# Office & Paper Fasteners: research notes

Date: 2026-10-25. Scope: consumables that hold sheets of paper together in an office or home: staples for desk, half-strip, mini, heavy-duty and electric staplers; paper clips; binder (foldback) clips; office rubber bands; brass paper fasteners (split pins); prong fasteners. Not staplers, staple removers or hole punches (sibling `desk-paper-tools`, which carries its own `staple_size_raw` compatibility field); not fastener folders or binder rings (sibling `binders`); not push pins, thumbtacks or map pins (they fix paper to a board, so they sit with sibling `stationery-boards`; overlap noted); not tape (crafts `tapes`), magnets (crafts `magnet_fasteners`) or craft brads and eyelets (crafts `fasteners`); not construction, upholstery or packaging staples (T50, 13/x tacker, carton staples), which are hardware. One register for the leaf; `fastener_type` is the first split and its branches do the dividing.

Quote labels: **verbatim** = the sentence in quotation marks was in text I read myself (curl plus tag stripping into the scratchpad, pdftotext on a PDF, or `innerText` from a rendered page in a headless browser); **fetched excerpt** = the fetch tool summarised the page; **search excerpt** = the claim came only from a search-engine summary. A search-excerpt-only number does not go in category.json. Raw text for every source below is in `/private/tmp/claude-501/-Users-amnbh-Desktop-dev-zamana/94e1e673-5231-41fe-8b68-7a624ab5c8d8/scratchpad/office-paper-fasteners/` (`*.txt`).

Research constraint: the shared WebSearch budget for the session ran out after four searches in this run (200 of 200 used across agents). Everything after that came from URLs the four searches surfaced, from brand sites navigated directly, and from category and product pages linked from those. No search engine was scraped as a substitute.

## Seed

Seed output, verbatim:

```
=== Example entry (from an unrelated category) ===
category: olive-oil
what this shows: a facet that experts rank first, that almost no listing carries, and that is expensive to backfill. The honest answer is to list it, mark it researched, and limit backfill to the top of the catalog. Also shows a derived metric hanging off a researched facet.
[harvest_date example entry and months_since_harvest derived metric, as in examples/olive-oil-harvest-date.md]

=== Persona ===
A textile conservator, who thinks in fibre, construction and how something ages

Ask yourself two things and write the answers under 'Seed' in notes.md:
  1. What is the office-paper-fasteners equivalent of the example above?
  2. What would this persona notice first about office-paper-fasteners that a typical buyer would not?
Keep what survives the data check. Drop the rest.
```

1. **The equivalent of harvest date is wire grade.** It is the hidden number behind the sheet rating: two boxes of the same code (24/6) carry different ratings because the wire differs. Rapid sells 24/6 as Standard ("Soft wire 'comfort' staples (up to 20 sheets)", verbatim) and Strong ("Strong wire staples with sharp edges to guarantee quality penetration up to 30 sheets", verbatim). Swingline sells S.F. 4 on "135,000 PSI premium grade wire for greater tensile strength" (verbatim). It is named on brand pages and in brand product names, not on store-brand listings. Unlike harvest date, it is cheap to backfill from the product name. **Kept** as `wire_grade`, researched, low backfill cost, annotation only.
2. **The conservator notices how a fastener ages on the paper, before how well it grips.** Zinc-plated steel rusts and stains; rubber bands harden, crack and stick; some plastics degrade; very tight fasteners deform the sheets. NARA says all of this (verbatim below), and two university archives say it too. **Kept** as the `fastener_material` split ("Filing these papers for years, or just for now?") with the NARA-versus-plastic disagreement logged as a judgement. **Dropped**: clamp pressure as a facet (NARA: "Some fasteners are so tight that they deform records", verbatim, but no listing or spec states clamp force); acid migration from rust embrittling paper (search excerpt only, from the archives search summary; not in any page I read).

## Sources and what each supports

### Regulators and preservation bodies

**NARA, Paper-Based Records (holdings maintenance)** (curl)
https://www.archives.gov/preservation/holdings-maintenance/paper
- verbatim: "Staples, paper-clips, binder clips, metal slide fasteners, and similar office-quality fasteners do not need to be removed unless they are obscuring unique information, or they are causing additional damage to the records."
- verbatim (figure caption): "Office-type fasteners are often made of metals that corrode or plastics that degrade and may need to be removed. Right: This image shows staining caused by a rusting paper clip."
- verbatim: "Minor rust is not a concern but heavily rusting staples may break resulting in lost associations".
- verbatim: "Some fasteners are so tight that they deform records and make it difficult to roll back pages without tearing the paper."
- verbatim: "Remove rubber bands and maintain association with a paper clip or a subfolder. Rubber bands deteriorate over time, becoming so hard and brittle that they break apart and no longer serve their function. Pieces of brittle rubber can become adhered to a record".
- verbatim: "Use stainless steel paper clips and a folded strip of good quality paper to hold associated archival records together."; "Use stainless steel staples when the paper records are strong and flexible and that do not need to be separated for future access"; "Do not staple records of high intrinsic value or if the paper is weak, thin, or brittle."
- Supports: the material split, the stainless default, the rubber-band judgement, minor rust is fine short term. Kind `regulator` (federal records agency). Confidence high.

**NPS Conserve O Gram 19/5, Removing Original Fasteners from Archival Documents, July 1993** (PDF, pdftotext)
https://www.nps.gov/museum/publications/conserveogram/19-05.pdf
- verbatim: "When archival files are placed in permanent storage, any original fasteners, including staples, paper clips, string ties, rubber bands, brads, and ..." (column break) "... when doing so would damage the documents."
- verbatim: "Unrusted staples can be left in place".
- Supports: second federal source that fasteners come off records in permanent storage; brads (brass fasteners) are included. Confidence high.

**West Virginia University Libraries, Metal, Moisture, and Memories (2020)** (curl)
https://news.lib.wvu.edu/2020/09/14/metal-moisture-and-memories-how-paper-clips-can-ruin-family-papers/
- verbatim: "it is best to use plastic or plastic-coated clips. Major retailers sell these as well as office supply stores. Some archives prefer to use stainless steel paper clips, which are supposed to be rust-proof."
- verbatim: "Rubber bands are susceptible to the same enemies as metal fasteners: moisture, heat, and light. Rubber bands will melt, crack, and degrade leaving their mark over time."
- Supports: the plastic side of the disagreement; rubber ageing. Confidence medium (one archivist's blog at a university).

