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General Philatelic/Newcomer Cnr : Looking for an alternative to a stamp album and stock book

 

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malby66
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07 Sep 2017
04:13:15pm
I was wondering if there are any other ideas for storing a collection safely without using a stamp album or a stock book. Being a topical stamp set collector I went out and bought some Vario pages and a few albums to store them in. After adding some stamps to a few pages I decided I didn't like the fact that 1 page had a few stamps in it and then I had to switch to another size page because the next stamps were a different size. I'm trying to keep the countries together. I want to fill a page then work on the next page. To do this I thought I would do my own pages so I bought a few binders from Staples, some mounts and the blank quad-ruled Scott pages. I didn't realize that the Scott pages were larger than the binders I bought. I returned the binders and figured my only option was to buy the Scott binders to fit the pages until I saw the cost. Before I drop $60 on an empty binder and slipcase I was wondering if there's another option out there. I was looking at sketchbooks for a reasonable price that I could use to make my own pages. They come hard or spiral bound with 65 lb paper. If anyone has an opinion on these please let me know. Other than that I'm lost. Right now I'm using Glassine Envelopes to store my stamps in until I come up with something. Thanks for the read and any ideas appreciated.
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roy
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BuckaCover.com - 80,000 covers priced 60c to $1.50 - Easy browsing 500 categories

07 Sep 2017
05:15:50pm
re: Looking for an alternative to a stamp album and stock book

"I didn't realize that the Scott pages were larger than the binders I bought. I returned the binders and figured my only option was to buy the Scott binders to fit the pages until I saw the cost. "



Why didn't you go the other way? Keep the binders, ditch the Scott pages and buy standard size 3-ring quadrille pages?

You can also find free on-line templates for printing your own "graph" paper with various weights of lines. Then you can print your own on whatever paper you like.

Roy
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sheepshanks
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07 Sep 2017
05:17:44pm
re: Looking for an alternative to a stamp album and stock book

Not sure whether these would suit your purpose, if not maybe Staples have some other styles that would work.
https://www.staples.com/Ampad-Evidence-4x4-Quadrille-Ruled-Pad-8-1-2-x-11-50-Sheets-Pad-10-PD-PK-22-000/product_534529

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malby66
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07 Sep 2017
05:32:37pm
re: Looking for an alternative to a stamp album and stock book

Thanks for the response. Doesn't the paper have to be a certain pound to handle the weight of the stamps on the page? Are those quad-ruled pages thicker for the 8x10 binders? That's why I kept the Scott ones.

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sheepshanks
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07 Sep 2017
05:41:06pm
re: Looking for an alternative to a stamp album and stock book

Think the web site said it was 50lb stock. I use 65lb card stock for my Steiner pages.

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sheepshanks
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07 Sep 2017
05:49:48pm
re: Looking for an alternative to a stamp album and stock book

Here is another site you may want to consider.
https://www.arpinphilately.com/itm/quadruled-pages-for-stamp-albums

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roy
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BuckaCover.com - 80,000 covers priced 60c to $1.50 - Easy browsing 500 categories

07 Sep 2017
05:50:48pm
re: Looking for an alternative to a stamp album and stock book

You can buy whatever weight paper you like. 65 lb is plenty heavy enough.

Go to this page http://www.iswsc.org/iswsc_albums.html

and you can print free pages in several designs and even add your own heading before printing

You can also buy commercially printed pages. Here is a link to the catalogue of a Canadian supplier. I searched for similar products in the US, but didn't find any immediately. I am sure they are available somewhere.

http://www.unitradeassoc.com/pdf/Chap-1%20Accessories%202012.pdf

Roy

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"Over 7,000 new covers coming Wednesday March 20. See my homepage for details."

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malby66
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07 Sep 2017
05:58:27pm
re: Looking for an alternative to a stamp album and stock book

Thank you both for the help.

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michael78651

07 Sep 2017
09:20:20pm
re: Looking for an alternative to a stamp album and stock book

I have found that most of the standard album pages are 24 lb. paper. For Steiner pages, I use 24 lb. acid free paper without any problems.

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clivel
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07 Sep 2017
10:20:02pm
re: Looking for an alternative to a stamp album and stock book

"Think the web site said it was 50lb stock. I use 65lb card stock for my Steiner pages."


North American paper weights are just about the most confusing system of measurements imaginable. There is actually no discernible relationship between different types of paper and types of card stock weights, they are on completely different scales.
Logically one would expect 50lb paper to be around 77% as thick as 65lb card stock but that is not the case. The only way to compare is to first convert (using tables found on the web) each to a common unit such as grams/square meter. It turns out that 65lb card stock is nearly 2 1/2 times as thick as the 50lb paper.

