Best Office Stationery

Stapler machines

Staplers are an indispensable desktop tool that comes in handy when it comes to keeping related papers secured together. They are designed differently depending on the type and volume of papers they are meant to be used on.

Three main categories exist based on these designs, and these are: full, half and mini strip staplers. As expressed above, each type is appropriate for a particular quantity and type of paper.

Full strip staplers have the highest capacity as they can easily handle up to 50 sheets of 80gsm sized papers.

Half strip staplers represent the midrange capacity as they can handle up to 30 sheets.

Mini strip represents the lowest capacity, with its maximum volume limited to 18 sheets.

Staplers go together with pins which also exist in different sizes depending on the size of the stapler.

Staple Removers

Staple removers solve the formerly complex problem of removing staple pins from a bundled stack of papers.

Before its invention, people used to employ other crude methods like using a scissor, which was clumsy on the papers and dangerous as they often led to injuries.

Like stapler machines, removers occur in different sizes and capacities, which correspond to the wide variety of pins.

Paper Cutters

Paper cutters encompass all the tools used to make specific neat cuts or shapes out of papers for different purposes. They assist you in keeping things neat and professional while saving your limited time.

There are three main classes of cutters, and these are Trimmers, Scissors, and Guillotines.

Scissors

Scissors have a lasting legacy as another indispensable tool when it comes to effective office paper management. In terms of office settings, two principle types exist, namely: straight and curved blade scissors. 

As indicated by the names, the former features prominent straight blades, whereas the latter incorporates curved blades.

Guillotines

Guillotines can be used on a wide range of papers, and they are particularly highly useful when you are looking to cut large quantities.

A defining feature is a long blade that you can push down while holding a handle at one end. This enables you to execute the cut in a quick downward shearing motion.

For a clean-cut, the machine comes with a clamp that assists with securing the paper in a proper position. Papers are not the only item that the guillotine can handle, as they can also be used to cut thicker materials such as cardboard.

Trimmers and Guillotines

Unlike guillotines, trimmers are appropriate for lower volumes of paper. They utilize a special rotary blade secured to a rail in such a way that it manoeuvres from one side of the paper to another while executing the cut with sheer precision.

Their superior precision makes them a great option for other items such as photos, business cards, and brochures. 

An additional advantage of trimmers is that they are generally safer and less involving as they eliminate the thrusting associated with guillotines.

Adhesives

When it comes to the office, glues take the lead as a major adhesive used for a range of purposes. A variety of glues can be used on different items such as papers, envelopes, glass, cardboard, etc.

Glues can be generic or specially adapted to work with specific surfaces. Popular types of glue include glue sticks, glue guns, rollers, and glue sprays.

Glue Sticks

These are some of the most effective and easy to apply, leading to their unparalleled popularity. They employ a twist or pull mechanism, which allows you to apply the glue without any contact.

They are usually washable, solvent-free, acid-free, non-toxic, and dyed. They also exist in a variety of sizes ranging from 11mm upwards.

Glue Roller

Glue rollers provide a clever solution for accurately applying glue from various sources, such as the glue stick. They also occur in a variety of sizes to cater for a wide range of paper sizes.

Glue Gun

Glue guns typically use a special type of glue known as hot glue, which has remarkable strength and applicability as it can adhere to a wide range of surfaces.

The hot glue is available as cylindrical plastic sticks, which are melted by the gun before being fired through the nozzle to the intended surface. As expected, glue guns also come in different sizes, with 12mm as the most common.

Glue Spray

Unlike thermoplastics and semisolid adhesives offered by glue sticks, glue sprays provide a liquid adhesive normally available in cans with varying volumes.

Typical sizes fall within 150-400 ml. The strength varies with different solutions, but most of them work wonders with a range of office needs, including art portfolios and some permanent or long term posters or other work-related posts.

Paper Clips

Paper clips provide a simple and yet utterly effective tool in managing a variety of office documents. Related paper or documents can easily be clipped together for classification or identification purposes and other more creative use cases.

They also occur in different shapes and sizes, as we will consider below.

Basic Paper Clip

These are the most popular and are mainly employed for the temporary clipping of basic papers and other related documents. They are generally cheap and are produced in a variety of colours.

The main advantages of basic clips are that they are easy to apply or remove and can be reused.

Fold Back Clip

These present another common clipping tool in office settings, especially when there are high quantities of paper involved. They feature a strong metal fold that can be adjusted to accommodate the thickness of the paper bundle.

Fold back clips are also available in different sizes, with 19mm as the commonest available size, holding up to 250 papers at once.

Pens

Though widely regarded as not much of a big deal, a pen is a surprisingly interesting device that occurs in different types, which are well-tailored to a variety of writing needs.

Some critical aspects are connected to each type, such as point size, ink type, and available colours.

These often make the difference between a comfortable writing experience and an inconvenience that adds to the stress of the work you are trying to complete.

Choosing the best pen for your needs starts with knowing the different types and the uniqueness they bring to the table. Therefore, let’s tread forth and discover some of the types of pens you are likely to encounter on the market.

Ballpoint Pens

This is perhaps the most popular type of pen across the globe. Key unique features are the ball roller mechanism and the oil-based ink it utilizes to achieve a fast-drying ink on the paper.

This frees the pen from smudging, which is prevalent in most of the other types. Another critical advantage this pen furnishes is that it has considerable ink efficiency compared with most types because the thicker ink allows for lesser ink per unit area.

