Why does nobody talk about using binder clips to hold templates in place?

I got sick of my paper templates shifting around on this weird curved piece I was laying out last week, so I grabbed some binder clips off my desk and it held everything dead flat. Has anyone else found a random office supply that just works better than the drafting stuff?

3 comments

3 Comments

margaretj405d agoMost Upvoted

Grabbed a handful of binder clips from my kitchen drawer last month for the same reason. They work great on paper patterns and even thin cardboard templates. Just be careful with the really small ones because they can dent softer materials if you crank them down too tight. I keep a stash in my tool box now right next to my regular drafting clips. They're way cheaper and honestly hold better on curved surfaces than anything I've bought at the art store.

dylan_thompson4d ago

How long have those binder clips lasted you so far?

anthony_jenkins612d ago

Oh man, I've been using the same three binder clips for like two years now and they're still going strong. I mean, I keep expecting them to give up the ghost but they just keep snapping shut like it's nothing. It's honestly kind of scary how much better they work than the actual clips I've bought at craft stores for like five bucks a pack. Maybe it's just me but I feel like I've discovered some kind of secret life hack that the art supply industry doesn't want me to know about. The only downside is now I can't look at a stack of papers without thinking about raiding the office supply aisle at Walmart.