Outstanding quality paper

[JDFlood]

I am surprised to see so many reviews of Office store laser printer paper and so few of high quality ream writing paper, like the ilk of Strathmore Writing, 100% Cotton, Neenah Laid, etc. There is a plethora of high end ream paper signficantly better than cheap office store computer paper, but below the 50 cent a sheet specialized stationary. Anyone using those? Right now my pick for the best is Strathmore Writing Laid and 100% cotton. JD

Edited April 14, 2008 by JDFlood

[Rapt]

For me the big problem is finding a convenient and reliable source.

 

I don't want to have to track down some wholesale dealer and order 5000 sheets to get it. Which is what I find when I search on these papers and a Canadian source.

[RandyE]

I am surprised to see so many reviews of Office store laser printer paper and so few of high quality ream writing paper, like the ilk of Strathmore Writing, 100% Cotton, Neenah Laid, etc. There is a plethora of high end ream paper signficantly better than cheap office store computer paper, but below the 50 cent a sheet specialized stationary. Anyone using those? Right now my pick for the best is Strathmore Writing Laid and 100% cotton. JD

 

I too would like to see a bit more about these types of papers. I've used watercolor paper before for special notes, Strathmore, Cranes and Arches mostly, but I'd be very interested in hearing what others experiences have been with quality writing paper.

 

JD, what do you specifically like about the Writing Laid that makes it stand out?

 

- Randy

Edited April 14, 2008 by RandyE

[jbn10161]

There is a plethora of high end ream paper signficantly better than cheap office store computer paper, but below the 50 cent a sheet specialized stationary. Anyone using those? Right now my pick for the best is Strathmore Writing Laid and 100% cotton.

Totally agree. Strathmore Writing is my paper of choice, too. The quality of the stock and the range of colors, styles, and weights are excellent. I generally use other paper for handwritten notes and letters, but the Strathmore for business and occasional notes to self.

 

For me the big problem is finding a convenient and reliable source.

I've had good experiences with Anchor Paper

 

[JDFlood]

Thanks. I hadn't seen them. JD

[JDFlood]

Interesting replies so far. High end paper is not hard to get, although slightly more that going to Office Depot. Most cities have a paper warehouse. It is for wholesale and retail. In Tucson, AZ it was Kelly's and I think in Portland it is in xpedx Paper & Graphics, although I haven't been there yet. They generally sell by the sheet as well as ream. Since I am familiar with the Strathmore and Neenah lines, I just order on line.

 

Also, you can get free sample kits, like for Strathmore Writing. Then just order a ream. I am interested in learning about brands other than the ones I listed, but it is beginning to sound like not a lot of people use them. I am rather surprised given the profound effect it has on how a fountain pen performs. JD

[DanF]

Interesting replies so far. High end paper is not hard to get, although slightly more that going to Office Depot. Most cities have a paper warehouse. It is for wholesale and retail. In Tucson, AZ it was Kelly's and I think in Portland it is in xpedx Paper & Graphics, although I haven't been there yet. They generally sell by the sheet as well as ream. Since I am familiar with the Strathmore and Neenah lines, I just order on line.

 

Also, you can get free sample kits, like for Strathmore Writing. Then just order a ream. I am interested in learning about brands other than the ones I listed, but it is beginning to sound like not a lot of people use them. I am rather surprised given the profound effect it has on how a fountain pen performs. JD

 

JD---Have you tried the Neenah "Classic Crest" line of papers? I was just looking at their website. They have some nice looking colors, but wondering how FP friendly they are?

 

Dan

 

 

 

[Blade Runner]

JDflood,

 

Have you tried Crane's business papers? Their Crest and Bond lines are outstanding and much better than copy paper in my opinion. I use Crest 24lb Monarch sheets in natural white and wove finish as my daily rag.

 

Crane's papers are 100% cotton, usually wove finish (Crest comes in a laid finish too). The Crest comes in Monarch (my favorite) and

8.5 x 11 in. The Bond only comes in 8.5 x 11 in. Both are nicely watermarked, and there are some color & weight choices. Both are sold in reams of 500 sheets and the price is reasonable for such high quality, fp friendly paper. The option of matching envelopes is an added expense, but you can buy the sheets alone.

