Clips & Fasteners

FAQs

What types of clips are best for organising documents at home, for warehouses, in commercial kitchens, the office, or educational settings?

There are various types of clips, fasteners, and other organisational solutions available that are ideal for workplaces, home offices, and educational settings. 

For your general document organisation needs, standard metal paper clips and binder clips are most useful. Paper clips are simple and unobtrusive, which makes them an ideal fit for temporarily holding a few sheets together. Binder clips are the go-to for providing a firmer grip for thicker stacks and keeping papers secure without slipping.

When it comes to attaching sheets to notice boards or soft surfaces, push pins or tacks are undoubtedly the simplest and most practical solution. For files you need to store long-term or transport, look for fasteners that go through punched holes or secure thick bundles more reliably than simple clips.

The same range of clips are also a good choice for educational settings, from paper clips and binder clips to push pins and tacks - this applies to admin, teachers, and students. However, also be mindful of student safety, especially when it comes to younger students. For younger children clipping or fastening their own work, avoid clips or fasteners that clamp down too fast or are made from harder materials that could cause injury if mishandled. Provide younger students with safer alternatives such as softer plastic paper clips and be sure to supervise them when they’re learning to use these items for the first time.

In other settings, such as warehouses, heavy-duty clips can be a great choice when you need to secure essential information or lists for tasks such as inventory tracking. 

Clips are a similarly good option for commercial kitchens where you need to frequently prepare different meals and will receive an array of orders with special requirements. Clips such as Mori clips make it simple to put up and keep order details visible as needed in fast-paced environments.

How do binder clips differ from bulldog clips in terms of strength and use?

Binder clips and bulldog clips both secure groups of paper and are often interchangeable terms. However, the key differentiators tend to apply to their size and overall strength. Generally, you’ll find the key differences are as follows:

• Binder clips have two metal arms and a springy, folded steel body. They grip firmly and are good for moderately thick stacks of documents or paper. Their arms can fold down flat once clipped, which keeps them out of the way.

• Bulldog clips are typically a larger form of binder clips, with a wider grip area and a stronger spring tension. They’re better suited for larger bundles or when you need a more powerful clamp-like hold.

Generally, you’ll find that binder clips are the more common choice for everyday desk tasks, while bulldog clips are useful for heavier-duty needs, such as securing substantial paper bundles or when you need to hang documents from a board or rail.

Are plastic-coated paper clips more durable than standard metal clips?

In certain circumstances, plastic-coated paper clips can be more durable than metal clips thanks to the coating that helps prevent slippage and protects sheets from surface marks or scratches. The plastic coating can also resist corrosion better over time than bare metal.

However, for most routine document tasks in normal office environments, standard metal paper clips are effective and economical. Unless there is excessive humidity in your workplace or home office, metal clips will remain durable without issue. The choice between plastic-coated and metal clips often comes down to personal preference and whether you want the added grip that coated clips can offer.

What size binder or foldback clip should I use for different document thicknesses?

Binder and foldback clips come in any array of sizes, typically measured by the width of the clip’s body. While sizing conventions do vary, the following benchmarks are a good guide of general sizing and what they tend to be best suited for:

• Small clips (measuring 15 - 25 mm) are ideal for thin stacks of paper (up to around 30 - 40 sheets).

• Medium clips (measuring 30 - 45 mm) hold moderate stacks (roughly 50 - 80 sheets).

• Large clips (measuring 50 mm and above) work well for thicker bundles or when you want a strong grip on a mixture of documents.

As a general guide, choose a clip size that comfortably fits the width of your paper stack and provides a secure grip. Avoid exceeding the recommended sheet capacity, as this may damage the clip.

How can clips and fasteners help streamline day-to-day paper organisation?

There are several ways in which clips and fasteners make paper organisation easier, especially when you need to add or remove documents from time to time. They can make all of the following efforts easier:

• Grouping related documents so they stay together and don’t get mixed up.

• Reducing reliance on staples or permanent punches when you want to avoid damaging sheets.

• Making it quick to add or remove pages without undoing staples or rebinding.

• Keeping workstations tidy, with papers arranged in neat stacks rather than loose piles.

Using the right clips and fasteners helps you keep track of tasks, speeds up filing and retrieval, and minimises the time spent sorting loose papers.

Which fasteners and clips are suitable for securing large or thick document bundles?

For large or thick document bundles, we recommend looking for heavy-duty fasteners such as prong fasteners that can pass through multiple sheets. These fasteners work with punched paper and hold stacks together securely in folders or binders. They work by inserting the prongs through the holes of punched paper (or holes you’ve created) and, once the prongs have pushed through the other side, they can be split and flattened to secure the bundle in place.

Another option is large binder clips, which can clamp a significant number of pages without bending or losing grip - all you need to do is ensure the binder clips are large enough to clamp down the document bundle without strain. 

How do I choose the right file fastener for archiving paperwork?

When archiving paperwork, consider the size of the document bundles, how you intend to file and store the documents, and how often you will need to access them. Some tips to keep in mind are:

• You should choose fasteners that easily work with punched or pre-drilled holes when you’re placing documents in binders or lever-arch folders.

• Look for metal prong or split-type fasteners for long-term holding strength. These fasteners keep sheets well-aligned and minimise shifting over time. 

• Metal fasteners can add an extra sense of professionalism and security thanks to their more rigid design, while plastic fasteners can be a more affordable option with greater flexibility thanks to the material. Plastic fasteners can withstand most typical office conditions. The same goes for metal fasteners, but it’s important to be mindful of using metal fasteners if your workplace or archive room deals with more humidity, which could cause damage over prolonged periods of time.

• Plastic fasteners are also an ideal option for classroom settings where students will fasten folders themselves. The material is safer than metal, especially for younger students.

• Ensure the fastener you select can accommodate the thickness of your archive bundle without bending or stressing the paper.

Are push pins and tacks suitable for both cork boards and soft wall panels?

Generally speaking, all push pins and tacks are designed to be used on soft surfaces that can be pierced without sustaining damage. These include cork boards, soft wall panels, and fabric notice boards - all of which are ideal for pinning up reminders, photos, or lightweight documents.

You should avoid the use of push pins or tacks on hard surfaces like painted plaster walls, glass or metal, as they’re unlikely to work and can cause unwanted marks, chips, or other damage. For these harder surfaces, it’s better to opt for adhesive-backed clips or magnetic options.