Best Affordable And Available Filler Paper

[Emperor]

What is the best filler paper that is available and affordable? I had GREAT experiences with norcom filler paper: though thin, it doesn't feather and the paper in all aspects is just perfect. However, a recent pack that I had opened feathered like my other cheaper filler paper. It may not have been norcom, I couldn't remember, tho I kinda remembered it as norcom... Anyway I have no idea if such high quality filler paper that I had before (2 packs of them thus 500 pages) are still of the same quality today. Are they? If not, what are some great filler paper that I can buy easily in like super stores with inexpensive prices? Thanks

[Runnin_Ute]

You might look to see WHERE the paper comes from, regardless of branding. This is something I remember from a thread about composition books. The general consensus was that those Made in Brazil seemed to have more FP friendly paper than say Vietnam or some of the other sources. It seems that these suppliers may make filler paper as well.

[Harlequin]

I remember that thread too Ute. I wonder, where does the "made in usa" paper fall on the scale?

[DanF]

Staples House brand filler paper is pretty good if you can find the stuff from Brazil - it is sourced from there as well as from Mexico and Egypt, and you may find packages from all three locations mixed together on the same shelf. Size is 8 x 10.5", and it comes in wide and college rule, product # 37426 and 37427 respectively. There may a tiny bit of feathering, but no bleedthrough with most inks, and it feels pretty smooth. It's the best cheap looseleaf paper I've found, very close to the Brazilian composition books. I got a good stash this fall before school started, and it was selling for $1.00 for 120 sheets, but they had a list price of $2.00, don't know what they are selling for now. Good thing about Staples is that you can return it if you don't like it. I did a review of this paper last fall, but it was before I learned that there was Brazilian stock too. You can see the review here: Staples Filler Paper (Loose Sheets) Fall Of '12 - The Fountain Pen Network

 

Even the Egyptian paper isn't too bad, though does feather a little more than the Brazilian.

 

I've never found a filler paper made in USA that comes close to Brazilian for use with fountain pens.

 

 

Dan

[Harlequin]

Staples House brand filler paper is pretty good if you can find the stuff from Brazil - it is sourced from there as well as from Mexico and Egypt, and you may find packages from all three locations mixed together on the same shelf. Size is 8 x 10.5", and it comes in wide and college rule, product # 37426 and 37427 respectively. There may a tiny bit of feathering, but no bleedthrough with most inks, and it feels pretty smooth. It's the best cheap looseleaf paper I've found, very close to the Brazilian composition books. I got a good stash this fall before school started, and it was selling for $1.00 for 120 sheets, but they had a list price of $2.00, don't know what they are selling for now. Good thing about Staples is that you can return it if you don't like it. I did a review of this paper last fall, but it was before I learned that there was Brazilian stock too. You can see the review here: Staples Filler Paper (Loose Sheets) Fall Of '12 - The Fountain Pen Network

 

Even the Egyptian paper isn't too bad, though does feather a little more than the Brazilian.

 

I've never found a filler paper made in USA that comes close to Brazilian for use with fountain pens.

 

Dan

 

Maybe I'm thinking of something different, but when I read "filler paper", I thought of good old regular notebook paper, like for school. That's always 8.5x11". Is the paper you are talking about not that kind?

Edited January 27, 2013 by Harlequin

[effrafax]

Not being American, I was also wondering what was meant by 'filler paper'.

 

It brings to mind that scrunched up ball of paper found in new shoes that keeps them in shape in storage ...

[DanF]

Filler paper is just loose, lined notebook paper - used to fill 3 ring notebooks. Just as toilet paper has been "shrinkified" over the years (which becomes evident if you live in a house with and older TP dispenser), some brands of filler paper have been trimmed down to 8 x 10.5 inches. Otherwise its the same - blue lines, red margin, and three holes.

[Harlequin]

Filler paper is just loose, lined notebook paper - used to fill 3 ring notebooks. Just as toilet paper has been "shrinkified" over the years (which becomes evident if you live in a house with and older TP dispenser), some brands of filler paper have been trimmed down to 8 x 10.5 inches. Otherwise its the same - blue lines, red margin, and three holes.

Really? I had no clue that had a happened. I often use a sheet of paper as a loose measuring guide, just assuming it's 8.5"x11". Now I'll have to double check before I do that again.