**University of Delaware Archives and Records Management, Ashes to Ashes Rust to Rust** (curl)
https://sites.udel.edu/uarm/ashes-to-ashes-rust-to-rust/
- verbatim: "Over time staples and paper clips rust and as a result often discolor and stain the text documents they were meant to keep together."; "These alternatives come in the form of plastic paper clips".
- Supports: second archive preferring plastic clips. Confidence medium.

### Health

**AAAAI, Latex Allergy** (curl)
https://www.aaaai.org/tools-for-the-public/conditions-library/allergies/latex-allergy
- verbatim: "Natural rubber latex, a milky fluid found in rubber trees, is used to make some gloves, condoms, balloons, rubber bands, erasers and toys."
- verbatim: "Any combination of these symptoms can be a sign of anaphylaxis"; "There is no cure for latex allergy. People with severe reactions must simply avoid latex."
- Supports: `latex_free` as a health filter. Kind `standards_body` (the schema has no "medical society" kind; it is the professional body). Confidence high.

**ACAAI, Latex Allergy** (curl)
https://acaai.org/allergies/allergic-conditions/latex-allergy/
- verbatim: "If you have latex allergy you should avoid direct contact with all products and devices that contain latex."
- verbatim: "Synthetic rubber products, including 'latex' house paints, are not made with natural latex and do not trigger allergic reactions in people who are allergic to products made with natural rubber latex."
- Supports: second source; synthetic (EPDM) bands are the safe alternative. Confidence high.
- Note: no regulator governs latex labelling on office rubber bands that I could find (FDA latex labelling covers medical devices). The allergy bodies are the governing guidance here, so `latex_free` is a filter and the claim is sourced to them.

### Primers

**Wikipedia, Staple (fastener)** (curl)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Staple_(fastener)
- verbatim: "Staples are often described as X/Y (e.g. 24/6 or 26/6), where the first number X is the gauge of the wire ( AWG ), and the second number Y is the length of the shank (leg) in millimeters. Some exceptions to this rule include staple sizes like No. 10."
- verbatim: "Common sizes for the home and office include: 26/6, 24/6, 24/8, 13/6, 13/8 and No. 10 for mini staplers. Common sizes for heavy duty staplers include: 23/8, 23/12, 23/15, 23/20, 23/24, 13/10, and 13/14."
- verbatim table: 26/6 crown 12.7 mm, 26 AWG (0.405 mm), leg 6; 24/6 12.9 mm, 24 AWG (0.511 mm), 6; 24/8 leg 8; 23/6 to 23/24 crown 13.0, 23 AWG (0.573 mm), legs 6 to 24; No. 10 "10/4", crown 9.4, leg 4.5.
- verbatim: "Modern staples for paper staplers are made from zinc-plated steel wires glued together and bent to form a long strip of staples. Staple strips are commonly available as 'full strips' with 210 staples per strip. Both copper plated and more expensive stainless steel staples which do not rust are also available, but uncommon."
- verbatim: "There are few standards for staple size, length and thickness. This has led to many different incompatible staples and staplers systems"; "24/6 staples are described by the German DIN 7405 standard."; ASTM F1667 STFCC-04 example.
- verbatim: "The outward bent staples are easier to remove and are for temporary fastening or 'pinning'."
- Supports: the size code, leg range 4 to 24 mm (with Swingline), zinc plating, 210 full strip, stainless uncommon, pinning. Confidence medium-high (encyclopedia; numbers match the brand pages).

**Wikipedia, Paper clip** (curl): verbatim "Common to paper clips proper is their utilization of torsion and elasticity in the wire, and friction between wire and paper. When a moderate number of sheets are inserted..." Supports the mechanism and "moderate number of sheets". Confidence medium.

**Wikipedia, Binder clip** (curl): verbatim "It leaves the paper intact and can be removed quickly and easily, unlike the staple."; "is usually used in place of the paper clip for large volumes of paper"; "The sheet steel portion is customarily black oxide coated"; "ranging from a base size of 5 millimetres (0.2 in) to 50 mm (1.97 in)". Supports the clamp family and the trade-off. Confidence medium.

**Wikipedia, Grammage** (curl): verbatim "Commonly, 20-pound bond paper ranges between roughly 97 and 114 μm (0.0038 and 0.0045 in) in thickness." Supports 0.1 mm per sheet. Confidence medium-high.

**The Physics Factbook, Thickness of a Piece of Paper** (curl): verbatim "Copy paper is about 0.004 inches thick" → "0.1 mm"; "International Paper, 8½ × 14 in ... 75 g/m sq, 20/16, 500 sheets, white. [Measured thickness of 500 sheets is 51.5 mm]" → "0.103 mm". Supports 0.1 mm per sheet and that 20 lb is about 75 gsm. Confidence medium.

**Wikipedia, Hole punch** (curl): ISO 838 two holes 80 ± 0.5 mm apart; US three-hole 4-1/4 in. Read for prong fasteners; not used, because prong-fastener products did not state a spacing in anything I fetched and fastener folders belong to `binders`.

### Spec sheets (brands)

**Swingline (ACCO), stapling accessories category and staple product pages** (curl; server-rendered)
https://www.swingline.com/c/staplers/stapling-accessories/ and product pages under /p/staplers/stapling-accessories/
- verbatim S.F. 4: "made with 135,000 PSI premium grade wire for greater tensile strength."; "Distinctive chisel points mean fewer frustrating jams and interruptions."; "Standard 1/4" leg length secures up to 25 sheets of paper"; "Full strip contains 210 staples. Compatible with most staplers."; spec "Sheet Capacity (20 lb paper) 25".
- verbatim S.F. 3: "105 staples per strip, for use with compact/half strip staplers".
- verbatim Optima High Capacity: "Longer 3/8" staple leg length"; "125 staples per strip"; "Use with Optima 60 and 70 sheet staplers"; spec "Sheet Capacity (20 lb paper) 70", "Staple Leg Length 3/8"".
- verbatim Standard Heavy Duty: "Use with any heavy duty stapler"; "100 staples per strip"; variant selector 1/4", 3/8", 1/2" with capacities 25, 60, 90.
- Category page also lists "502e Desktop Electric Stapler Staple Cartridge" and "Premium Staple Cartridge, 5000 Staple Count" (product names), the source for the cartridge value.
- Supports: strip formats, wire grade marketing, the 1/4 in = 25 sheets point, compatibility claim. Confidence high for what the pages say.