Edited April 26, 2008 by jeen

[Blade Runner]

Note: Crane's Crest and Bond are only available by ordering from the company. The Crane's retail stores don't stock them.

The website is not as helpful as it was previously for some reason, so I suggest calling.

Edited April 26, 2008 by jeen

[Rapt]

Interesting replies so far. High end paper is not hard to get, although slightly more that going to Office Depot. Most cities have a paper warehouse. It is for wholesale and retail. In Tucson, AZ it was Kelly's and I think in Portland it is in xpedx Paper & Graphics, although I haven't been there yet. They generally sell by the sheet as well as ream. Since I am familiar with the Strathmore and Neenah lines, I just order on line.

 

Also, you can get free sample kits, like for Strathmore Writing. Then just order a ream. I am interested in learning about brands other than the ones I listed, but it is beginning to sound like not a lot of people use them. I am rather surprised given the profound effect it has on how a fountain pen performs. JD

 

 

The nearest "city" to me is a couple hours drive... I live in a smallish town that has a Staples and an Office Depot... We have one privately owned office supply store that also carries some art supplies.

 

 

[Hélène]

I have Neenah Environment Recycled Letterhead Paper Smooth Finish (their 100% post consumer waste recycled paper) and it is really good.

[arvadajames]

I recently went to our local paper supply and picked up a sheet of 24 different papers that interested me. I wrote the paper number on each sheet while at the store so I could find my prize paper later, but I wouldn't know the brand while I was conducting my test. My criteria was the following, which may not be the same as what you are looking for:

 

1. Not a bright white paper-needs to have some character

2. Not colored or patterned enough to change the color of the pen's ink (I know, anything other than a clean white changes ink color, but I wanted to minimze this effect)

3. Very minimal, if any bleed through, so I could write on both sides

4. Paper had to feel right with a variety of pens and ink (this is very subjective, some papers were too smooth, I felt like I lost any sense of contact with the paper, others were too rough)

 

The winning paper was CLASSIC Laid Writing, 24 lb, Whitestone color, Finish=Imaging. I took the paper to Office Max and for $1.18 they cut half of it exactly in half for my Circa Junior Notebook. Cost of paper was $21 for 500 sheets, which is a lot more than your typicla laser jet type paper, but it is a lot cheaper than Circa, or Franklin Covey paper.

[kadymae]

I am surprised to see so many reviews of Office store laser printer paper and so few of high quality ream writing paper

 

Because I'll be butched if I can find any where I live, despite living about a 5 minute drive from what is supposed to be a specialty stationery store. (A few Cross wirebound notebooks and paper to print your wedding/graduation invites on, and fancy single sheets of paper starting at $.25/sheet and up to $1/sheet.)

 

So, it's one thing to spend $10 for a ream of paper that, if you don't like it, you can use anyway in your printer, than have to spring for something super expensive, only to discover you don't like it. :/

 

(~sigh~ If only Rhodia came in 100g weight.)

[dcwaites]

I am surprised to see so many reviews of Office store laser printer paper and so few of high quality ream writing paper

 

Because I'll be butched if I can find any where I live, despite living about a 5 minute drive from what is supposed to be a specialty stationery store. (A few Cross wirebound notebooks and paper to print your wedding/graduation invites on, and fancy single sheets of paper starting at $.25/sheet and up to $1/sheet.)

 

So, it's one thing to spend $10 for a ream of paper that, if you don't like it, you can use anyway in your printer, than have to spring for something super expensive, only to discover you don't like it. :/

 

(~sigh~ If only Rhodia came in 100g weight.)

Clairefontaine make their DCP paper in 100gsm. It's not as good as the paper in their A4 notebooks, but it is still one of the top two general purpose cut sheet papers out there, the other being OCE TopColour paper.

 

 

[DanF]

I am surprised to see so many reviews of Office store laser printer paper and so few of high quality ream writing paper

 

Because I'll be butched if I can find any where I live, despite living about a 5 minute drive from what is supposed to be a specialty stationery store. (A few Cross wirebound notebooks and paper to print your wedding/graduation invites on, and fancy single sheets of paper starting at $.25/sheet and up to $1/sheet.)

