Cheap, Lined, Yellow Pads?

[markh]

I'm looking for a cheap lined yellow pad, obviously fountain pen friendly.

 

I know this comes up often, but recommendations from not that long ago become invalid, as paper manufactures change (cheapen) their products. For some years, I have been using Costco (Tops) yellow legal pads. Cheap, thin paper, but work quite well with fountain pens. The latest batch has changed and the "same" product now absorbs ink like a sponge - feathers and bleeds.

 

So - - I know Rhodia is great, but not cheap. The sugar cane based paper is cheap, actually works really well, but isn't yellow (or at least I don't now of any).

 

Any recent purchases that work well?? Doesn't have to be super cheap, just not expensive enough that I don't feel bad doodling with my pens and throwing away pages.

 

Thanks,

 

 

[Inkedinker]

As funny as it sounds, my daily Lamy Fine tip with Lamy ink loves Post It notes. No feather, no bleed and I'm pretty sure the makers make note pads too.

[markh]

My experience is that real Post-it notes work great. There are cheaper versions (such as the office supply store versions) that don't.

 

I don't know of any legal pads of the same material. I don't think 3M (the manufacturer) makes any.....

 

thnx,

 

 

.

[Beauport]

My experience is that real Post-it notes work great. There are cheaper versions (such as the office supply store versions) that don't.

 

I don't know of any legal pads of the same material. I don't think 3M (the manufacturer) makes any.....

 

thnx,

 

 

.

I found the same, the Post-It notes work great with fountain pens. I did a quick search to see if they made large/legal size paper but didn't see any.

[JordanN]

I have found that my Lamy 2000 with fine nib and permanent black Parker Quink works great for writing on cheap paper. It is my designated everyday note-taking pen. I'm writing on a cheap unbranded yellow pad now.

 

So, considering the nib-ink-paper triangle, you can select the nib and ink portions to save money on everyday paper and ink, so you can doodle all day with no guilt.

 

Of course, you should still have high-flow nibs, fancy ink and heavy paper on hand for when you want them. ;-)

Edited October 27, 2016 by JordanN

[Parker51]

I suggest Roaring Spring brand paper products. Not the cheapest, but fairly low in price and for the price a very good product. Unfortunately you likely will need to locate it at an independent stationary store. The best chance of finding it if you don't have a local independent is a college or university book store.

[markh]

I suggest Roaring Spring brand paper products. Not the cheapest, but fairly low in price and for the price a very good product. Unfortunately you likely will need to locate it at an independent stationary store. The best chance of finding it if you don't have a local independent is a college or university book store.

 

 

I've seen composition books from them, and I think they work well. I've never seen yellow legal pads - do you know if they exist??

 

 

thnx,

 

.

[LizEF]

I've seen composition books from them, and I think they work well. I've never seen yellow legal pads - do you know if they exist??

 

I've never used this particular product, but, Amazon have multiple colors. The one called "Ivory" looks mighty yellow to me. If you get them, please let us know how they do. Some of the other colors might tempt me.

[markh]

UPDATE: papers that work with fountain pens....

 

Getting frustrated with finding an inexpensive paper I could use, I did some research. Meaning that I purchased an assortment of likely papers, and tested them.

 

The test was simple. I used a Visconti Homo Sapiens pen loaded with Pelikan black. This pen has a Palladium nib which is very soft, and a triple cut feed. Meaning that it is a very wet writer. A good test of paper performance. I looked for feathering, and bleed-through to the reverse side.

 

Here are my results:

 

Papers that don't work,

Some of these worked better than others, but they all feathered and bled through enough that I wouldn't use them: Tops, Tops Docket, and Tops Gold, Costco (Tops), Office Depot Professional.

Added: TOPS Second Nature 100% Recycled (awful)

 

Staples Perforated Pads - these are borderline and usable with fine or extra fine nibs, just not wet writing pens.

 

All of these are manufactured in the US.

 

Papers that do work:

 

All of these didn't feather, or feathered little enough that I could only tell under a loupe. No ink bleed to reverse. The ink might be visible on the reverse, but it doesn't soak through the paper.

 

I find all these perfectly usable.

 

I got the following at Staples: Signa (made in Egypt), Staples Gold Series - has a sort of script M logo (these are made in Egypt)

 

Also from Target - yellow legal pads (made in Vietnam)

 

I will try a few additional when I get the chance, but the pattern appears to be that papers made outside of the US are more likely to be fountain pen friendly.

 

 

.

Edited October 30, 2016 by markh

[Maurizio]

These sugarcane pads are not yellow, but I thought I'd post this review I did of these pads last year:

 

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/289981-really-jazzed-about-cane-fields-sugar-cane-legal-pads/

[Buzz_130]

I'm surprised your tests don't support the Tops legal pads. Those are my go-to legal pads at work, but I use fine and medium nibs with medium flow. My Visconti HS will ghost through Rhodia paper, so I tame that monster with the driest inks and don't use it on most paper.

