John C. Dvorak: “This one is interesting and offbeat—a product most people don’t even know exists.”
Adam Curry: “They’re all good tips, not just this one.”
John C. Dvorak: “It’s called padding adhesive.”
Adam Curry: “Padding adhesive? Okay.”
John C. Dvorak: “Yes, if you’ve ever had a stack of sheets or papers you wanted to turn into a notepad that you can tear off page by page, this is what you need. Printers use it when they make notepads with your logo or customized designs. You can get it in a small jar or a bigger gallon, depending on your needs. I used it recently to turn a bunch of deposit slips from the bank into a neat notepad instead of letting them scatter around a drawer. You simply apply the padding adhesive to the edge, either by painting it on or dipping it, then let it dry overnight. The result is a notepad where you can tear off sheets one by one. It’s a great product, but most people don’t know about it.”
Adam Curry: “How would I use that in my life specifically?”
John C. Dvorak: “If you ever have a stack of papers or something you’d like to turn into a notepad, or if you want to make custom notepads, you’d find it handy. It’s cooler and more professional than using paperclips or staples.”
Adam Curry: “What’s the name of the product again?”
John C. Dvorak: “There are different brands, but the one I have is by CFS Binding Supplies. It’s called ‘padding adhesive’ or ‘notepad adhesive.’ It’s not that expensive, and you’ll find a use for it once you have it.”
Adam Curry: “Sounds like something you could take to the office and impress people. You might even get a raise.”
John C. Dvorak: “Exactly! Here’s a fun idea: go to the bank, get a stack of fresh dollar bills, make sure they’re even, and apply the padding adhesive to one end. Then, put the stack in your wallet. When you’re at a store and need to pay, you can tear off a dollar bill from your ‘notepad’ of cash. You could even do this with tens or twenties, but they need to be brand new.”
Adam Curry: “Take that to the strip club—a little bound book of dollar bills. It’s brilliant!”