 

So, it's one thing to spend $10 for a ream of paper that, if you don't like it, you can use anyway in your printer, than have to spring for something super expensive, only to discover you don't like it. :/

 

(~sigh~ If only Rhodia came in 100g weight.)

 

If you are willing to spend $12.95 for postage, you can get samples of up to four different papers, 20 sheets of each (24 pound and under) from

http://www.neenahpaper.com/ .

 

You should also have a local paper wholesaler who will have sample swatches and maybe sell retail too. I went to my local distributor and came home with a total of nearly dozen sample books of paper from four different mills, including Neenah Paper. Based on that, I selected four possibles, and ordered the 20 page samples mentioned above. With more paper to play around with, I can then safely pick up a ream that I know I'll like. One of the likely candidates is the Whitestone Classic laid that was mentioned a couple of posts down. The "imaging" surface provides a very subtle texture that looks more pronounced than it actually is, and is barely noticeable when writing.

 

One thing to be aware of, the different varieties of paper, even within the same groups, will interact differently with your inks. Some hold a tight line, others will flow out into a wider line. some of the best looking ones might not behave very well, so be sure to write on anything you are considering purchasing to see how it behaves with your pen.

 

 

Strathmore will also send samples, as will most of the other mills, you just have to look around on the web.

 

Dan

[kadymae]

If you are willing to spend $12.95 for postage, you can get samples of up to four different papers, 20 sheets of each (24 pound and under)

 

Dan

 

 

Phooey.

 

I use Circa/Rollabind. I need a minimum of 24lb for it to play well in my notebooks. And it's got to work in an ink-jet/laser printer, so that I can print my template on it.

[amper]

My personal favorite is Crane & Co. Thesis Paper. It has a bit of a harder finish to it than Crane's Crest. Crane's Bond Paper is also good.

 

I find Strathmore Writing wove finish to be comparable to Crane's Crest, and an all-around excellent paper. The laid finish is nice, but I don't like it for everyday usage. In Strathmore, I really prefer their Patent Office Bristol or 500 Series plate finish Bristol board. Strathore artists' papers have always been favorites of mine.

 

I also love Clearprint 100% cotton drafting vellum, which is also available in a range of quadrille rulings.

 

All three of these companies make some of the highest quality paper available in the world.

 

One 100% cotton paper I've tried and discarded is Southworth. Terrible bleeding and feathering, and completely unusable.

[Songwind]

Is there paper of comparable quality one can get with lines?

[DanF]

If you are willing to spend $12.95 for postage, you can get samples of up to four different papers, 20 sheets of each (24 pound and under)

 

Dan

 

 

Phooey.

 

I use Circa/Rollabind. I need a minimum of 24lb for it to play well in my notebooks. And it's got to work in an ink-jet/laser printer, so that I can print my template on it.

 

Most are available in 24 pound (writing) as well as 70 or 80 pound (text). Above 24 pound you only get 10 sample sheets. There is a subtle difference is feel, but the 80 pound doesn't seem to be three times as heavy. Not sure how that works. Just go down to your distributor ans see what's available. I got my samples form Neenah today, only took a couple of days.

 

Dan

 

[Rapt]

If you are willing to spend $12.95 for postage, you can get samples of up to four different papers, 20 sheets of each (24 pound and under)

 

Dan

 

 

Phooey.

 

I use Circa/Rollabind. I need a minimum of 24lb for it to play well in my notebooks. And it's got to work in an ink-jet/laser printer, so that I can print my template on it.

 

Most are available in 24 pound (writing) as well as 70 or 80 pound (text). Above 24 pound you only get 10 sample sheets. There is a subtle difference is feel, but the 80 pound doesn't seem to be three times as heavy. Not sure how that works. Just go down to your distributor ans see what's available. I got my samples form Neenah today, only took a couple of days.

 

Dan

 

Its because the lb ratings are different scales if I recall 60lb text is similar to the more familiar 24lb or something like that. Probably can find it on the web if you care to be exact.