Top Ten Paper Brands

[saulyleeplans]

Hi,

I'm going to attempt to write a blog post about fountain pen friendly paper. I know its a huge topic but I have a week. I'm thinking I might put in a top ten paper brands recommendations. So far I have Rhodia, Clairfontaine, Tomoe River and Midori. These are the ones I have experience with. Has anyone got other recommendations for me to research?

 

[macaddicted]

HP 32#, Clairefontaine DCP Digital Copy Paper. I’ve used both to make disc bound notebooks.

[NeverTapOut]

+1 HP 32 (HP Premium Choice)

Edited April 29, 2019 by Jesus1

[saulyleeplans]

Has anyone every used Life Stationery. My distributor tells me that it is good.

[pararis]

Fabriano. They've been making paper for eight centuries, they must know something.

 

Maruman Mnemosyne. Some of the smoothest I know.

 

Apica

 

Hamelin. They make the Black 'n Red notebooks.

[Restored]

HP32+ for me as well. It is just so versatile

[NeverTapOut]

HP32+ for me as well. It is just so versatile

 

I use it for everything...I never bought any of the "fountain pen" friendly paper like Clairefontaine, Rhodia and Tomoe River, and just HP 32. I can get it for $10/ream. Goulet Pens uses HP Laser Jet 24 Lb...however HP 32 is far superior and costs $1 more a ream. Best prices are at Walmart online. Staples will match and give you an extra 10% off if you ask otherwise you will pay $19.99/ ream.

I print dots on it and fold it to take notes...do all my work on it.

When clients see the paper they also notice the quality and ask what paper it is.

Edited April 29, 2019 by Jesus1

[senzen]

At the level of Clairefontaine, Rhodia and Tomoe River you'll probably need to include aspects such as how colours end up looking, which depends on one's preferences, and practicality, beyond smoothness, which 99% of other papers can't achieve (not their commercial goal). Clairefontaine lined and blank notebooks don't feel the same even if they seem to keep a standard among the same models over time; colours look nice and saturated but drying times can drive some people mad. Tomoe River somehow brings out all the sheen, but some inks look more muted vs Clairefontaine and Rhodia (e.g. Kon Peki). Fabriano Eco Qua and Traccia feel different (they probably have different attributes or goals).

 

At the other end of the spectrum you have toilet paper and Moleskine.

[dumaresq]

At the other end of the spectrum you have toilet paper and Moleskine.

 

[Sailor Kenshin]

Has anyone every used Life Stationery. My distributor tells me that it is good.

I just got a couple of pads and love it so far.

 

Kokuyo Campus notebooks. The 30-page version with colored covers.

 

Also, Black 'n' Red. Not bad. And MiquelRius, plus anything made with paper from India, though they have a softer texture than those shiny coated papers.

[saulyleeplans]

Thanks everyone. I appreciate the feedback and advice.

[phm14]

I bought a 5 ream case of Hammermill 28lb color copy for practice, doodling, etc. It was recommended by a YT calligrapher. In addition to the excellent suggestions above, I'd bet there are some interesting papers produced in Japan...

[Carrau]

I

I print dots on it and fold it to take notes...do all my work on it.

When clients see the paper they also notice the quality and ask what paper it is.

How do you do the dot printing, if I may ask?

[NeverTapOut]

How do you do the dot printing, if I may ask?

 

 

I have a dot template that I downloaded as a pdf. as one of my documents on my hard drive that I saved years ago...the site gave you the option to size the dots...how dark...how far apart...I think you could use + instead of dots. I print off 10 pages worth...sometimes print on both sides and fold it in half like a mini book I carry around. You can google it...dot template...many options will come up. I took down what I use incase there is a copyright...As I said if you google it many options and pictures will come up.

 

Regards,

David

Edited April 30, 2019 by Jesus1

[pen2paper]

Whitelines & its App.

It does permit copying, after which line disappear.

The Pennsylvania manufactured product version has been exceptional.

Fp friendly, 2 side use, not overly slick like some better papers.

 

Also Crane's high rag count.

[Karmachanic]

These also come to mind.

 

Apica

Oxford

G Lalo

Hahnemule

Basildon

Crown Mill

Stalogy

Monokaki

Paperblanks

Silvine

[ISW_Kaputnik]

Has anyone every used Life Stationery. My distributor tells me that it is good.

 

I would have said Life was my favorite at one point, until I found that I could get Nanami's Tomoe River at a lower price than I'd realized (and less per page than the Life). I still do like the Life notebooks almost as well, but at least in the A5 journal size, there are three or four places where a thin cardboard strip sticks perhaps an eighth of an inch up from the inside of the binding, dividing a couple of pages. It probably strengthens the spine and it's only a slight distraction, but it is a little off-putting. The paper is good though.

 

My current journal is being kept in an Apica blank notebook, which is also good. Kokuyo paper is excellent, but unfortunately, at least in A5 size, I've only found it with lines. I've come to prefer blank paper for journals and serious writing, although for my pocket sized notebooks (Rhodia) I don't care so much.

 

And of course there's Clairefontaine. Nice to write on, but it's harder to find their blank paper in the sizes I like. I still have some unused notebooks of their's with regular ruling and their French rule. I'll use them up eventually.

 

I've used other brands, but there's nothing I'd particularly recommend here. My first journal kept in fountain pen was in a cheap composition book, and had been started with ballpoints and gel pens. It worked well enough, and some people do recommend these, based partly on where they're made. Is it the Brazilian ones that are supposed to be good? Can't remember. But it might be worth throwing in an "ordinary" notebook like this for comparison.

[OMASsimo]

How local/national do you want to go? There are tons of excellent Italian and French papers which are hardly known. In Germany, Zanders Gohrsmühle (e.g. Bankpost) or the laid paper by Zerkall are outstanding. I've got a Spanish leather bound notebook from Miquelrius, which is excellent (and was nicely affordable).

 

I think it's kind of sad that so much focus is just on a handful of brands, though they are excellent without any doubt. But this threatens the broad variety of papers and makers we used to have. Smaller paper mills keep disappearing because of a tight market for high quality paper, which is more and more dominated by just a few global players.

[kazoolaw]

I think it's kind of sad that so much focus is just on a handful of brands, though they are excellent without any doubt. But this threatens the broad variety of papers and makers we used to have. Smaller paper mills keep disappearing because of a tight market for high quality paper, which is more and more dominated by just a few global players.

 

Makes a thread like this important to spread the word about lesser known brands.

 

Jan Peter Obr is another excellent brand. Still looking to restock their card with the engraved nib on it.

[nibtip]

When you do your review you should test both sides of the paper.

For instance on Clairefontaine and Rhodia, as many have noticed before me, side 2 is less coated than side 1, therefore the pen drags a little more when writing and what is even more annoying is that the line spreads.

Midori MD is very good, but the paper is a bit too toothy. But this is my personal opinion.

Also from Japan, amongst many, Graphilo Kobe is excellent but hard to get and quite expensive. There is also some line spreading.

I keep going back to Tomoe gawa. I think nothing beats it.

Looking forward to see your review.