"Go to this page http://www.iswsc.org/iswsc_albums.html
and you can print free pages in several designs and even add your own heading before printing"


If those don't exactly suit your needs, similar pages can be created in minutes using AlbumEasy , and with a little more effort you can create fully custom pages.
Clive

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"AlbumEasy - Free software for creating custom stamp album pages."

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angore
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Al
Collector, Moderator

08 Sep 2017
05:47:20am
re: Looking for an alternative to a stamp album and stock book

The paper weights can be confusing (bond, text, cover, index, card, etc) but all US papers show a metric equivalent such as 104 g/m2, etc. I prefer 28paper (around 5.8 mil) and 65/67 cover (around 8 mil). Minkus pages were around 8mil.

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"Stamp Collecting is a many splendored thing"
BermudaSailor
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08 Sep 2017
04:02:15pm
re: Looking for an alternative to a stamp album and stock book

I make my own album pages using 60# acid free stock from Staples. To do this I use a free software platform called Album Easy www.thestampweb.com. Before you panic, I want to let you know that I am no means a computer geek, and I was able to learn to use this in fairly short order. Album Easy allows the user to lay out different sized stamps on the same row, etc. There is a thread on the Supply Topic about Album Easy, check it out.

David

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d1stamper
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08 Sep 2017
04:37:17pm

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re: Looking for an alternative to a stamp album and stock book

David

I looked on line at Staples in the USA and i Canada and I could not find anything that was 60# acid free stock. Maybe I missed it or didn't search properly.

Could you provid a stock number or link to the paper?

Thanks

Doug

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michael78651

08 Sep 2017
04:59:22pm
re: Looking for an alternative to a stamp album and stock book

Here are the standard paper weights:

- 20 lb (regular paper)

- 24 lb (high-volume use)

- 65 lb (card stock)

- 67 lb (cover stock)

- 110 lb (index card

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HungaryForStamps
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08 Sep 2017
05:54:29pm
re: Looking for an alternative to a stamp album and stock book

When you talk about paper weight you must either use "GSM" (g/m2) or if you choose to use "lbs" you must indicate the type of paper, "text", "bond", "index", "cover". There is a different scale of weight in "lbs" for each paper type.

For example, Scott National paper is roughly 100 lb text. That is not the same in card or index weight.

So either use GSM or remain consistent when you quote paper type. I think in most cases people mean "text" but are saying index or card and provided the "text" weight.

Randomly search and you will find plenty of FAQs on paper company sites, such as...

Image Not Found

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michael78651

08 Sep 2017
06:20:01pm
re: Looking for an alternative to a stamp album and stock book

I used what was printed on the back of a ream of paper from Office Max.

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AntoniusRa
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The truth is within and only you can reveal it

08 Sep 2017
07:37:54pm
re: Looking for an alternative to a stamp album and stock book

You might be well served by trying springback binders. Light house and some other manufactures make them and used ones can be found quite cheaply. They will accomodate many different types and sizes of pages.

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mitch.seymourfamily.com/mward/collection/mapindex.html
BermudaSailor
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11 Sep 2017
09:34:30am
re: Looking for an alternative to a stamp album and stock book

Doug,

As others have said, there is no 60# paper, I was working from memory (not always the best idea in my case). What I use is 67# acid free paper from Staples. The package does not have any stock numbers or other identifiers on it.

David

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angore
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Al
Collector, Moderator

11 Sep 2017
05:35:42pm
re: Looking for an alternative to a stamp album and stock book

I have purchased the cream version.

The website states white is acid free but did not see it mentioned for colors.

https://www.staples.com/Staples-Cover-Stock-Paper-8-1-2-x-11-White/product_490882

I do not have the original packaging so cannot tell if marked as acid free but will check when I visit again.

Domtar makes a 67 lb cover vellum bristol that is acid free. Amazon shows it.

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"Stamp Collecting is a many splendored thing"
MaggieYork

12 Sep 2017
03:41:13am
re: Looking for an alternative to a stamp album and stock book

I use both Stock books and defined pages using hinges for my GB collection. However, I'm currently reorganising my entire collection and have decided to make up my own pages following along the line of the Stanley Gibbons Windsor Album pages - one issue, one page. It'll take time but will be worth doing.

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angore
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Al
Collector, Moderator

01 Oct 2017
07:48:31am
re: Looking for an alternative to a stamp album and stock book

"What I use is 67# acid free paper from Staples. The package does not have any stock numbers or other identifiers on it."