Though this is a considerable advantage, it also comes with a risk of clumping as thicker ink is more likely to clump, especially in long writing sessions.

This makes them somewhat less ideal for prolonged writing periods, but if all you want to have is a simple device for regular use, it does offer an efficient and dependable option.

Rollerball Pens

This type of pen is based on a similar mechanism to ballpoint pens, except that it replaces the oil-based ink with water-based ink.

The advantage that the water-based ink offers is that it is less viscous, making it have a faster flow rate and an enhanced ability to dissolve in the paper. 

The enhanced flow rate eliminates the need for more pressure when writing, thus creating a smooth and relaxed writing process. Furthermore, the subtle texture of the output ink makes them ideal for text, which requires fine lines.

The water-soluble nature of the ink also allows for a wider variety of colours as it is easier to achieve a wider spectrum in water than in oil.

Compared to the previous type, they are better adapted for prolonged periods of writing. On the downside, they need more ink per unit area, which means they tend to run out of ink faster.

Gel Pens

These have a bit of both rollerball and ballpoint pens. The ink is predominantly water-based though its texture is somehow in the middle.

This eliminates the possibility of smudging while allowing for remarkably less viscosity, which means better ink-flow. This results in a combination of advantages offered by Rollerball and Ballpoint pens.

Another advantage they bring to the table is that they afford a wider range of colours due to their reliance on pigments, which can easily be manipulated to achieve different strains.

Since these pens are more of a hybrid of the previous two, they are considered superior and often come at a greater cost.

Markers

There are four major types of ink associated with markers based on the primary solvents used. These are pigment based, oil, water, and alcohol-based.

Inks, which are water or pigment-based, are appropriate for standard paper surfaces. Oil-based and alcohol inks are great for other media such as plastic, glass, and metal.

Markers also occur in different types depending on several properties. While some offer permanent ink, others are erasable, such as dry erase markers. Other types include highlighters and felt tip markers.

One aspect that markers address adequately is diversity, which is reflected in a variety of sizes and colours. This makes them a great tool for a wide range of uses, such as art and office work.

If you’re up for a tool to add special features to your text, such as highlighting, or something to use on a wide range of surfaces, these pens can efficiently perform the trick.

Pins

Pins prove handy in a variety of aspects related to document management. These include securing particular papers or documents on boards or simply securing some drawing papers on specialized drawing boards.

Push Pins

These are the most familiar in most circles. They consist of a small nail attached to a soft plastic covering at the back to provide for an easy push into the cardboard.

They have quite a wide range of use cases, including notices, pictures, important documents, checklists, and many other papers or documents.

They also come in different styles and colours to suit various tastes, and they come in varying quantities per pack depending on the brand’s preference.

Drawing Pins

These provide an older version of the necessary push pin and are commonly used in drawing circles to secure the drawing paper to the drawing board.

They are usually longer than push pins and have a flat head which serves as a pushing point for the thumb and a thin nail. They are usually available in 11mm sizes and varying quantities.

Apart from holding drawing paper, they also prove useful in other types of documents, including pictures, maps, cards, and strong enough to work on harder surfaces such as wood.

Indicator Pins

These are primarily used to mark designated points on charts, maps, and graphs. Their distinctive feature is a hexagonal head which can take different colours to be used for identification purposes.

They are also available in varying sizes ranging from 10-40mm. A typical pack comes with a total of 10 pins.

Marking Flags

This is, in essence, an indicator pin that has a flag instead of a hexagonal head. They usually come in quantities of 100 pieces pre-pack.

Correction markers

These are also known as ink erasers, and they are used to correct writing mistakes by removing the pen’s ink from the paper.

Two main types exist, and these include the older abrasive scrapers, which employ a physical machine where the ink is scraped off the surface with the aid of specially prepared abrasives.

New erasers mainly utilize chemical means where special solutions are used to dissolve the ink from the paper. These erasers physically remove the ink from the paper.

Printing papers

There are two main types of paper commonly used in offices: printing and writing paper. As the names indicate, the former is primarily used for printed characters, while the latter is mainly used for handwriting.

The main reason behind the different use cases is the composition of the two types of papers. The composition’s key defining feature is that printing paper is coated, whereas writing paper is uncoated.

The word “coated” relates to the fact that a printing paper’s surface is lined with what is known as a sealant. The sealant prevents the ink from being absorbed into the paper on top of affecting other physical qualities of the paper, including weight and texture.

By reducing the papers ability to absorb the ink, the sealant helps increase the overall clarity of the resultant image or text. The coat can also be specially treated to achieve various textures and visual effects, allowing for diverse types of papers available today.

Diaries

Diaries serve the noble purpose of keeping you focused on tasks by functioning as a reminder for present and future tasks and being an excellent record keeper to inform your future endeavours.

There is a myriad of styles and types of corporate diaries online to serve a variety of tastes. However, answering the following basic questions will go a long way in helping you get the best diary for your needs.

Paperweights

Working with a pile of papers comes with its problems, and one of them is keeping your papers in order though there is a lot of shifting and moving.

Paperweights serve the simple purpose of keeping your papers aligned and intact by introducing a weighted object on top of the pile.

Any weighted object can qualify to perform this function, but what makes paperweights popular and unique is the decorative aspect they bring to the table.

There are numerous beautiful designs you can choose from to provide that motivational influence amid a hectic office day.