right."

But you know what? Later in the afternoon, Matt came over and gave me one of the cups. One with a "win/gagner un café/a coffee" on it. "Just so you know, Matt," I said, "If the coffee I get with this wins the car, I'll be keeping it and giving you nothing in return."

"That's right!" he said. After eight months of small claims court, we like having things like this spelled out in advance.

[The cup pictured above was found on Lisgar, already rolled and not a winner. In the garbage can I was putting it in when this photo was taken there was another cup that looked like it might not have had the rim rolled because it still had its lid on. But there was a bunch of Lisgar Collegiate teachers right behind me and I was too embarrassed to fish that cup out.]

Sign of Spring

In the bottom left of this picture is a blurry image of a robin. When I first spotted him, he was standing in the snow. Of course, once I got the camera out, he walked onto the grass and then kept getting farther and farther away from me until I spooked him enough that he flew away.

But at least this is proof that it is not actually winter here.

Binder Clip Research

In the comments to Uses for Binder Clips - Parchment Bag Cooking, Jennifer asked if the paint on binder clips will stand up to cooking temperatures. The binder clips pictured here were in a 400F oven for two hours and show no ill effects, not even the yellow one. (Alas I didn't get it together to make date squares, only an easy oven meal thing.)

Christmas Lights

The weekend before this past weekend, I took down my Christmas lights.

I'm tempted to say that this is the earliest in the year I've ever taken them down. This would be a truthful statement. But given that I'm supposed to be striving to be "ethically ambitious", I should acknowledge that this is the first time I've taken Christmas lights down since I moved into this house in 1993. Three things prompted me to take them down.

1. Only three of the bulbs lit up the last time I plugged them in (probably six months ago).
2. I have a secret plan for the dead bulbs (this photo shows them in sudsy water before I scrubbed and rinsed them.)
3. Pam, my lovely next door neighbour, asked if I would mind if she took down the string of lights on the side of the house we share. (Pam is very good at the technique of getting me to clean things up by offering to do it for me.)

Uses for Binder Clips - In the Kitchen

Uses for Binder Clips - Swedish for Broken by Megan.

Megan's Ikea dishrack started to go on her and she fixed it with what looks to me like a 1.5" binder clip.

She didn't mention this on her blog, but I think the handles on the clip could hold a few forks and spoons.

Inefficient Uses for Binder Clips - Clothing

More than 500 binder clips; Photo by stochasticgirl.

I recently came across a photo of this dress made of binder clips created by Psycho Girlfriend.

Designers Kasey McMahon and Vanessa Bonet are clearly top-knotch hipster indie girls and I admire their work, but I feel it is necessary to point out that binder clips aren't the appropriate technology for every job.

If you want to make a mesh dress, those red nets on the clementine boxes would be much easier to work with.

Uses for Binder Clips - In the Kitchen

I am big on binder clips [Wikipedia Entry].

To prevent myself from stealing them from work, I buy large quantities at the office supply store.

It's been said that binder clips are paper clips for grown-ups, but they can do much more than hold paper together.

I keep some in the kitchen for keeping bags sealed after opening.

Inappropriate Uses for Binder Clips: Masochism

I met up with Michael Dennis and his supporters the night he launched his new book of erotic poetry. "I know something you can do with binder clips," he said. I rolled my eyes because I knew where he was going. And he went there.

I don't know what it is about these erotic poets, because Megan didn't even talk about it; she just did it. She got out her pliers, loosened up a bunch of cute pink binder clips, and then clipped them to her bare flesh for a photo.

I am sorry, but this blog cannot support this binder clip use.

(a) The edge of the metal is sharp, it could cut you.

(b) If you have to loosen the clips, what will you do when you need to hold off the onset of winter or attach reindeer antlers to your cat?

The Hipster Travel Kit

A big thank you to Kathy A for my new t-shirt. I imagine I'll be wearing it a lot. But enough about me and my wardrobe. I'd like to introduce my latest invention.

I have been looking for the perfect gift for my friends who travel. My first thought was to give them ear plugs and eyeshades, items I've found useful for sleeping in noisy places like planes, buses and Italian hotel rooms. Then I went to the web for other useful travel items that people might not think of. First at the 43 Folders Wiki, I looked at Packing Hacks in the Travel Hacks section. The only advice: Duct Tape. When I found small rolls of duct tape, I thought, bingo! a case for other useful items!

Then I checked OneBag, where they also suggested duct tape, and many other things including bandannas and universal sink stoppers.

The eyeshade was my big problem. It's easy to find cheap polyester eyeshades, but you might as well cover your eyes with a plastic wrapper. Until Sarah E gave me the idea of using the bandanna as an eyeshade. The extra bonus is that you can do far more with a bandanna than you can with an eyeshade. Even a nice eyeshade from a fancy airline.

As for the binder clips, I plan to have a posting this week to illustrate some of the many uses for these versatile fasteners. Because their most famous use is the binding of the Hipster PDA, I am hoping that Merlin Mann will not mind my appropriation of the "Hipster" label for this travel kit.

The Hipster Travel Kit Contents:

• Universal sink stopper (or jar top gripper);
• Duct tape: the Handyman’s Secret Weapon;
• Bandana: dust-mask, eyeshade, hanky, flag
• Cord: clothesline, fastener;
• Binder Clips: emergency clothing repair, cufflinks, keyring;
• Ear plugs: for sleeping in noisy places and protecting your hearing in clubs and at concerts; and
• Bottle protector: for wrapping the contents of the travel kit.

Uses for Binder Clips - Zombie Killing Weapons

Our friend Kaye is preparing for her next movie and writes:

...though my energy canon and nuclear bomb are not quite finished ( I will send you pictures when they are) I have another prop that may interest you.

Upon looking at the first picture it looks like a cool, sophisticated crossbow. However, it is just a thrown-together prop which barely needs to work and I only put together for a few scenes. It does function however and its firing mechanism is: yes, a binder clip.

So there is another use for binder clips for you: "Crossbow Firing Mechanism"

JK Shorts on Youtube.

Uses for Binder Clips: Laser Pencil

Woodsy who is on a bit of a roll at Coloured Marbles lately has developed an excellent new use for a single binder clip. She says:

I unintentionally came up with another use for binder clips while fiddling during a long meeting.

I can now:

• easily pick up my pencil (great for anyone with arthritis),
• prevent the pencil from rolling off the meeting table,
• prevent chewing my pencil (see the bite marks?), and
• subtly aim it at speakers that are boring me and pretend it is a silencing laser!