Heat Treating Paper With An Iron..

[Sach]

I noticed a really interesting phenomena the other day. I've got into printing my own dot grid, and noticed that when I did this through my laser printer. Whilst testing the printing, I ran some cheap copier paper through it.

Now this same copier paper is awful to write on. It exhibits far to much feathering to write on. When I printed the dot grid on this paper however, the heat from the laser printer seemed to drastically improve it's performance. This evening, I decided to test my hypothesis with an iron and the same copier paper to see what effect it would have. I ironed half the sheet, and left the other half un-ironed.

 

The first photo is written with a Visconti HS stub, with Diamine Salamander. This has a really heavy ink flow, so thought it would be ideal for the test. The second image is from the un-ironed segment of the page. Anyone else come across this phenomena? I get the feeling that this is what Rhodia are doing to their paper..!

[scrivelry]

I haven't tried it, but I suppose it is possible that the heat changes something that makes it more useable. It might not work for all paper, but if it works for you, go for it!!!

[Sach]

I think it would be rather impractical to start ironing individual sheets, though I'm sure that the searing of the surface makes the surface more ink repellent!

[willard]

Diamine Salamander looks very good under these conditions!

[Plume145]

woah! That's seriously impressive! Not practical in general, but hey, maybe you can do it with your laser printer - just print something quick and simple, like your initials, just to give it some time in the printer, and away you go!

 

We should try this on a larger scale!

[ndw76]

My hypothesis is that the iron is driving out the moisture lowering the humidity of the paper.

 

I'm going to try this little experiment myself

[Chris]

Fascinating - I remember seeing pictures of butlers of old ironing the morning newspapers before presenting them to the master of the household. It crisped the paper and reduced smudging of the ink on the newsprint.

 

Certainly the heat of an iron would affect notepaper too and may smooth fibres as well as dry the paper.

 

So, I need a butler! He can iron all my notebooks before I start to use them.

 

I presume you didn't use the 'steam' function!

[nigelg]

I thought the butler ironed the newspaper before presenting it to disguise the fact that he had read it first earlier in the morning.

[Sasha Royale]

Interesting ! I am going to try it. They already talk about me, so I'm not getting caught doing it..

[Tas]

I once ironed my son's homework that he'd written with a Pilot Frixion Pen.

 

Vamoosh!!

 

It vanished.

 

I had to write a letter explaining the phenomenon to his teacher.

Did a little Google research and found that placing the homework in a freezer would restore it.

 

Homework was a day late but with a great excuse.

 

 

Salamander looking mighty fine . . .

[Inkysloth]

<snip> I once ironed my son's homework... </snip>

 

Dare I ask why?!

[Tas]

Doesn't everyone iron their children's homework before submitting them?!

 

Inkysloth, seriously, it came out of his rucksack looking like a used empty bag from Greggs - I had to do something with it . . .

Edited April 9, 2014 by Tas

[Inkysloth]

Doesn't everyone iron their children's homework before submitting them?!

 

Inkysloth, seriously, it came out of his rucksack looking like a used empty bag from Greggs - I had to do something with it . . .

 

You're a very generous parent! I think my mum used to just glance at mine and roll her eyes!

[Sach]

I'll ask my butler to start doing this for me!

[Paddler]

Hey! Maybe this is the answer for all those who have bought unfriendly Moleskines.

[Paddler]

I'll ask my butler to start doing this for me!

Oh, yeah! Jeeves does iron Bertie's newspapers in the morning, doesn't he?

[PaperDarts]

I once ironed my son's homework that he'd written with a Pilot Frixion Pen.

 

Vamoosh!!

 

It vanished.

 

I had to write a letter explaining the phenomenon to his teacher.

Did a little Google research and found that placing the homework in a freezer would restore it.

 

Homework was a day late but with a great excuse.

 

 

Salamander looking mighty fine . . .

 

 

Wow, that is a much better reason than "The dog ate my homework." Or, as in my case years ago, my toddler brother.

Re ironing paper - I'm going to give it a try too! But I agree, not practical unless one has a butler.

Edited to clarify: the dog did not eat my toddler brother - the toddler brother ate my homework.

Edited April 9, 2014 by PaperDarts

[highlander1307]

Yes, heat changes the characteristics of paper. And, different paper differently.

[Sandy1]

Hi,

 

My experience is much in line with what you've observed and depicted. *naughty_word*

 

I speculate that heat drives moisture out of the paper, making it 'thirsty', so the ink will feather, spread and bleed- show-through to a greater degree.

 

I'm not sure if setting out those sheets in open air would readily restore the moisture balance; and even then, I wonder if heating permanently alters the paper [coating] to make it perpetually nasty.

 

Bye,

S1

 

Edit to add: Out of curiosity (aka perceived need), is there a difference as to the water resistance of the ink? And what about ironing paper after writing - any change of water resistance?

Edited April 9, 2014 by Sandy1

[Inkysloth]

I know there's a paper manufacturing process called calendaring, where large heavy rollers press the paper, giving it a polished finish - it may be that the ironing is a home version of calendaring.

 

What I can't remember (and I'm currently too tired & lazy to look it up) is if the rollers are heated, too.