Paper For Long Term Writing Project

[AmblingAardvark]

Hi all, I'm new here. I've been doing a little bit of snooping around the past couple days trying to gather some information. I didn't find anything I felt applied directly to my situation though so I thought I would make a post and ask you all directly. I'm not positive this is the correct spot to leave this... Hopefully it is okay.

 

What I am trying to do:

I am copying out the Scriptures word for word. I have been doing this for a while and recently began to question my process. I have been copying in plain everyday notebooks and am not happy with the paper quality, or what the finished product will be. My plan as of now is to buy blank paper, print light grey lines onto them, fold into signatures and bind in a custom made book at the finish. I have been using a Pelikan Pura with a fine nib for several years, it has some quirks, but I have grown to love it.

 

My questions:

To accomplish my goal, what paper would meet these goals? 1)be fountain pen friendly, 2)accept lines from a laser printer without rubbing off, 3)able to be bought in somewhat large quantities as this is going to take a fair amount of paper.

Ink? I am currently using normal Pelikan 4001 Brilliant Black ink. Should I invest in a better ink?

 

Any input or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. It is going to be a few months still before I begin, as I am in the process of trying to learn italic script before I begin this stage (maybe I'm completely crazy!) as I am not happy with my penmanship as it currently stands.

[bunny roller]

I don't think so the kind of paper exists but if it really does . God heavens even i want to have it !!

[recluse]

Assuming you will use a 1.1 mm stub nib of normal wetness there are many options:

 

1. Hammermill Multipurpose Paper.

2. Xerox Multipurpose Plus Paper

3. Staples Sustainable Earth Copy Paper (there will be slight line widening, though)

4. HP Laser Paper

and many others

 

All these papers will give you no troubles with fountain pens, can be easily run through a laser printer without loosing much of their niceness, can be bought in any quantities and, except for HP's paper, are inexpensive.

[Paddler]

It depends on your goal for the copy. If you want the copy to last for a hundred years or so, acid free paper and nearly any permanent (non-washable) ink should work.

 

For 500 years or so, you want archival paper and iron gall ink.

 

For 1,000 years or more, go for the archival paper, India ink, and a dip pen.

[Scribblesoften]

The Pelikan ink is water solvent and I believe it fades rapidly in sunlight. This may not be an issue for you. But if it is, you might want to choose a different ink. I like the Tomoe River paper. It is available loose.

[fiberdrunk]

100% cotton paper would be the best (Strathmore is a good choice). Your most promising ink choices would be a good balanced iron gall ink (the ones that are safe for fountain pens probably do not qualify), or like Paddler said, India ink. Noodler's Heart of Darkness would be good, too, though we do not yet know if Noodler's will last for centuries since it hasn't been around long enough. But based on the many UV and other torture tests here on FPN, quite a few of Noodler's bulletproof inks stand up very well.

Edited August 2, 2014 by fiberdrunk

[Bookman]

If you want tried-and-true acid-free FP-friendly paper that you can get in large quantities, run through a laser printer, and on which you may print your own lines without fear of smudging, then I recommend HP 24lb Laserjet. You can get it in a ream at any big-box office supply store for $12-13, about 2½ cents a sheet . You can get it in a box of 2,500 sheets from Amazon for about 2½ cents a sheet, which wouldn't save money on paper supplies but would on gasoline. You might, however, start with a ream from a local brick-and-mortar Staples/OfficeDepot/OfficeMax. If you like it for your scriptures project, buy more. If you don't, use the balance of the ream for printer/copier paper.

Edited August 3, 2014 by Bookman

[AmblingAardvark]

I've been rethinking my qualifications some after the suggestion on Tomoe River paper. I think it might be thin enough that I could place the sheet I'm writing on over top of a lined sheet and negate the need to print lines. I think it would look more aesthetically pleasing this way as well. My only concern with that is the amount of time for the ink to dry and not smear. Especially since I am a lefty...

[Scribblesoften]

I have not had problems with long drying time on Tomoe River, but I am not left handed. You might buy a small amount and test it out.

[Bookman]

I've been rethinking my qualifications some after the suggestion on Tomoe River paper. I think it might be thin enough that I could place the sheet I'm writing on over top of a lined sheet and negate the need to print lines. I think it would look more aesthetically pleasing this way as well. My only concern with that is the amount of time for the ink to dry and not smear. Especially since I am a lefty...

 

I use Tomor River paper exclusively for correspondence. I originally used it to semi-homemake a Kinko's notebook. I ran my 100 sheets through a Canon MX870 printer to print ruled lines on both sides. It was quite a project; I was mostly successful; four sheets got stuck in the printer; I salvaged two, which are crinkled and battle-scarred and written on; and I recommend against the procedure.

 

Tomoe River paper is extraordinary paper to write on. I haven't noticed any problem with smear times.

 

The only problems I've encountered result from the paper's flimsiness. Anyone who dares try the printer experience will understand fully that this paper, while dense enough to prevent Noodler's Baystate Blue from bleeding through, is quite insubstantial at the same time. An 8½ x 11 sheet is extraordinarily flimsy, like old-fashioned carbon paper. You're right about it's being thin enough to see guidelines from underneath. And if you write with guidelines you'll be writing on (and handling only) one sheet at a time, which I recommend.

 

If you're going to convert the sheets into 5½ x 8½ (or smaller) signatures, you might actually be able to thumb through the leaves of your finished product, the way one does when looking for something in particular, like a Bible verse. At 8½ x 11, however, I've found that they haven't the substance or solidity for it. Even ordinary handling requires extra vigilance. One sheet at a time is easy to handle. But take care when you hold a stack of it in your bare hands. My supply didn't arrive in a box, but was wrapped snugly against a firm 8½ x 11 piece of cardboard. I binder-clipped the sheets to the cardboard until I could remove my Southworth paper from its box and give it over to the Tomoe River.

Edited August 3, 2014 by Bookman

[bunny roller]

One thing i really know is that one should only one type of paper for the entire project !!

[bunny roller]

hey bro did you guys find the solution of the problem ,

[bunny roller]

Really interested in the answer of the problem , please do tell !!

[bunny roller]

I will try to solve the problem myself as they unless you try one never knows !!

[bunny roller]

No solutions till know just hoping that i will find it !!

[Scribblesoften]

Exactly what problem do you want to solve?

[bunny roller]

Thanks for asking my problem is that h that is the amount of time for the ink to dry and not smear and I am a lefty which is the bad part ??

[Scribblesoften]

We were talking about Tomoe River paper. I am right handed, so my circumstances are not the same as yours, but dry times have been quite rapid. Unlike paper like Clairefontaine where ink seems to sit on the surface. There are also faster drying inks like Noodler's Bernanke Blue that might help avoid smearing. In general, the Japanese papers that I have used (Apica, Life, Tomoe) have all had good dry times. The only way to determine if a specific paper will work for you, is to obtain a sample and test it. I hope this is of some help.

Edited August 9, 2014 by Scribblesoften

[Ian Foster]

Hello Everyone,

 

I have found this thread very ineresting. Does anyone know whether Tomoe River paper is available in the UK? If not, are there any papers to Tomoe River? From what has been posted, it appears to be a very special & unique product.

 

Ian

[Scribblesoften]

I do not know about in the UK but paperforfountainpens.com has books with Tomoe River paper for sale. I do not know if shipping would be prohibitive but you might take a look at the site. I have no affiliation with the vendor.