**Swingline, Premium Heavy Duty Staples, each variant page** (curl)
https://www.swingline.com/p/staplers/stapling-accessories/premium-heavy-duty-staples/ and the five `premium-heavy-duty-staples-<leg>-...` pages
- verbatim spec tables, one per variant page: 1/4" → "Sheet Capacity (20 lb paper) 25"; 3/8" → 60; 1/2" → 90; 3/4" → 160; 15/16" → 210. "Staple Capacity 100" (per strip) on each. JSON-LD description: "Use with Heavy Duty Staplers only."
- The pairing was read from each variant's own page, not inferred from selector order.
- Supports: the leg-to-sheets scale and the stack bands. Confidence high.

**Rapid (ACCO), staples and accessories** (category page rendered in headless Chrome for the product list; each product page by curl, server-rendered)
https://www.rapid.com/en-gb/rapid-products/desktop-stapling-punching/staples--acessories/
- verbatim, product pages (80 gsm paper):
  - Standard 24/6: "For stapling up to 20 sheets (80 gsm)"; "6 mm leg length"; "Galvanised soft wire for most comfortable use".
  - Strong 24/6: "For stapling up to 30 sheets (80 gsm)"; "Galvanised strong wire for best performance".
  - SuperStrong 24/6: "Superstrong wire staples with quality penetration up to 30 sheets. Stainless Steel Wire AISI 304, CLASS 2."
  - SuperStrong 24/8+: "For stapling up to 50 sheets (80 gsm)"; "8.5 mm leg length".
  - Standard 26/6: up to 20 sheets, 6 mm. Strong 26/6: up to 30. SuperStrong 26/8+: up to 50, 8.5 mm.
  - Standard No. 10: "For stapling up to 10 sheets (80 gsm)"; "4 mm leg length".
  - Standard 23/6: up to 20 sheets, 6 mm. 23/8: "For stapling from 10 to 40 sheets (80 gsm)". 23/10: "from 40 to 70 sheets". 23/12: "from 60 to 90 sheets". 23/15: "from 80 to 120 sheets". (23/13, 23/17, 23/20, 23/24 slugs returned no product text; not used.)
  - Strong 21/4: up to 15 sheets, 4 mm. Strong 66/6 Electric: up to 20 sheets, 6 mm.
- Category list (rendered) also shows 66/7, 66/8+, 44/6, 44/8+ electric codes and R5050 / R5080 / R5025 staple cassettes.
- Supports: wire grade, the heavy-duty bands with minimums, stainless line, electric codes. Confidence high.

**Rapid, desktop stapler pages** (curl)
https://www.rapid.com/en-gb/rapid-products/desktop-stapling-punching/desktop-staplers/
- verbatim Classic K2+: "For use with Rapid 24 - 26/6 Strong staples (2-20 sheets) and 24 - 26/8+ Superstrong staples (10-50 sheets)"; "stapling of up to 50 sheets of 80 gsm paper".
- verbatim ECO Halfstrip: "For use with 24/6 and 26/6 Rapid Strong staples"; "2.5 mm/25 sheets (80 gsm paper)".
- verbatim Supreme S17: "For 24/6 and 26/6 Rapid Strong staples"; "3mm/30 sheets (80 gsm paper)".
- verbatim Classic Longarm HD12: "For 24/8+ Rapid Super Strong staples"; "4mm/40 sheets (80 gsm paper)".
- verbatim ECO Mini: "For use with 24/6 and 26/6 Rapid Standard staples"; "2.5 mm/10 sheets".
- Supports: 24/6 and 26/6 interchange in one stapler; 0.1 mm per sheet printed by the brand; the stapler's own ceiling. Confidence high. Inconsistency logged: the K2+ page rates Strong 6 mm staples at "2-20 sheets" while the Strong 24/6 product page says "up to 30".

**Alliance Rubber Company, Rubber Band Size Chart** (curl)
https://www.rubberband.com/about-us/rubber-band-size-chart/
- verbatim: "Width: This is how wide the cut width of the rubber band strip is, not the length of the rubber band."; "Flat length is usually about half the total circumference of the rubber band in a relaxed position."
- verbatim chart rows (Size, L", W"): 8 7/8 1/16; 10 1 1/4 1/16; 12 1 3/4 1/16; 14 2 1/16; 16 2 1/2 1/16; 18 3 1/16; 19 3 1/2 1/16; 27 1 1/4 1/8; 30 2 1/8; 31 2 1/2 1/8; 32 3 1/8; 33 3 1/2 1/8; 57 1 3/4 1/4; 62 2 1/2 1/4; 63 3 1/4; 64 3 1/2 1/4; 73 3 3/8.
- Supports: the width groups and the #33 / #64 example. Confidence high.

**Alliance, X-Treme File Bands EPDM Non-Latex** (curl): verbatim "non-latex rubber bands made from a type of synthetic rubber called EPDM ... resilient to UV, heat, ozone, weather, and age. Each 7" X 1/8" band ... for home, office, and recreational use such as Active and Archival Filing". Supports the EPDM claim and the archival disagreement. Confidence medium (maker's claim).

**Rubber Band King, size chart** (curl): verbatim "A rubber band's size number describes its flat length and band width, not its stretched length"; "Bands numbered in the teens (#8–#19) are 1/16″ (1.6 mm) wide"; "Bands numbered #64 and above are 1/4″ (6.4 mm) or wider"; "a wider band spreads tension over more material, grips soft or slippery items better, and resists snapping"; "a #31 is shorter than a #18 even though its number is larger". Second source for the width groups. Confidence medium (manufacturer).

**Blue Summit Supplies, rubber band size chart** (curl): verbatim "Rubber bands that are 1/16 inches wide are numbered from 8-19. The next step up (numbered 30-35) are rubber bands measuring 1/8 inches wide."; "Most rubber bands are manufactured out of natural rubber instead of synthetic rubber, as natural rubber has more elasticity." Third source; the stretch side of the band trade-off. Confidence medium.