[mrcharlie]

The 8 x 10.5 size is not a recent invention. It was widely used in schools and was made the official size for US Government use in the 1920s, and stayed that way until the 1980s. Sometimes it is called "Government Letter sized". I see the Government Letter sized filler in stores more often now than I did 20 or 30 years ago, for sure, but it is more of a "resurgence" of that size than a recent "shrinking" of the letter sized paper.

 

"Filler paper" is any loose leaf paper meant to be used to fill/refill a refillable notebook or binder. That term is used for papers that fill other types and sizes of binders than the US 3-ring "Letter" sized binders, but absent any other type or size specification, when an American says "filler paper" they usually mean lined 3 ring binder paper, US Letter sized (8.5 x 11).

[Bookman]

Try Target's up & up wide ruled reinforced filler paper, "Made in Argentina." I discovered this a few weeks ago. I was pleasantly surprised. I bought it on impulse because it wasn't made in Mexico or Vietnam or USA and I was curious. It is FP-friendly. It might not ask you upstairs for coffee on the first date, but it's friendly enough. The ink line seems a little wider than what I see on premium papers like Clairefontaine and Rhodia, and yet I haven't seen any feathering. It's certainly smoother than other cheap filler papers. It's a bit heavier too. There's virtually no show-through, and so I never hesitate to write on both sides. The left margin is reinforced to prevent those annoying rips at the holes.

[Harlequin]

Do they also have college ruled, that you have seen?

[ac12]

To update the filler paper thread.

When I check Staple the other day (July 11, 2013)

 

Staples WIDE ruled is made in Egypt

Staples COLLEGE ruled is made in Brazil

 

I understand that when the "go back to school" sales start in mid/late summer, the Brazil made wide rule may come in.

[WARRZONE]

Staples Heavy Weight Filler Paper. It's only available online. Shipping is free if you have a membership, which is free as well. It's 24 lb bond, so it rarely bleeds through unless it's a really wet pen or you go over spots a bunch. I like that I can write on the back.

[ac12]

I check the link to the Staples HW paper, only college ruled.

I prefer to use wide ruled paper, at least at this time while I am working on my penmanship.

 

Then I looked at their other filler paper.

Now I know why some of the paper feels light, it IS LIGHT, only 15 pound paper. No wonder I get the shadowing that I do.

[WARRZONE]

I check the link to the Staples HW paper, only college ruled.

I prefer to use wide ruled paper, at least at this time while I am working on my penmanship.

 

Then I looked at their other filler paper.

Now I know why some of the paper feels light, it IS LIGHT, only 15 pound paper. No wonder I get the shadowing that I do.

Unfortunately, there is just not much out there. Other competitors' heavy weight paper is 20 lb which will bleed through just regular like copy paper. I have been thinking about getting some 28 lb Premium Laser Paper and printing lines on it. I am not sure how much it will cost to go into a copy shop and do that.

 

On a different note, I want to get some Arc or Circa notebooks and put HP 32 lb Premium Choice laser paper in them.

Edited July 17, 2013 by WARRZONE

[DanF]

A less than 1/7th the cost of the 24#, the lighter Staples paper from Brazil is a real bargain - so cheap there is no need to write on both sides. I don't think there is anything close for the price. When I want really nice lined paper, i print my own from a variety of papers that I have on hand. having someone else print it for you will probably be expensive.

 

Dan

Edited July 17, 2013 by DanF

[vinper]

Staples 3 hole 8.5 X 11, 20# copy paper is a good choice. I use it to print articles from internet sources/academic journals and also as note paper when printed with Cornell notes templates. It's cheap and reasonable fp friendly. vinper

[HDoug]

Since this topic has been resurrected, let me contribute another option to OP's query. I don't use this paper myself, but it was shared at our last pen club meeting: Kokuyo Campus paper. It comes in a variety of forms; the ones we tried were loose leaf dotted in a grey tone. Very fountain pen friendly. Smooth, no bleeding or feathering.

 

Doug

[scrivelry]

If you want paper to practice handwriting on, there are various sites online that will print out the different kinds of lines kids learn on - you just load your favorite paper in your printer and away you go. I found a few by searching on things like "print out writing practice paper" or some such.

[bob_hayden]

I can't speak to recent trends but for most of my life in the USA college-ruled was 8.5X11 while the wide-ruled stuff was 8X10.5.