I was in Staples recently and checked their house brand 67 lb cover and it is listed as acid free on the package. If you go to their website, it does not show the colors as acid free.

https://www.staples.com/Staples-Cover-Stock-Paper-8-1-2-x-11-Ivory/product_490885

I use it and complements the cream Domtar pages I also use.

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"Stamp Collecting is a many splendored thing"
keesindy
Members Picture


01 Oct 2017
02:44:33pm
re: Looking for an alternative to a stamp album and stock book

I think I'm repeating myself here, but I strongly recommend that everyone interested in this "acid free" discussion do a google search on

"acid free" versus archival

The terms are not synonymous and "acid free" may not be the paper characteristic you're actually looking for.

Tom

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"I no longer collect, but will never abandon the hobby"
larsdog
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APS #220693 ATA#57179

01 Oct 2017
06:53:49pm
re: Looking for an alternative to a stamp album and stock book

""acid free" versus archival"



Tom,

Would it not make a difference whether you are using hinges to attach directly to the paper versus mounts that protect the stamp?

I like using 8-1/2 x 11 pages, and when I don't use pre-printed pages or pre-printed blanks (with the decorative border), I use 67 pound card stock, a three hole punch, and a 3/8" corner rounder to match my pre-printed pages. Anything too big to go on a page goes into a sheet album. Often I will get two copies and split one for my album but keep the intact item in the sheet album. The only two things I have that won't fit that plan are an uncut press sheet of the World Stamp Expo Space sheet and intact strips of those silly US Flags of Our Nation coils. Those are both framed, and the divided versions of each are in the albums.
The advantages of 8-1/2 x 11 (more choices for paper, binders; easier to run through a printer; easy to punch holes) far outweigh the disadvantages (smaller page size).

Lars

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"Expanding your knowledge faster than your collection can save you a few bucks."

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malby66

07 Sep 2017
04:13:15pm

I was wondering if there are any other ideas for storing a collection safely without using a stamp album or a stock book. Being a topical stamp set collector I went out and bought some Vario pages and a few albums to store them in. After adding some stamps to a few pages I decided I didn't like the fact that 1 page had a few stamps in it and then I had to switch to another size page because the next stamps were a different size. I'm trying to keep the countries together. I want to fill a page then work on the next page. To do this I thought I would do my own pages so I bought a few binders from Staples, some mounts and the blank quad-ruled Scott pages. I didn't realize that the Scott pages were larger than the binders I bought. I returned the binders and figured my only option was to buy the Scott binders to fit the pages until I saw the cost. Before I drop $60 on an empty binder and slipcase I was wondering if there's another option out there. I was looking at sketchbooks for a reasonable price that I could use to make my own pages. They come hard or spiral bound with 65 lb paper. If anyone has an opinion on these please let me know. Other than that I'm lost. Right now I'm using Glassine Envelopes to store my stamps in until I come up with something. Thanks for the read and any ideas appreciated.

Like
Login to Like
this post

BuckaCover.com - 80,000 covers priced 60c to $1.50 - Easy browsing 500 categories
07 Sep 2017
05:15:50pm

re: Looking for an alternative to a stamp album and stock book

"I didn't realize that the Scott pages were larger than the binders I bought. I returned the binders and figured my only option was to buy the Scott binders to fit the pages until I saw the cost. "



Why didn't you go the other way? Keep the binders, ditch the Scott pages and buy standard size 3-ring quadrille pages?

You can also find free on-line templates for printing your own "graph" paper with various weights of lines. Then you can print your own on whatever paper you like.

Roy
Like
Login to Like
this post

"Over 7,000 new covers coming Wednesday March 20. See my homepage for details."

www.Buckacover.com
Members Picture
sheepshanks

07 Sep 2017
05:17:44pm

re: Looking for an alternative to a stamp album and stock book

Not sure whether these would suit your purpose, if not maybe Staples have some other styles that would work.
https://www.staples.com/Ampad-Evidence-4x4-Quadrille-Ruled-Pad-8-1-2-x-11-50-Sheets-Pad-10-PD-PK-22-000/product_534529

Like
Login to Like
this post
Members Picture
malby66

07 Sep 2017
05:32:37pm

re: Looking for an alternative to a stamp album and stock book

Thanks for the response. Doesn't the paper have to be a certain pound to handle the weight of the stamps on the page? Are those quad-ruled pages thicker for the 8x10 binders? That's why I kept the Scott ones.