### Retail listings (fields present only)

**Quill.com** (curl of category and search pages; titles read from the HTML)
- Binder clips (https://www.quill.com/binder-clips/cbk/104087.html), verbatim titles: "Quill Brand® Mini 3/5" Wide Binder Clips, 1/4" Capacity"; "Quill Brand® Small 3/4" Wide Binder Clips, 3/8" Capacity"; "Quill Brand® Medium 1-1/4" Wide Binder Clips, 5/8" Capacity"; "Quill Brand® Large 2" Wide Binder Clips, 1" Capacity"; "JAM Paper Colorful Small Binder Clips, 3/8" Capacity"; "JAM Paper Colorful Binder Clips, Medium, 5/8" Capacity"; "JAM Paper Large Binder Clips, 3/4" Capacity"; "Officemate Assorted Binder Clips, 0.63" Capacity"; "OfficeMate Medium Binder Clips, 1-1/4" Width". ACCO medium product page: "up to 0.625"", "Medium size, 5/8" capacity and 1 1/4" width". Quill's own category blurb (verbatim): "Small binder clips have a 0.375 in. capacity, medium clips have a 0.645 in. capacity, and large binder clips have up to a 1.25 in. capacity. Mini clips hold about 0.25 in." (Not used for numbers; it contradicts its own 1 in large title.)
- Paper clips (search "paper clips"), verbatim titles: "ACCO Economy #1 Paper Clips"; "Officemate Gem Paper Clips, #1"; "Officemate Paper Clips, #2"; "#1 Size Vinyl-Coated Paper Clips"; "Staples® Jumbo Paper Clips, Nonskid"; "Staples Smooth Standard Paper Clips"; "JAM Paper® Colored Jumbo Paper Clips, Large 2 Inch".
- Staples (search "staples refill"), verbatim titles: "Quill Brand® Standard Staples, 1/4"Leg Length, 5,000/Box"; "Swingline Staples, 0.25 Leg Length, 5000/Box". No size codes in US titles.
- Rubber bands (search "rubber bands"), verbatim titles: "Alliance Advantage Multi-Purpose #33 Rubber Bands, 3-1/2" x 1/8""; "Quill Brand® Premium Rubber Band, #19, 3-1/2"L x 1/16"W"; "JAM Paper Multi-Purpose #64 Rubber Bands, 3.5" x .25", Non-Latex"; "Alliance X-Treme EPDM Multi-Purpose #117B Rubber Bands, 7" x 0.13", Non-Latex".
- Supports: which fields are in titles (type, clip width and capacity, clip size and finish, leg length, band number and dimensions, Non-Latex). One retailer; marked `listing` only where the field is in the title text on Quill and on the brand's own page. Amazon, Staples.com and Office Depot were not attempted (earlier runs record that they block fetches).

### Read and not used

- Staples4You (UK supplier) staple guide (curl): gives "12mm (1/2 inch) staples ... up to 60 sheets", which contradicts both brands (Swingline 90, Rapid 60 to 90). Not used.
- Pikadeo and hmcrty binder clip guides (curl): sheet counts per clip size that disagree with each other and with listings; hmcrty is a real-estate blog quoting Amazon reviews. Not used.
- Gaylord archival fasteners, Preservation Equipment blog, NEDCC leaflet 7.8: curl returned shells with no text; not used.
- Bostitch Office (HTTP 405), Max USA (empty), acco.com (navigation timeout): not reached.

## Data points used for derived metrics

- `stack_thickness_mm` = sheets × 0.1. Rapid prints "2.5 mm/25 sheets", "3mm/30 sheets", "4mm/40 sheets" (80 gsm); Wikipedia Grammage 97 to 114 μm for 20 lb bond; Physics Factbook 0.103 mm measured (75 gsm, 500 sheets = 51.5 mm). Three sources.
- `clip_capacity_sheets` = clip_capacity_in × 25.4 / 0.1. Worked values: 1/4 in → 64; 3/8 in → 95; 5/8 in → 159 (written "about 160"); 1 in → 254. These are packed-full figures and an upper bound.
- Leg-to-sheets bands used for `stack_sheets` values:
  - up to 30 sheets: 6 mm legs. Swingline 1/4 in = 25 (20 lb); Rapid 24/6 and 26/6 = 20 (Standard) or 30 (Strong), 80 gsm.
  - 30 to 70: 8 to 10 mm. Rapid 23/8 10 to 40, 24/8+ and 26/8+ up to 50, 23/10 40 to 70; Swingline 3/8 in 60, Optima 3/8 in 70.
  - 70 to 120: 12 to 15 mm. Rapid 23/12 60 to 90, 23/15 80 to 120; Swingline 1/2 in 90.
  - over 120: 3/4 in and up. Swingline 3/4 in 160, 15/16 in 210. Rapid's longer legs did not return text, so this band rests on Swingline plus Wikipedia's 23/20 and 23/24 sizes. Flagged.
- The 20 lb versus 80 gsm basis differs by about 5 gsm (20 lb is about 75 gsm, Physics Factbook "75 g/m sq, 20/16"); ignored at band resolution.

## Numbers in category.json and the sources behind each

| Number | Sources |
|---|---|
| Leg 6 mm on 26/6 and 24/6; legs 4 to 24 mm across the range | Wikipedia table; Rapid product pages (6 mm, 4 mm No. 10); Swingline 1/4 to 15/16 in (6.4 to 23.8 mm) |
| 1/4 in = 25, 1/2 in = 90, 15/16 in = 210 sheets (20 lb) | Swingline variant pages; Rapid 6 mm 20 to 30, 12 mm 60 to 90 as the second brand |
| 6 mm 20 to 30; 15 mm 80 to 120 sheets (80 gsm) | Rapid; Swingline 1/4 in 25 and 1/2 in 90 as the second brand |
| 24/6 Standard 20 vs Strong 30 sheets | Rapid (two product pages). Single brand; it is a brand fact, stated as Rapid's |
| 210 full strip; 105 half strip; 100 heavy duty; 125 Optima | Swingline; Wikipedia for 210 |
| 0.1 mm per sheet | Rapid stapler pages; Wikipedia Grammage; Physics Factbook |
| Medium clip 1-1/4 in wide, 5/8 in capacity | Quill brand and JAM titles (corrected 2026-10-25; the OfficeMate 0.63 in is an assorted pack and the ACCO page was uncited). Quill's guide says 0.645 in, stated as the disagreement |
| Large clip 1 in (Quill) vs 3/4 in (JAM) | Quill titles; used only to show the names disagree |
| Mini 1/4 in, small 3/8 in capacity | Quill brand titles; JAM small 3/8 in. Mini is single brand, labelled "on the listings read" |
| #8 to #19 = 1/16 in; #30 to #33 = 1/8 in; #62 to #64 = 1/4 in; #33 and #64 at 3-1/2 in | Alliance chart; Rubber Band King; Blue Summit (8 to 19 and 30 to 35); Quill titles (#19, #33, #64 dimensions) |
| About 140 to 165 sheets in a 5/8 in clip (corrected 2026-10-25 from "about 160") | Derived: 15.875 mm over 97 to 114 μm a sheet (Wikipedia Grammage) |
| Band flat length 7/8 in (#8) to 7 in (added 2026-10-25) | Alliance chart (#8 7/8, #107 and #117B 7); Rubber Band King (#8 7/8″, #107 7″); Quill titles 2-1/2 to 7 in |
| #31 2-1/2 x 1/8 in; #117B 7 x 1/8 in (added 2026-10-25) | Alliance chart and Rubber Band King for #31; Alliance chart and Quill titles for #117B |
| Optima 1/4 in 25 sheets standard, 40 flat-clinch (added 2026-10-25) | Swingline Optima Premium page only; stated as Swingline's, alongside its heavy-duty 1/4 in 25 |
| Large clip up to 1.25 in, medium 0.645 in (added 2026-10-25) | Quill binder clip guide only; stated as Quill's, to show the disagreement with its own titles |
| 9 of 22 binder clip titles state capacity (added 2026-10-25) | Count from the re-fetched Quill page; matches the blind check |

