Review: Buffalo Natur Stone Paper

[terminal]

Buffalo Natur 'Sheets Made Of Stone' Paper

(1 subject, wire bound, 80 pages (40 sheets), 7mm ruled)

 

The theme of this review will be how difficult it is to write a review of schizophrenic paper. This paper is so weird... and yet so fascinating too. I'll be focusing (natch) on how this paper works for fountain pens... although, that is even a difficult question to answer succinctly. This is a new paper product from a company called "Buffalo Natur" which bills itself as being very "green". Whatever that means. But anyways, this paper is made in China out of... well, leftover concrete, I guess. Here's a quote from the site (and the front of the notebook):

 

...a unique product with sheets made of stone recycled from debris in construction sites. Write on stone sheets, contribute to protecting our environment and enjoy the experience!

http://buffalonatur.com/index.php?page=stone

 

I tested the paper with four pens:

1. Sailor 1911 Music with Iroshizuku shin-ryoku (also later with a little murasaki-shikibu)
   
2. Sailor Young Profit 'B' with Noodler's Green Marine
   
3. Visconti Van Gogh 'M' with Iroshizuku kiri-same
   
4. TWSBI 540 with a Pendleton BBwAW custom nib and Noodler's Apache Sunset
   

 

Now down to stone tacks:

 

• Feathering: 5/10 This is one of the most double-edged parts of this paper. The feathering is absolutely unbelievably awful IF YOU USE A NIB THAT BREAKS THE SURFACE OF THE PAPER. I gave this a 50/50 mark because it really only works for some nibs, and it's hard to predict which ones will disturb the surface. Furthermore, though I haven't proven this, I suspect the nibs that do break the surface are in danger of being damaged. I've included pictures of the feathering I got from the Sailor Young Profit BROAD (!) and my 540 BBwAW. However, it's worth nothing that... even MORE BIZARRE than the feathering is the fact it took about 24 hours to happen. You'll see pictures of how it looked immediately after being written and then after 24 hours. Really... really... body-snatcher type behavior.
  
• Bleedthrough: 10/10 It never happens. It appears physically incapable of bleed through. It bleeds through as much as a trash bag.
  
• Texture: 5/10 I mean, it is like... as smooth as you can possibly imagine. Writing with the 1911 Music on it is.... other worldly. It feels like the ink is just barely clinging to it for dear life. The dry times reflect that. 60 seconds for Iro murasaki-shikibu. That's just totally unreasonable. But... when you write on glass... the dry times are REALLY long, right? The other totally odd thing is the paper feels a little like rubber or latex... or even plastic. Fine nibs get bogged down in it. If you use a flex nib or apply any pressure, it gets bogged down. The nibs will actually make tracks and indentations. I tried to photograph them, but it's hard to tell whether they are concave or convex. The paper can be torn, but it's difficult, and it doesn't really 'rip' but pulls apart.
  
• Appearance: 8/10 It looks like a notebook, but, check out the pictures how the ink dries on it. It really brings out shading. It's actually quite gorgeous. One especially interesting thing is that the rules seem to be somehow imbedded in to the paper, so the pen goes right over them. It's hard to explain but it can be seen in the pictures. The lines actually act as fire-breaks for the feathering sometimes! Unreal. It's almost worth all the bizarre behavior for the results. It looks like nothing else. Plus the entire notebook does have a unique heaviness and feel of quality. It should for the price!
  
• Price: 7/10 At about $7 for FORTY PAGES, this is expensive compared to other one subject notebooks. It's also pretty unique. The paper is much more durable than your normal MEAD. It's certainly not a great value, but the price doesn't seem unreasonable to me. I ended up getting a stack of them for 33% off, and I consider that a good price.
  