Like
Login to Like
this post
Members Picture
sheepshanks

07 Sep 2017
05:41:06pm

re: Looking for an alternative to a stamp album and stock book

Think the web site said it was 50lb stock. I use 65lb card stock for my Steiner pages.

Like
Login to Like
this post
Members Picture
sheepshanks

07 Sep 2017
05:49:48pm

re: Looking for an alternative to a stamp album and stock book

Here is another site you may want to consider.
https://www.arpinphilately.com/itm/quadruled-pages-for-stamp-albums

Like
Login to Like
this post

BuckaCover.com - 80,000 covers priced 60c to $1.50 - Easy browsing 500 categories
07 Sep 2017
05:50:48pm

re: Looking for an alternative to a stamp album and stock book

You can buy whatever weight paper you like. 65 lb is plenty heavy enough.

Go to this page http://www.iswsc.org/iswsc_albums.html

and you can print free pages in several designs and even add your own heading before printing

You can also buy commercially printed pages. Here is a link to the catalogue of a Canadian supplier. I searched for similar products in the US, but didn't find any immediately. I am sure they are available somewhere.

http://www.unitradeassoc.com/pdf/Chap-1%20Accessories%202012.pdf

Roy

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1 Member
likes this post.
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"Over 7,000 new covers coming Wednesday March 20. See my homepage for details."

www.Buckacover.com
Members Picture
malby66

07 Sep 2017
05:58:27pm

re: Looking for an alternative to a stamp album and stock book

Thank you both for the help.

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michael78651

07 Sep 2017
09:20:20pm

re: Looking for an alternative to a stamp album and stock book

I have found that most of the standard album pages are 24 lb. paper. For Steiner pages, I use 24 lb. acid free paper without any problems.

Like
Login to Like
this post
Members Picture
clivel

07 Sep 2017
10:20:02pm

re: Looking for an alternative to a stamp album and stock book

"Think the web site said it was 50lb stock. I use 65lb card stock for my Steiner pages."


North American paper weights are just about the most confusing system of measurements imaginable. There is actually no discernible relationship between different types of paper and types of card stock weights, they are on completely different scales.
Logically one would expect 50lb paper to be around 77% as thick as 65lb card stock but that is not the case. The only way to compare is to first convert (using tables found on the web) each to a common unit such as grams/square meter. It turns out that 65lb card stock is nearly 2 1/2 times as thick as the 50lb paper.

"Go to this page http://www.iswsc.org/iswsc_albums.html
and you can print free pages in several designs and even add your own heading before printing"


If those don't exactly suit your needs, similar pages can be created in minutes using AlbumEasy , and with a little more effort you can create fully custom pages.
Clive

Like
Login to Like
this post

"AlbumEasy - Free software for creating custom stamp album pages."

www.thestampweb.com
Members Picture
angore

Al
Collector, Moderator
08 Sep 2017
05:47:20am

re: Looking for an alternative to a stamp album and stock book

The paper weights can be confusing (bond, text, cover, index, card, etc) but all US papers show a metric equivalent such as 104 g/m2, etc. I prefer 28paper (around 5.8 mil) and 65/67 cover (around 8 mil). Minkus pages were around 8mil.

Like
Login to Like
this post

"Stamp Collecting is a many splendored thing"
Members Picture
BermudaSailor

08 Sep 2017
04:02:15pm

re: Looking for an alternative to a stamp album and stock book

I make my own album pages using 60# acid free stock from Staples. To do this I use a free software platform called Album Easy www.thestampweb.com. Before you panic, I want to let you know that I am no means a computer geek, and I was able to learn to use this in fairly short order. Album Easy allows the user to lay out different sized stamps on the same row, etc. There is a thread on the Supply Topic about Album Easy, check it out.

David

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d1stamper

08 Sep 2017
04:37:17pm

Auctions

re: Looking for an alternative to a stamp album and stock book

David

I looked on line at Staples in the USA and i Canada and I could not find anything that was 60# acid free stock. Maybe I missed it or didn't search properly.

Could you provid a stock number or link to the paper?

Thanks

Doug

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this post
michael78651

08 Sep 2017
04:59:22pm

re: Looking for an alternative to a stamp album and stock book

Here are the standard paper weights:

- 20 lb (regular paper)

- 24 lb (high-volume use)

- 65 lb (card stock)

- 67 lb (cover stock)

- 110 lb (index card

Like
Login to Like
this post
Members Picture
HungaryForStamps

08 Sep 2017
05:54:29pm

re: Looking for an alternative to a stamp album and stock book

When you talk about paper weight you must either use "GSM" (g/m2) or if you choose to use "lbs" you must indicate the type of paper, "text", "bond", "index", "cover". There is a different scale of weight in "lbs" for each paper type.