## Against the existing add-on schema

Add-on read: `supplies/stationery/add-ons/office_paper_fastener.jsonc` (`staple_size_raw`, `sizing.capacity_sheets`, `sizing.clip_width_raw`), composed with `stationery-standard.jsonc` (empty) and `supplies-standard.jsonc` (`high_signal_markdown`, `sizing.size_stated`, `pack_count`, `pieces_included_text`, `dimensions`, `capacity`, `weight`, `measurements_text`). Kinds follow `zamana-expertise/AGENTS.md` (vertical anchor, quality currency, hard filter, sizing, high_signal_markdown). Proposals only; nothing edited.

| Facet in this doc | In add-on today | Proposed kind under AGENTS.md | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| fastener_type | no | vertical anchor (enum) | Proposal: `fastener_type` enum [staples, paper_clips, binder_clips, rubber_bands, brass_fasteners, prong_fasteners, other]. Every other field applies to one type only, so the type must be on every row. In the title. |
| staple_size | partly, `staple_size_raw` | hard filter (enum plus raw) | Keep the raw string (it is the compat key shared with `desk_paper_tool.staple_size_raw`), and add a normalized enum [standard_26_6_24_6, long_leg_24_8_26_8, heavy_duty_23, mini_no10, electric_66_44, cartridge_model_specific, other]. US titles say "standard" or "heavy duty" rather than a code, so the enum is what makes rows comparable. |
| stack_sheets | yes, `sizing.capacity_sheets` | quality currency, inside sizing | Keep. It varies per variant (Swingline sells one listing in five legs with five ratings), so it belongs in sizing. Add `capacity_basis` [20lb, 80gsm, unspecified] or normalize to 80 gsm; the difference is small but the field should say which. |
| leg_length_mm | no | sizing (numeric) | Proposal: `sizing.leg_length_mm`. The bought-by-number dimension of a staple, and it is the variant axis on heavy-duty listings. In US titles as a fraction of an inch. |
| strip_format | no | hard filter (enum) | Proposal: enum [full_210, half_105, heavy_duty_100, brand_specific, cartridge]. Half-strip and Optima staplers reject the wrong strip. In US brand titles ("210 Per Strip"). |
| wire_grade | no | high_signal_markdown | Brand line name (Rapid Standard / Strong / SuperStrong, Swingline Premium). Worth a sentence, not a column. |
| fastener_material | no | hard filter (enum) | Proposal: enum [zinc_plated_steel, stainless_steel, plastic_or_coated, brass, natural_rubber, synthetic_rubber, unspecified]. The archival filter cannot be done from markdown reliably because "stainless" must be on every candidate row to filter on it. Default unstated metal to zinc_plated_steel. |
| clip_capacity_in | no | quality currency, inside sizing | Proposal: `sizing.clip_capacity_in`. This is the number binder clips are compared on and it sits next to the width in titles. |
| clip width | yes, `sizing.clip_width_raw` | noise as a filter; keep raw | Width is the size name, and the capacity it implies varies by brand (large 3/4 vs 1 in). Keep the raw field for display; do not filter on it. |
| paper_clip_size | partly, `sizing.size_stated` | sizing (use the standard field) | "#1", "#2", "Jumbo" go in `size_stated`; no new field needed. |
| band_width | partly, `sizing.size_stated` | hard filter, inside sizing | Proposal: `sizing.band_size_number` (string, e.g. "#33") plus `band_length_in` and `band_width_in`. Titles carry all three. |
| latex_free | no | hard filter (boolean) | Health filter; "Non-Latex" is in titles. Not foldable into markdown because a buyer with an allergy filters on it. |
| clip_capacity_sheets, stack_thickness_mm | no | derived at query time | Not stored. |

Add-on fields this register considers noise for fasteners: `supplies-standard.sizing.capacity` with its l / ml / gal units (meaningless here; `count_items` duplicates `pack_count`); `sizing.weight` (a box of staples is not bought by weight; rubber bands sold by the pound are the one exception, and that is a pack size, which `size_stated` can carry); `dimensions` for staples and clips (the leg and capacity fields replace them).

## Branches

Every leg, with the sentence or chain it rests on. Legs marked "changed 2026-10-25" were edited after the blind check; the log at the end of this file has the old wording.

