Two Printer Papers

[ISW_Kaputnik]

In the below picture, the two scraps of paper on the right were cut from the two sizes of printer paper we use in the office, US legal (8.5 x 14 inches) and letter (8.5 x 11 inches). My little Rhodia notebook is next to them for comparison. All the writing samples are with the same Esterbrook; the only thing not indicated on the paper is the nib, a 9788, which is described as an "extra flexible medium". It doesn't really flex much, though, without more pressure than I typically put on it, and the line it puts down can be close to fine.

 

http://i614.photobucket.com/albums/tt221/mapn/Pens/Papers_zps4475d923.jpg

 

I noticed long ago that internal forms which we print on the legal size paper are not FP friendly. One in particular, where I have to fill in little boxes, is best done with a ballpoint. The ink simply spreads out too much, as you can see in the top sample. The letter size paper, on the other hand, is just fine with fountain pens. These come from the same office supply chain, with the store's branding.

 

It's not likely that the uncut size has anything to do with the difference in performance, of course. More likely they are intended for different uses. Or perhaps the seller sources them from different paper manufacturers. Just thought this was an interesting example of the wide differences in "normal" papers, from the point of view of an FP user.

[sd10521]

Nice pen.

It's amazing how good those old things write and the price they initally sold for way back then.

The prices they command today are not bad either.

(sorry to go off topic).

[Orrell Post]

Do you know the brand and weight of the paper? How does the reverse of the paper look, can you see a trace of the writing or bleed through?

 

I am sometimes surprised at how different papers react to a fountain pen, not always more expensive equating with better!

[ISW_Kaputnik]

Do you know the brand and weight of the paper? How does the reverse of the paper look, can you see a trace of the writing or bleed through?

 

I am sometimes surprised at how different papers react to a fountain pen, not always more expensive equating with better!

 

They are both W.B. Mason brand. That's an office supply place which probably puts its own brand on paper procured elsewhere. Both the legal and letter size come in wrappers that just say "blinding white copy paper". No indication of paper weight. There is significant bleed through on the legal size, on the letter, no more show through than is tolerable.

 

Likely enough they are different weights, but there is nothing on the wrappers that they come in to indicate it. Possibly on the larger box that the reams come in. I just thought it was an interesting example of what we all know; there's no telling how some random paper will work with fountain pens until you try it.

[Orrell Post]

Thanks for that