What Do You Do When Paper Is Too Crappy For A Fp

[lahlahlaw]

I use a fine nib with dry ink.

[inkstainedruth]

"...Ball-point pens are only good for filling out forms on a plane." Like my signature on the bottom says.

 

Nah.... Not even for that. We discovered last summer that our passports had never been signed when my husband decided to be cool and use his at the security checkpoint (he had to pull out his drivers license after all...). So while we were waiting for our flight I pulled out one of the pens I had with me and signed mine with Noodler's 54th MA -- which turned out to be a pretty close match to the printed stuff on that page!

I would make sure I had a good pen with me even for that. I now have a couple of Esterbrook manifold nibs so I'm ready even for carbon copies. And a rocker blotter in my purse.... (What? You don't like that I signed the customs declaration form with Noodler's Kung Te Cheng? But... but... it's PERMANENT. And *sort* of blue... [ish]....)

For really crappy paper try using an iron gall ink. If the paper is too crappy even for that, well, I dunno.... But there was that thread where someone was making origami pet rocks....

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[william2001]

Nah.... Not even for that. We discovered last summer that our passports had never been signed when my husband decided to be cool and use his at the security checkpoint (he had to pull out his drivers license after all...). So while we were waiting for our flight I pulled out one of the pens I had with me and signed mine with Noodler's 54th MA -- which turned out to be a pretty close match to the printed stuff on that page!

I would make sure I had a good pen with me even for that. I now have a couple of Esterbrook manifold nibs so I'm ready even for carbon copies. And a rocker blotter in my purse.... (What? You don't like that I signed the customs declaration form with Noodler's Kung Te Cheng? But... but... it's PERMANENT. And *sort* of blue... [ish]....)

For really crappy paper try using an iron gall ink. If the paper is too crappy even for that, well, I dunno.... But there was that thread where someone was making origami pet rocks....

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

Interesting...

My fountain pen seller said not to write with a fountain pen on a plane due to pressure changes.

-William S. Park

[inkstainedruth]

Interesting...

My fountain pen seller said not to write with a fountain pen on a plane due to pressure changes.

-William S. Park

I wrote and drew with several pens on a flight between Chicago and Seattle last summer and then on the return flight between Denver and Pittsburgh (spent several days in the Seattle area, then drove to Spokane for a few more days, and flew back from there via Denver). The writing was mostly done with a 1949 Parker 51 (don't recall what ink I had in it -- might have been Waterman Blue-black; and the drawing with a Rotring ArtPen, which was filled with a Chinese brand called Pen&Ink that is a FP safe, non-shellac formula India ink). I also had a couple of other pens with me, as well as ink sample vials to refill as necessary. All the pens were full before takeoff, and I had no issues with any of them (at least one the others was a Noodler's Konrad, because I know I had 54th MA in something; the fourth one was was likely another Konrad, maybe lubed up with KTC). I suppose I *could* go back through old journals and see what it looks like I used color wise for that time span....

I will also point out that I was in a range of temperature/humidity conditions, as well (probably) of altitude even when not airborne -- Seattle was cool and rainy the first couple of days, then got hot. Spokane was HOT (but as a dry heat, it didn't feel as hot as it was -- I'm used to the much more humid Northeast, while Spokane is on the edge of the desert). And the trip between them was through the Cascades and then across the desert.

Airplane tickets: X dollars. Car rental: Y dollars. Dress and shoes for wedding: Z dollars. Hotel room and meals: N dollars. Getting your picture taken at the Seattle Museum of Flight, standing in front of a P51 Mustang while holding a 1949 Parker 51 in Plum: Priceless....

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

 

edited for typos

Edited July 16, 2014 by inkstainedruth

[discopig]

There is no paper that can make a Japanese XF nib with a dry ink in it feather.

[Zanshin]

I give it to the kids. My nine-year old has a whole pile of nice notebooks that I've given to her after finding they were no good for fountain pens. She does have a fountain pen of course, I gave her a Lamy Safari last year's special neon yellow, but she draws more than she writes so FP-unfriendly notebooks are fine for that.

[Zookie]

Is that Catweazle?

[AustinMalone1999]

Speaking as a high school student paper is never too crappy for all fountain pens. Pilot Metropolitan in Medium does great on the $1 for 200 page lined paper.

[WaskiSquirrel]

Usually pens work with a very fine nib, even on bad paper. Maybe I can't use my super-awesome jumbo nib and I can't see the shading, but, for writing, the fine nib is fine.

[Komitadjie]

Swap to my Safari fine nib, full of Salix.

[Davis19942003]

As a student, I can do origami with the paper every time. I would swap to a fine nib. If it doesn't work, I have to give up and use a ball point.

[Runnin_Ute]

I rarely find that. And when I do, I just use a finer nibbed pen. Occasionally, I need to sign a letter printed on crappy copy paper. (no input into what is purchased) I will use up to a medium nib, but try to keep to fines.

 

A signature? Doesn't matter. So it looks a bit fatter. Big deal.

 

I do keep a ballpoint and a rollerball with me at the office if the need arises for carbons or something the fountain pen isn't right for. And a mechanical pencil. Haven't had to go there yet though.

[Fozziebear]

I end up writing on all sorts of paper throughout the day. My default is X-feather which was designed for crappy paper (I think). Noodler's black is also a great in for challenging environments. And, by accident, I discovered that Oxblood doesn't feather (much) or bleed in a cheap spiral notebook I picked up from Staples - even with a broad nib.

 

So there are inks out there that should work, but ya gotta hunt for 'em.

 

Of course, there's always table football.

[Komitadjie]

Salix, I say! That stuff doesn't even bleed on Post-It paper.

[dcwaites]

I use either Noodler's Black or Sheaffer Skrip Blue in a dryish fine pointed nib.

The office supplied stationery is really bad, but I find that the above combinations work wonders.

[Nanya]

I Found that with my fine nib pen I can write on almost any paper!

[BrandonA]

What do you do when you buy a notebook or pack of paper that is so crappy that use with a fp would be a pain. Maybe you bought a bad notebook by mistake or someone gives you a stone paper notebook as a gift or if you are forced to use copier paper.Do you just admit defeat and use a ballpoint, maybe you have a nice one for this purpose or do you have some clever solution to the problem.

 

Just curious.

 

If someone gave me the pad I'd have no problem binning it or giving it to someone at work. No point keeping something that is not fit for purpose.

 

I actually find cheap copier paper very good for my pens. You're never going to write on both sides of the paper so it doesn't matter if it bleeds.

 

As for a book I'd buy for myself. I research pads prior to buying them so I'd hope I didn't buy a dud. Sometimes Moleskines bleed more than others, when this occurs I simply stop writting on the reverse of the page.

[Algester]

my school has quiz booklets that seem to have like 50 gsm recycled paper... guess what happens when that meets an FP... YES XF doesnt cut it... I may have to get a Pilot PO ot a Platinum XXF just for it

[blINK]

Give it to your brother-in-law.

So he can store it in the bathroom closet?

[Zanshin]

Is that Catweazle?

Yes, that's him.