- **fastener_type = staples → then_ask staple_size, strip_format; makes_irrelevant clip_capacity_in, paper_clip_size, band_width, band_length_in, latex_free.** (changed 2026-10-25: leg_length_mm removed from then_ask; band_length_in added to makes_irrelevant.) The staple must fit the stapler (Wikipedia: "many different incompatible staples and staplers systems"; Swingline heavy duty "for Heavy Duty Staplers only"; Swingline S.F. 3 "for use with compact/half strip staplers"). Leg length is asked only after a heavy-duty answer (staple_size branch), because standard 26/6 and 24/6 are fixed at 6 mm. The clip and band facets describe other types by definition. SUPPORTED.
- **fastener_type = binder clips → then_ask clip_capacity_in; drops the staple, paper clip and band facets.** (changed 2026-10-25: band_length_in added to makes_irrelevant.) Capacity is the binder clip's filter (`clip_capacity_in` facet and the large-clip judgement). SUPPORTED.
- **fastener_type = paper clips → then_ask paper_clip_size; drops staple, binder clip and band facets.** (changed 2026-10-25: band_length_in added to makes_irrelevant.) The size name is the field paper clip listings sort on (Quill titles: "#1", "#2", "Standard", "Small", "Jumbo"). SUPPORTED, thin: paper clips have one facet, now categorical.
- **fastener_type = rubber bands → then_ask band_width, band_length_in, latex_free; drops staple and clip facets and stack_sheets.** (changed 2026-10-25: band_length_in added to then_ask; stack_sheets added to makes_irrelevant.) Width and flat length are the two dimensions bands are sized by (Alliance chart columns "Size / L" / W""; Rubber Band King "describes its flat length and band width"; Quill titles "3-1/2" x 1/8""), and neither is a sheet count, so stack_sheets has no meaning for bands. Latex from AAAAI and ACAAI. SUPPORTED.
- **staple_size = 23/x heavy duty or US heavy duty (gauge unstated) → then_ask leg_length_mm.** (changed 2026-10-25: the new US value joins this leg.) Chain: Rapid sells 23/x as "heavy duty Staples 23/12 mm" and the like, Wikipedia lists 23/8 to 23/24 among "Common sizes for heavy duty staplers", and legs run 6 to 24 mm at the same code; Swingline sells one heavy-duty line in five legs with five ratings and prints no gauge. Either way the leg is the remaining choice. SUPPORTED.
- **staple_size = 26/6 or 24/6 → then_ask wire_grade, strip_format; makes_irrelevant leg_length_mm.** Both codes are 6 mm (Wikipedia; Rapid "6 mm leg length"). Within the code, rating moves with wire grade (Rapid Standard 20 vs Strong 30), and full versus half strip decides fit (Swingline S.F. 4 210 vs S.F. 3 105). SUPPORTED. Unchanged.
- **staple_size = cartridge or model-specific → makes_irrelevant strip_format.** REMOVED 2026-10-25. The answer is itself a strip_format value (sealed cartridge or brand-specific strip), so it fills the facet rather than dropping it. The staple_size value was split into "brand-specific strip" and "sealed cartridge", and the strip_format backfill note says the staple_size answer sets the matching strip value.
- **stack_sheets = up to 30 sheets → makes_irrelevant leg_length_mm.** (changed 2026-10-25: then_ask wire_grade removed.) 6 mm legs cover up to 30 sheets (Swingline 1/4 in 25; Rapid 24/6 Standard 20, Strong 30), so the leg is fixed. The wire_grade leg was dropped because it fired for every type while wire grade applies to staples only; wire_grade is still asked on the staple_size standard branch. SUPPORTED.
- **stack_sheets = 70 to 120 or over 120 → then_ask leg_length_mm, clip_capacity_in.** (changed 2026-10-25: clip_capacity_in added; makes_irrelevant paper_clip_size removed.) For staples, only legs of 12 mm or more reach past 70 sheets (Rapid 23/12 "from 60 to 90 sheets", 23/15 "from 80 to 120 sheets"; Swingline 1/2 in 90, 3/4 in 160, 15/16 in 210). For binder clips, the band converts to a thickness by stack_thickness_mm and the clip capacity must exceed it. The fastener_type branch has already dropped whichever of the two facets does not apply to the chosen type. The paper_clip_size leg was dropped: Wikipedia gives only "a moderate number of sheets" and "large volumes", and no source puts a paper clip's limit below 70 sheets. A standard 26/6 or 24/6 answer with 70+ sheets is flagged as a mismatch in the split rationale (6 mm staples are rated 20 to 30 by Rapid and 25 by Swingline). SUPPORTED for staples; the over-120 band still rests on Swingline alone for a brand rating.
- **fastener_material = stainless steel or plastic or plastic-coated → makes_irrelevant band_width, latex_free.** REMOVED 2026-10-25. The latex_free leg was UNSUPPORTED (no source says the allergy stops mattering, and dropping it would silently turn off a health filter for any band still shown); the band_width leg was WEAK (it needed the unstated step "do not sell a band"). What NARA does support, "Remove rubber bands and maintain association with a paper clip or a subfolder", is now in the rubber-band judgement: offer a long-term buyer stainless or plastic clips, and keep the latex filter on any band shown. fastener_material now has no branches.
- Dropped before writing: "staple_size = No. 10 → wire grade irrelevant" (Rapid sells No. 10 only in Standard, but one brand's range is not a rule).

## Trimmed detail

- `staple_size`: the first number is a wire gauge in AWG for 26, 24 and 23 (Wikipedia table: 0.405, 0.511, 0.573 mm). Rapid's 66/6 and 44/6 electric codes and No. 10 are names. DIN 7405 covers 24/6 and ASTM F1667 describes US staples (STFCC-04 = 1/4 in leg, 1/2 in crown), but neither appears on listings.
- `staple_size`: the No. 10 leg is 4 mm on Rapid's page and 4.5 mm in Wikipedia's table; the register says only "No. 10 (mini)".
- `stack_sheets`: the stapler sets a ceiling of its own. The Rapid K2+ is rated for up to 50 sheets only with 8+ Superstrong staples and 2 to 20 with 6 mm Strong staples, while the Strong 24/6 box says up to 30. Use the lower of stapler and staple.
- `wire_grade`: Rapid's SuperFlatClinch staplers "reduce paper stacks by 40%" (verbatim, ECO Halfstrip and S17 pages) and Rapid calls Strong staples "the ideal staple" for them. One brand; not used.
- `fastener_material`: NARA also says not to staple "records of high intrinsic value or if the paper is weak, thin, or brittle", and to stagger clips across groupings so "accumulated bulk ... will distort the paper". Useful advice for a family-papers buyer, not a product facet.
- `fastener_material`: binder clips are "customarily black oxide coated" with nickel-plated handles (Wikipedia); Wikipedia also calls them "resistant to rust", which NARA's list of corroding office fasteners (it names binder clips) does not support. Not used.
- `paper_clip_size`: no fetched source gives #1 or jumbo dimensions or sheet counts except JAM's "Large 2 Inch" jumbo title, so the facet carries names only.
- Brass paper fasteners and prong fasteners: in scope as types, but no fetched source gave a facet worth listing (shank length and prong spacing were not on the pages read). They get a type value and nothing more rather than padded facets.

## Corrections

- The brief asked for `"vertical": "supplies"`. The skill's `schema.json` enum is formulations, machines, fashion, furnishing, other, and `validate.py` rejects "supplies" (`schema vertical: 'supplies' is not one of [...]`). The scripts and schema were not modified; category.json uses `"other"` so the register validates. Reported as a script problem. Change it back to "supplies" once the schema enum includes it.
- First draft said "A strip that is too long for the channel has to be snapped" and "Electric staplers often take sealed cartridges"; neither was in a source. Removed and reworded to "Some electric staplers take sealed cartridges instead, which fit only the named model".
- First draft of the removability trade-off said clips cost "bulk on the stack"; unsourced for the trade-off as worded. Rewritten around what Wikipedia says (pierce and clinch versus intact and removable).
- First draft of the mechanism said archivists "replace office fasteners on records they keep". NARA says office fasteners need not be removed unless obscuring information or causing damage; NPS says they come off before permanent storage. Reworded to "take them off records that are rusting or going into permanent storage".