 

The cover, back and inside front cover:

http://www.suramar.org/fpn/buffalo_natur_07.jpg

http://www.suramar.org/fpn/buffalo_natur_06.jpg

http://www.suramar.org/fpn/buffalo_natur_05.jpg

 

 

What the original test looked like when I wrote it:

http://www.suramar.org/fpn/buffalo_natur_02.jpg

http://www.suramar.org/fpn/buffalo_natur_01.jpg

 

 

And 24 hours later...

http://www.suramar.org/fpn/buffalo_natur_08.jpg

http://www.suramar.org/fpn/buffalo_natur_09.jpg

http://www.suramar.org/fpn/buffalo_natur_10.jpg

 

 

What happens when you press down AT ALL:

http://www.suramar.org/fpn/buffalo_natur_03.jpg

http://www.suramar.org/fpn/buffalo_natur_04.jpg

 

 

In it's most ideal form... it's pretty awesome:

http://www.suramar.org/fpn/buffalo_natur_11.jpg

http://www.suramar.org/fpn/buffalo_natur_12.jpg

 

 

Totally record setting dry times:

http://www.suramar.org/fpn/buffalo_natur_13.jpg

 

 

Conclusion: I'm hard-pressed to draw a conclusion, I have to say. It depends a bit on what you're looking for I guess. On one hand, clearly, the dry times, the weird.. weird feathering and the price make it a tough sell. Not to mention the possibility of pen damage which I haven't researched and confirmed or disproved. However, in terms of a totally unique experience... it's hard to match, frankly. The output, when all is said and done... inks and pens are chosen and let dry completely... is quite amazing. As a daily use fountain pen paper, it's pretty much a no-go. For journaling, well... how artistic are your journals. Too bad it's not blank... it would make one heck of an art paper.

 

 

PLEASE NOTE: I have seen no accumulation of dust or damage to my nibs from using this paper. I was very concerned and watched closely. However, I haven't used the paper for more than a month and not more than ten pages. I still have fears and reservations, for obvious reasons.

[tmcbike]

The only construction waste I can think of that could be economically made into paper is asbestos cement!!

[terminal]

The only construction waste I can think of that could be economically made into paper is asbestos cement!!

 

Well, I pulled a page apart and smelled it for a long time, and it doesn't smell like asbestos

[fiberdrunk]

I've tried a couple different brands of stone paper before, but that's really unusual to find one that is recycled construction waste! I, too, have seen that kind of feathering on the other brands. Namely, Noodler's Black Swan in Australian Roses disintegrated on this type of paper. It was weird. So I think it may be the reaction of certain inks with this kind of paper. Thanks for the review! Is the notebook heavy?

[terminal]

I've tried a couple different brands of stone paper before, but that's really unusual to find one that is recycled construction waste! I, too, have seen that kind of feathering on the other brands. Namely, Noodler's Black Swan in Australian Roses disintegrated on this type of paper. It was weird. So I think it may be the reaction of certain inks with this kind of paper. Thanks for the review! Is the notebook heavy?

 

 

It's about 11oz. I was trying to decide if this is heavy for a notebook. It's thin is the thing. Only 40 pieces of paper -- quarter inch thick or so. Well it FEELS heavy but maybe it's just psychological

[fiberdrunk]

 

It's about 11oz. I was trying to decide if this is heavy for a notebook. It's thin is the thing. Only 40 pieces of paper -- quarter inch thick or so. Well it FEELS heavy but maybe it's just psychological

 

 

I bought a stone paper composition book from Target about a year or so ago (Gartner brand) and that sucker was heavy! I can see why these stone paper notebooks tend to come in smaller sizes.

Edited August 29, 2012 by fiberdrunk

[jbb]

The only construction waste I can think of that could be economically made into paper is asbestos cement!!

 

Well, I pulled a page apart and smelled it for a long time, and it doesn't smell like asbestos

If the paper might be asbestos smelling if for a long time might not be such a good idea. :bonk: :bonk: Something about this paper is a bit disturbing.... but I've never actually touched a piece of it. :ph34r:

[fiberdrunk]

The stone papers I have (Gartner and Oxford) do have a peculiar odor. I don't know if they are construction waste. Their websites don't mention that. But they do have a strange smell, especially the Gartner one. (Both brands can be seen in this thread.)

Edited August 29, 2012 by fiberdrunk

[terminal]

The stone papers I have (Gartner and Oxford) do have a peculiar odor. I don't know if they are construction waste. Their websites don't mention that. But they do have a strange smell, especially the Gartner one. (Both brands can be seen in this thread.)

 

I'm embarrassed to say I had missed that thread. I searched, but for Buffalo Natur. It's interesting that neither Gartner nor Oxford had the totally crazy feathering this one does.