For example, Scott National paper is roughly 100 lb text. That is not the same in card or index weight.

So either use GSM or remain consistent when you quote paper type. I think in most cases people mean "text" but are saying index or card and provided the "text" weight.

Randomly search and you will find plenty of FAQs on paper company sites, such as...

Image Not Found

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michael78651

08 Sep 2017
06:20:01pm

re: Looking for an alternative to a stamp album and stock book

I used what was printed on the back of a ream of paper from Office Max.

Like
Login to Like
this post
Members Picture
AntoniusRa

The truth is within and only you can reveal it
08 Sep 2017
07:37:54pm

re: Looking for an alternative to a stamp album and stock book

You might be well served by trying springback binders. Light house and some other manufactures make them and used ones can be found quite cheaply. They will accomodate many different types and sizes of pages.

Like
Login to Like
this post

mitch.seymourfamily. ...
Members Picture
BermudaSailor

11 Sep 2017
09:34:30am

re: Looking for an alternative to a stamp album and stock book

Doug,

As others have said, there is no 60# paper, I was working from memory (not always the best idea in my case). What I use is 67# acid free paper from Staples. The package does not have any stock numbers or other identifiers on it.

David

Like
Login to Like
this post
Members Picture
angore

Al
Collector, Moderator
11 Sep 2017
05:35:42pm

re: Looking for an alternative to a stamp album and stock book

I have purchased the cream version.

The website states white is acid free but did not see it mentioned for colors.

https://www.staples.com/Staples-Cover-Stock-Paper-8-1-2-x-11-White/product_490882

I do not have the original packaging so cannot tell if marked as acid free but will check when I visit again.

Domtar makes a 67 lb cover vellum bristol that is acid free. Amazon shows it.

Like
Login to Like
this post

"Stamp Collecting is a many splendored thing"
MaggieYork

12 Sep 2017
03:41:13am

re: Looking for an alternative to a stamp album and stock book

I use both Stock books and defined pages using hinges for my GB collection. However, I'm currently reorganising my entire collection and have decided to make up my own pages following along the line of the Stanley Gibbons Windsor Album pages - one issue, one page. It'll take time but will be worth doing.

Like
Login to Like
this post
Members Picture
angore

Al
Collector, Moderator
01 Oct 2017
07:48:31am

re: Looking for an alternative to a stamp album and stock book

"What I use is 67# acid free paper from Staples. The package does not have any stock numbers or other identifiers on it."



I was in Staples recently and checked their house brand 67 lb cover and it is listed as acid free on the package. If you go to their website, it does not show the colors as acid free.

https://www.staples.com/Staples-Cover-Stock-Paper-8-1-2-x-11-Ivory/product_490885

I use it and complements the cream Domtar pages I also use.

Like
Login to Like
this post

"Stamp Collecting is a many splendored thing"
Members Picture
keesindy

01 Oct 2017
02:44:33pm

re: Looking for an alternative to a stamp album and stock book

I think I'm repeating myself here, but I strongly recommend that everyone interested in this "acid free" discussion do a google search on

"acid free" versus archival

The terms are not synonymous and "acid free" may not be the paper characteristic you're actually looking for.

Tom

Like
Login to Like
this post

"I no longer collect, but will never abandon the hobby"
Members Picture
larsdog

APS #220693 ATA#57179
01 Oct 2017
06:53:49pm

re: Looking for an alternative to a stamp album and stock book

""acid free" versus archival"



Tom,

Would it not make a difference whether you are using hinges to attach directly to the paper versus mounts that protect the stamp?

I like using 8-1/2 x 11 pages, and when I don't use pre-printed pages or pre-printed blanks (with the decorative border), I use 67 pound card stock, a three hole punch, and a 3/8" corner rounder to match my pre-printed pages. Anything too big to go on a page goes into a sheet album. Often I will get two copies and split one for my album but keep the intact item in the sheet album. The only two things I have that won't fit that plan are an uncut press sheet of the World Stamp Expo Space sheet and intact strips of those silly US Flags of Our Nation coils. Those are both framed, and the divided versions of each are in the albums.
The advantages of 8-1/2 x 11 (more choices for paper, binders; easier to run through a printer; easy to punch holes) far outweigh the disadvantages (smaller page size).

Lars

Like
Login to Like
this post

"Expanding your knowledge faster than your collection can save you a few bucks."

stamps.colp.info
        

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