## Corrections after the blind check (2026-10-25)

Source: `check.md` (14 required fixes). Pages re-fetched by curl and tag-stripped into `scratchpad/fix-office-paper-fasteners/` (`*.txt`), not taken from the author's or the checker's scratch files. Verbatim quotes behind the new text are listed after the log.

1. Fix 1: removed the `fastener_material` branch (stainless / plastic → makes_irrelevant band_width, latex_free). latex_free leg was UNSUPPORTED; band_width leg WEAK. fastener_material now has no branches.
2. Fix 1: rubber-band judgement now reads "Do not sell any rubber band as archival; offer a long-term buyer stainless or plastic clips, and keep the latex filter on any band shown" (NARA "maintain association with a paper clip or a subfolder").
3. Fix 1: latex_free backfill_note and why_experts_care: a band title without "Non-Latex" or "EPDM" counts as may contain latex, never latex-free (AAAAI names rubber bands among latex products; Blue Summit "Most rubber bands are manufactured out of natural rubber"). listing_field_hint says "Non-Latex" appears only when true. blue_summit_chart and quill_rubber_bands added to its evidence.
4. Fix 2: added facet `band_length_in` (numeric, in, range 7/8 to 7 in from Alliance chart #8 and #107/#117B and Rubber Band King #8 7/8" and #107 7"; Quill titles 2-1/2 to 7 in). Added to the rubber-bands then_ask, to the other three types' makes_irrelevant, to the band grid's `encodes`, and as the facet of the "Flat length" vocabulary term.
5. Fix 2: band_width values relabelled by width only ("1/16 in", "1/8 in", "1/4 in", "3/8 in or wider"); label now "Rubber band width". why_experts_care no longer states number runs as group boundaries; it names #117B (7 x 1/8 in, Alliance chart and Quill titles) and the #107 chart disagreement (Alliance and Quill title 5/8 in, Rubber Band King 1/8 in). #27 and #57 were not used as examples because only the Alliance chart lists them.
6. Fix 2: band_width question changed from "Thin office bands, or thick ones for heavy bundles?" (two answers, four values) to "Light bundles, heavier ones, or rough handling?", with the mapping in backfill_note: light → 1/16 in, heavier → 1/8 in, rough → 1/4 in or wider (Rubber Band King "1/16″ for light, dry bundles; 1/8″ for heavier cartons and export work; 1/4″ for pallets and rough handling"). Single source for the mapping; stated as Rubber Band King's.
7. Fix 3: stack_sheets "up to 30" branch: removed then_ask wire_grade (fired for every type; wire grade is staple-only and is still asked on the staple_size standard branch). makes_irrelevant leg_length_mm kept.
8. Fix 3: stack_sheets "70 to 120 / over 120" branch: then_ask now leg_length_mm and clip_capacity_in; makes_irrelevant paper_clip_size removed (no source puts a paper clip's limit below 70 sheets).
9. Fix 3: stack_sheets rationale and why_experts_care now say a standard 26/6 or 24/6 answer with 70+ sheets is a mismatch needing heavy-duty staples, and that standard 6 mm staples stop near 30 sheets (Rapid 20/30, Swingline 25). Rubber bands now make stack_sheets irrelevant (bands are sized by width and length, not sheets).
10. Fix 4: clip_capacity_in source `listing` → `researched`, backfill_cost low → medium; listing_field_hint says 9 of 22 Quill binder clip titles state capacity (recounted from the re-fetched page). "ACCO, Quill, JAM and OfficeMate agree at 5/8 in" restated as Quill and JAM titles; Quill's own guide figures (medium 0.645 in, large up to 1.25 in) added as the disagreement, in the facet and in the binder clip judgement note. range.typical now attributes each size to the brand that states it.
11. Fix 5: staple_size, stack_sheets and strip_format source `listing` → `derived`. staple_size backfill_cost low → medium (cartridge titles such as "Swingline Standard Staple Cartridge, 5,000 Staple Count, 1/4" Leg Length" do not name the stapler).
12. Fix 5: the US "heavy duty = 23/x" mapping could not be sourced (Swingline heavy-duty pages print no gauge), so staple_size gained a separate value "US heavy duty (gauge unstated)", which joins 23/x on the leg_length_mm branch. The EU side is now sourced twice: Rapid "Box of 1,000 heavy duty Staples 23/12 mm" and Wikipedia "Common sizes for heavy duty staplers include: 23/8, 23/12, 23/15...".
13. Fix 6: judgement "Brand sheet ratings ... agree within a few sheets" rewritten as "differ by up to 30 sheets and move with the stapler, so filter on the band"; sources_disagree false → true; note cites Rapid 23/12 60 to 90 vs Swingline 1/2 in 90, Swingline 3/8 in 60 heavy duty vs 70 Optima, and Optima Premium 1/4 in 25 standard vs 40 flat-clinch. The leg-length visual grammar line now says the scale shows where brands overlap and where they spread. stack_sheets why_experts_care adds the flat-clinch example. The 25/40 flat-clinch figures are one Swingline page, stated as Swingline's (like Rapid's 20 vs 30).
14. Fix 7: stack_thickness_mm no longer says "Rapid prints the same conversion"; it cites only ECO Halfstrip (2.5 mm/25 sheets) and Supreme S17 (3 mm/30 sheets) and says "though not on all" (ECO Mini prints "2.5 mm/10 sheets"). Evidence switched from rapid_staplers to rapid_eco_halfstrip and rapid_s17.
15. Fix 7 / Part D: stack_thickness_mm formula now says sheets is a stated count or the top of the stack_sheets band, which resolves the banded-input mismatch.
16. Fix 7: clip_capacity_sheets "about 160 sheets" → "roughly 140 to 165 sheets of 20 lb paper, at 97 to 114 micrometres a sheet" (15.875 mm / 0.114 = 139; / 0.097 = 164). Checker suggested 140 to 160; 165 is the computed top, so I kept the arithmetic.
17. Fix 8: removed the staple_size cartridge branch (makes_irrelevant strip_format), since cartridge and brand-specific strip are strip_format values. staple_size value "cartridge or model-specific" split into "brand-specific strip" and "sealed cartridge"; strip_format backfill_note says those answers set the matching strip value.
18. Fix 8: strip_format "fit only Optima staplers" → "are for Optima 60 and 70 sheet staplers" (Swingline "Use with Optima 60 and 70 sheet staplers"), and it now notes Optima Premium staples come in 210 strips. "which fit only the named model" dropped from the cartridge sentence.
19. Fix 9: removed leg_length_mm from the fastener_type = staples then_ask; leg length is asked after a heavy-duty answer only.
20. Fix 9: staple_size question changed from "Standard (26/6, 24/6), heavy-duty 23, or mini No. 10?" to "Standard 26/6, long-leg 24/8, heavy-duty 23, mini, or cartridge?" (9 words); the rationale maps each answer to values. Brand-specific strips are left out of the question and come from skip_if_known (stapler model).
21. Fix 10: references split into one entry per fetched page. Rapid: rapid_standard_24_6, rapid_strong_24_6, rapid_superstrong_24_6, rapid_23_8, rapid_23_10, rapid_23_12, rapid_23_15, rapid_no_10, rapid_k2, rapid_eco_halfstrip, rapid_s17 (all /en-gb/products/stapling--punching/... URLs, HTTP 200, server-rendered). rapid_staplers (category page) removed; rapid_staples kept only for the JavaScript-rendered electric codes and cassettes, title says so.
22. Fix 10: Swingline product refs added: swingline_sf4, swingline_sf3, swingline_optima_hc, swingline_optima_premium, swingline_standard_hd. swingline_staples (category) now supports only the title strings and the cartridge titles.
23. Fix 10: Quill refs added: quill_paper_clips, quill_rubber_bands, quill_staples (search URLs, HTTP 200). quill_listings retitled as the binder clips page.
24. Fix 10: nps_fasteners URL replaced by the Internet Archive copy `https://web.archive.org/web/2024id_/https://www.nps.gov/museum/publications/conserveogram/19-05.pdf` (the NPS URL returns 301 to the museums index; the IA PDF text still has "brads" and "Unrusted staples can be left in place").
25. Fix 11: paper_clip_size kind ordinal → categorical; values "#1", "#2", "standard or small (no number)", "jumbo". Question "Standard #1 clips, or jumbo?" → "Regular paper clips, or jumbo?"; backfill_note maps regular to every value except jumbo and says not to convert "Standard"/"Small" titles to #1. Evidence now quill_paper_clips.
26. Fix 12: fastener_material gained the value "black-oxide or painted spring steel"; backfill_note defaults unstated binder clips to it (Wikipedia binder clip "customarily black oxide coated ... decorative painted color schemes"; Quill guide "annealed spring steel ... heat-coat it with a variety of pigmented oxides"), and only staples and paper clips to zinc-plated steel. "Black oxide" added to vocabulary.
27. Fix 12: fastener_material rationale now says "for now sets no material filter", so every material value, including zinc, brass and the rubbers, is reachable by that answer.
28. Fix 13: new judgement on scope: loose brass paper fasteners and prong fasteners stay here; decorative craft brads go to crafts `fasteners`, folders with built-in prongs to `binders`. Ours, decided by the use the listing sells; NPS lists brads among paper fasteners.
29. Part D: wire_grade backfill_note now says placing Swingline "Premium" beside Rapid "Strong" is our mapping, unsourced across brands.
30. Added vocabulary "Flat clinch" (used in the stack_sheets text and judgement).
31. Fix 14 REJECTED for this register: `vertical` stays "other". The fix belongs in the skill's schema.json, which this task may not edit; the earlier Corrections entry already records it.
32. Not changed: the single-brand strip counts (105, 100, 125 Swingline) and the 24/6 Standard 20 vs Strong 30 (Rapid) stay, stated as brand facts; the checker graded them SUPPORTED. The over-120 band still rests on Swingline alone, as already flagged.

