Update on my New Toy – Rocketbook

Back in May I purchased a nifty item to help me get more organized and reduce the number of notebooks I have floating around. It was an executive/junior size erasable/scannable notebook from Rocketbook. You can read my initial write-up in My Latest Toy.

Since then, I’ve been through a couple of folios, bought two more Rocketbooks, found x-fine point Pilot Frixion pens, moved to a larger spiral coil, and finally, moved to a disc-bound system. Am I done? Probably not, but here are some pics as I moved forward to find what worked best for me.

Moving through the stages

First purchase – my red executive/junior size Rocketbook with dot-gridded pages. I was brand new and had no idea there was any choice other than size and cover color. I was quickly sold on it, joined the Rocketbook Facebook Users Group and discovered there was a lined version of what I got as well as several others. Oh my! Then I needed a folio for it. I tried several, returned them until I settled on this nice leather one, best of all I tried since it easily folded back on itself, a feature that was a must-have, and was sturdy enough to write on while in my lap.

I don’t remember why, but I even tried a Filofax refillable notebook. Nice notebook but not going to work. So it sits in a pile of unused notebooks to be given away at some point.

My next Rocketbook purchase was a teal colored, ruled notebook in the same size. I’d been reading in the group about taking out the coil and putting two books together. Hmmm, was I brave enough? I dithered, I dathered, I lollygagged, and I even watched videos (something I rarely do for instructional things).

I knew I wanted one notebook so I opted to move to a bigger coil and bought a pretty Erin Condren notebook. I bravely uncoiled all three, put my pages together the way I wanted and recoiled with the larger coil. I mixed in the paper pages at the back and I added my monthly planner to the front using adhesive Erin Condren compatible spiral snaps from a seller on Etsy. I got both the removable and permanent, easier to test with. In this pic, you can see the original Rocketbook coil on the left and the new notebook on the right before I merged things.

I added a great elastic holder for pens and really liked this system and used it for several months. But change is inevitable, right? I found I wanted to move pages around and there was no way I was going to uncoil-recoil every time. So it was back to reading in the Rocketbook Facebook Users Group and watching videos.

The hot topic seemed to be disc-bound systems. ARC by Staples, Happy Planner, Levenger Circa and TUL. From what I could tell, most were interchangeable systems and since I wasn’t interested in the planner aspect, just the binding system, I was off to search for the most economical choice.

This is what I have ended up with and am really happy with. I initially tried the 1″ expansion discs but opted to move up to 1.5″. The notebook came with 3/4″ and I’ve used those to make a small, separate notebook for current work.

• TUL Custom Note-Taking System Discbound Notebook, Junior Size, Leather Cover, Brown
• TUL Custom Note-Taking System Discbound Expansion Discs, 1.5″, Black, Pack of 12
• Staples Arc Desktop Paper Punch, 8-Sheet Capacity

I initially tried the 1″ expansion discs but opted to move up to 1.5″. The notebook came with 3/4″ and I’ve used those to make a small, separate notebook for current work. I also bought a slightly used punch (different brand) on eBay, used it three times and it hung up. I tried to get it to release and destroyed it in the process. Into the trash. I am extremely pleased with the Staples Arc punch!

Yes, I had to trim the Rocketbook pages since they were spiral bound but I cut as little off as possible so they would still scan if needed (the black border is part of what the Rocketbook app needs). You can see the scalloped edge and where the new holes were punched. Worked great and I did a scan to test. The white to the left is a blank piece of paper, not part of the Rocketbook page.

I punched my Rocketbook covers and use them inside as dividers as well as ordered some disc-bound dividers. Here are some of the accessories I am using – some from the beginning, some added on as I discovered I needed them.

• Adjustable Elastic Band Pen Holder for Notebooks, Planners. Fits Notebooks from 8″ to 11” in Height, Hold 2 or 3 Pens, PU Leather, Detachable – I have two, one for each notebook
• Pentel Japan Aquash Waterbrush Water Brush Pen, Medium – I keep these in the above holder
• Westcott Stainless Steel Office Ruler with Non Slip Cork Base, 6″ – I keep this in the above holder of the larger notebook
• ZKSM 10ML Refillable Empty Spray Atomizer Bottle – I use this for most of my erasing
• Mcsher Microfiber Cleaning Cloths – 6 Pack, Blue, 6″x 7″ – handy to have for erasing, smaller than the micro-cloth that comes with the Rocketbooks plus they each come in a little plastic resealable pouch
• i-Clips Magnetic Page Markers (Set of 8 Magnetic Bookmarks) – I have owls & sloths
• Eagle Plastic Index 5-Tab Dividers, Disc-bound Tab Dividers, + Plastic Zipper Bag, Junior Size
• Eagle Disc-bound  Plastic Pocket Divider, 2-Pocket, Junior Size, Pack of 2

I managed to completely mangle one of my original Rocketbook covers so when I decided to create a second smaller notebook, I ordered an Eagle Disc-bound Notebook, Junior Size, Poly Cover, 60 Sheets Ruled/Lined Pages and used it with some of the Rocketbook pages. It was a great, inexpensive option. This one holds my notes and notes for the current book I’m working on.

For basic Pilot Frixion pens, I have several kinds in different points. I love the x-fine but the fine works, too. While the basic pens are inexpensive and refillable, I wanted something a little heavier and thicker. I ended up with two of these, one in red and one in blue and I filled them with the appropriate colored refills. PILOT FriXion Ball LX Erasable, Refillable & Retractable Gel Ink Pen, Fine Point – RED, BLUE. I love the heft and feel plus they look really nice.

I also talked myself into a Rocketbook Mini for those quick notes (and to carry in my purse). It’s a blast and I love it.  I asked myself why didn’t I get it sooner? I used a rubber band around the back cover to hold the mini-cloth and hook my pen over it. The pen nestles into the side perfectly!