 

Thank you for doing your torture tests on paper. The results will help everyone here.

 

Buzz

[Fermata]

My practice uses Cambridge Legal pads, ideal for minutes and easily seen in a deep file. Readily available at Staples and Amazon in blocks of 10 for around $24.

[effika]

We switched to recycled legal pads at work and now everything feathers and bleeds through. :-(

 

The Sparco/Business Source semi-generic legal pads that aren't recycled are pretty good. I also like their steno pads, though the paper is thin and there's always a bit of bleedthrough if I'm not using an EF nib.

 

Adding another vote to the Staples Gold Series pads as well.

 

The pads I get in promotional folios- HIT and Leeds branded- are also very fountain pen friendly!

[JakobS]

I have found Ampad Gold Fibre to be useable with a variety of pens and inks. They also make yellow pads in a variety of sizes and bindings.

[markh]

These sugarcane pads are not yellow, but I thought I'd post this review I did of these pads last year:

 

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/289981-really-jazzed-about-cane-fields-sugar-cane-legal-pads/

 

At Staples yesterday, I could no longer find these.

 

.

[markh]

I'm surprised your tests don't support the Tops legal pads. Those are my go-to legal pads at work, but I use fine and medium nibs with medium flow. My Visconti HS will ghost through Rhodia paper, so I tame that monster with the driest inks and don't use it on most paper.

 

Thank you for doing your torture tests on paper. The results will help everyone here.

 

Buzz

 

 

I agree that the Visconti Homo Sapiens is somewhat of an outlier for a modern pen, but not compared to many vintage pens. A vintage flex nib lays down more ink than the Visconti.

 

The TOPS Docket Gold are almost OK - but I would not choose to use it, especially after finding many papers that work great and cost less.

 

I certainly accept that I'm pretty picky..... why settle if you don't have to.....

 

 

 

 

.

Edited October 30, 2016 by markh

[markh]

I have found Ampad Gold Fibre to be useable with a variety of pens and inks. They also make yellow pads in a variety of sizes and bindings.

 

I haven't tried that. But I think Ampad and Tops are the same company. So I wonder if the paper is the same.

[Mister5]

I'm surprised your tests don't support the Tops legal pads. Those are my go-to legal pads at work, but I use fine and medium nibs with medium flow. My Visconti HS will ghost through Rhodia paper, so I tame that monster with the driest inks and don't use it on most paper.

 

Thank you for doing your torture tests on paper. The results will help everyone here.

 

Buzz

I've used the Tops Mini Legal pads - they have them at Costco and they're OK. Sure, there's bleedthrough but the price compensates. I'm not going to use both sides in these anyway. Might be a little too fibrous for Japanese F or EF though. Good for a quick note and I've even used them for correspondence.

 

On the expensive side last week at Kinokiyunya, I got a $10 yellow legal made by Rhodia. By Zeus, if this doesn't perform well I'd be perturbed.

[Mister5]

I've used the Tops Mini Legal pads - they have them at Costco and they're OK. Sure, there's bleedthrough but the price compensates. I'm not going to use both sides in these anyway. Might be a little too fibrous for Japanese F or EF though. Good for a quick note and I've even used them for correspondence.

 

On the expensive side last week at Kinokiyunya, I got a $10 yellow legal made by Rhodia. By Zeus, if this doesn't perform well I'd be perturbed.

 

 

FYI I tried using an Aurora 88K EF with Rohrer & Klinger Scabiosa on the Tops Mini Legal Pads. It feathered like crazy. Please keep in mind that the Aurora 88K is one of my wettest pens. Still, I was definitely not expecting this, considering that Scabiosa is iron gall, and iron gall allegedly is one of the best types of ink to use on cheap paper. So I'll retract my recommendation for the Tops Mini Legal Pads.

 

I know this isn't a legal pad but if you see this type of paper in a legal pad it might be one to look for... I tested out the same inked up pen on a ringed notebook from a dollar store one of my pen pals sent me. Its "Environotes" one subject sugarcane paper from Roaring Spring Paper Products. This paper held up well to that pen/ink combo. My penpal also tested it and only had bleedthrough with a flex pen.

[frankb3]

As mentioned, the Target "made in Vietnam" pads - yellow or white. They are the UP and UP (house) brand - In store only. $2/5 5x8" or $3/3 8.5x11".

Also they have composition notebooks (look for "made in Vietnam") for 50 cents each, same good paper. Also in store only.

 

The Tops Gold pads (they make three grades, the gold is the best) are 20 pound paper. They do soak up the ink pretty quick, but the heavy paper doesn't bleed thru too much and feathering is tolerable (the Target paper is better). Amazon seems to have the best prices for these.