Introduction: Stand-Up Folding Organizer
I like to keep track of things on paper when working; hand written notes, printouts, sketches, and things of that nature, but I don't have a cubicle or other area where it would be reasonable to hang a cork board. Hence, a self-standing organizer to which pieces of paper can be attatched. It folds, too, for transport and storage.
This organizer is fabricated out of some heavy-duty (1/16") wood-grain paperboard that I found, though other materials (thin plywood, cardboard, corroplast) could be substituted. A pair of suitable hinges are made (in my case, scored creases) so that the three panels of the organizer can fold.
The clips are "mini binder clips", which are pretty cheap (about 1 USD per dozen). After laying out their locations and cleaning off any manufacturing oils with rubbing alcohol or similar solvent, simply swing one leg back, apply a dab of epoxy to the board, and press the clip down, securing the sheet metal body and wire leg. A close-up of this position is included.
The organizer pictured is 30" tall. It couldn't be much shorter, because the center panel is designed to hold both a 11" by 17" and a 8.5" x 11" piece of paper, with a 2 cm distance between the top of the panel and the top of the top binder clip, and a 1 cm distance between the bottom of the 17" tall piece of paper and the clip below it.
This panel is divided into three panels; left to right, these are 9.5", 12", and 9.5" wide - slightly wider than the paper each panel is designed to accommodate. This is important; if the panels are narrower than the paper, the paper will be creased each time you fold up the organizer.
The clips are arranged so that three sheets can be stored on each side panel; separation between the two top clips is 2".
2 Comments
11 years ago on Introduction
Very clever. This is something I've been looking for. Intriguing. Simple. Well done.
11 years ago on Introduction
A simple adaptation on what you have done would be to have seven metal clips, each holding identical Manila envelopes. Mark them for the days of the week. If you have a responsibility to handle on June 8, write "June 8, '12" on the piece of paper and put it in the Friday envelope. Each evening open the envelope for the next day so you know what is coming. If you need to file quarterly taxes by September 15, write a note and mark it September 10. Drop it in the Monday envelope because that date is a Monday this year. Your check will arrive in the mail on time. It is always good to see someone interested in keeping his life organized.