 

I was joking about the asbestos smell, but I must say that this paper has a VERY strong odor. It smells like a new building... or that new office building smell more specifically. Very chemically. Seems like it's probably not good to breath.

[Jadie]

I'd like to know the relationship between buffalos and stones. Hmm..buffalo kidney stones?

 

I've never seen paper that "pops back" (don't know how else to describe it) at you when you write with it. Totally weird. It looks like it's from another planet. If it's construction waste, are you sure they didn't add other random stuff in it, like rubber or something? Is it stretchy?

[terminal]

I've never seen paper that "pops back" (don't know how else to describe it) at you when you write with it. Totally weird. It looks like it's from another planet. If it's construction waste, are you sure they didn't add other random stuff in it, like rubber or something? Is it stretchy?

 

It is actually just a little stretchy. It really is slight reminiscent of a trash bag, but the texture is totally different. It's quite hard to pull apart, even on the perforation because it stretches and deforms so much.

[fiberdrunk]

One amazing thing about these stone papers is that if you soak them in water, they dry as if nothing happened. No buckling whatsoever.

[Sailor Kenshin]

 

It's about 11oz. I was trying to decide if this is heavy for a notebook. It's thin is the thing. Only 40 pieces of paper -- quarter inch thick or so. Well it FEELS heavy but maybe it's just psychological

 

 

I bought a stone paper composition book from Target about a year or so ago (Gartner brand) and that sucker was heavy! I can see why these stone paper notebooks tend to come in smaller sizes.

 

 

Yah, same here. I have a weakness for weird paper.

 

Though I tested it with fountain pens, gel pens, and pencil, i would never again so much as touch the nib of a pen I liked to stone paper.

[terminal]

It's about 11oz. I was trying to decide if this is heavy for a notebook. It's thin is the thing. Only 40 pieces of paper -- quarter inch thick or so. Well it FEELS heavy but maybe it's just psychological

I bought a stone paper composition book from Target about a year or so ago (Gartner brand) and that sucker was heavy! I can see why these stone paper notebooks tend to come in smaller sizes.

Yah, same here. I have a weakness for weird paper.

 

Though I tested it with fountain pens, gel pens, and pencil, i would never again so much as touch the nib of a pen I liked to stone paper.

 

Yah me too. I have to tell you Sailor, you hit the nail right on the head here.

 

I'm actually reconsidering my review because of a test I ran yesterday. I decided to try writing on the paper with a dip pen and all of the different Noodler's inks I own. Boy... what a huge mess. I'm going to have to say, this is a no-buy paper for fountain pens, based on this test. First of all, the ink.. never dried. Even after 48 hours it just sat there on top. Second... the feathering is... I mean... unbelievable. Ridiculous. Not useable. Stay away from this paper. A FP that works on it is an anomaly. I wish I could change my original post, but it's not like I said it was a good FP paper... but now I don't even think it's worth buying to play with (with FPs).

 

http://www.suramar.org/fpn/buffalo_natur_later_2.jpg

http://www.suramar.org/fpn/buffalo_natur_later_3.jpg

 

LOL look at the way these two bled together...

 

http://www.suramar.org/fpn/buffalo_natur_later_4.jpg

[Sailor Kenshin]

YIKES. This looks even worse than my Target stone paper notebooks.

 

That should be your Halloween avatar.

[terminal]

YIKES. This looks even worse than my Target stone paper notebooks.

 

That should be your Halloween avatar.

 

LOL. I mean.. it is kinda pretty... you know, if you don't want to read it. Oh, and, BTW, 48hrs later... it's STILL changing. That is pretty twilight zone.

[Iknrepa91452]

It could lead to some good art, but for writing it seems heinous.

[mm1624124]

Hmm... :hmm1:

 

Looks like solvents and surfactants at play. Rather than absorb on fiber dissipates or travels into pores?? Could be a simple capillary action. Wonder how it does with gel pens or rollerballs.

[Newjelan]

I've used another brand of this "paper" (via smiggle.com.au - no affiliation) and only had a problem with Schneider ink cartridges - the blue faded away to almost nothing over a couple of days. Other inks - J Herbin, Diamine and Private Reserve were all fine. I love the texture, the smell, the way it "bounces" when you write on it and how it feels a little damp.

[Chris]

That's the problem - ink. You should be using a Dremmel

 

Chris