Verbatim quotes from the re-fetch (2026-10-25):

- Rapid 23/8 to 23/15 product pages: "Box of 1,000 heavy duty Staples 23/12 mm"; "For stapling from 10 to 40 sheets (80 gsm)" (23/8), "from 40 to 70" (23/10), "from 60 to 90" (23/12), "from 80 to 120" (23/15).
- Rapid ECO Halfstrip "2.5 mm/25 sheets (80 gsm paper)"; Supreme S17 "3mm/30 sheets (80 gsm paper)"; ECO Mini "2.5 mm/10 sheets (80 gsm paper)"; K2+ "5 mm/50 sheets (80 gsm paper)" and "Rapid 24/6, 26/6 Strong for 2-20 sheets".
- Swingline Optima Premium: "Their 1/4” length legs hold up to 25 sheets of paper in a standard stapler and up to 40 sheets in a flat cinch stapler"; "A total of 210 staples per strip". Optima High Capacity: "Use with Optima 60 and 70 sheet staplers"; "125 staples per strip"; Sheet Capacity 70. Standard Heavy Duty: "100 staples per strip"; "Use with any heavy duty stapler". Category page: "Swingline® Standard Staple Cartridge, 5,000 Staple Count, 1/4" Leg Length".
- Quill binder clips page: capacity in 9 of 22 titles (Quill Mini/Small/Medium/Large, JAM Small x2, Medium, Large, Officemate Assorted 0.63"); guide "medium clips have a 0.645 in. capacity, and large binder clips have up to a 1.25 in. capacity"; "they're made from annealed spring steel"; "heat-coat it with a variety of pigmented oxides".
- Quill paper clips search: "Officemate Paper Clips, #2"; "Staples Smooth Standard Paper Clips"; "JAM Paper Small Paper Clips"; "JAM Paper® Colored Standard Paper Clips, Small 1 Inch".
- Quill rubber bands search: "Alliance Sterling Multi-Purpose #117B Rubber Bands, 7" x 1/8""; "Alliance Sterling Multi-Purpose #107 Rubber Bands, 7" x 5/8""; "Quill Brand® Premium Rubber Band, #16, 2-1/2"L x 1/16"W"; "Staples Economy #33 Rubber Bands, 700/Pack" (number only).
- Alliance chart rows: 8 7/8 1/16; 31 2 1/2 1/8; 107 7 5/8; 117A 7 1/16; 117B 7 1/8. Rubber Band King rows: #8 7/8″ 1/16″; #31 2-1/2″ 1/8″; #107 7″ 1/8″; "Choose width by weight and surface: 1/16″ for light, dry bundles; 1/8″ for heavier cartons and export work; 1/4″ for pallets and rough handling."
- Wikipedia Binder clip: "The sheet steel portion is customarily black oxide coated, but a variety of decorative painted color schemes are also available."
- Blue Summit: "Most rubber bands are manufactured out of natural rubber instead of synthetic rubber".