I have been trying out several brands of 3x5 cards, includings Ampad, Norcrest, and some others I can't remember right now. They all seem okay on one side, but feather pretty bad on the other side. I assume this is because they are coated on one side.

Does anyone know of a brand that writes well on both sides? It would be nice if they were fairly cheap and could be purchased at a regular office supply store.

More expensive cards are probably better, such as Levenger and Crane. How are the Levenger cards compared to the cheap office supply variety? Is it worth the extra cost? Of course if money were no object I would use the Crane cards.

Thanks for your help.

Incidentally, I bought a ream of 8.5 X 11 cardstock (110 lb.) and it writes very well on both sides with no feathering. It's kinid of a hassle to cut your own 3x5 cards though.

Matt C.

I love Levenger cards and can't bring myself to even bother with cheaper cards. In the grand scheme of things, 1000 cards for their price isn't really that bad. a pack of 100 cards x 10 (office depot or the like) for a frustrating experience isn't worth it to me.

caveat: As long as Levenger is still making their cards to the same quality used in the past.

I'd be happy to send you a few Levenger cards to try but with the recent discussion of Levenger paper quaity, I can't guarantee what you're getting will be what you can buy. I am thinking of placing a small Levenger order and my get a small supply of cards just to test them.

I've tried several office supply brands, and it is hit and miss. Sometimes from package to package within the same brand. For some reason, it seems that the whiter the card stock, the better it is likely to be.

As for cutting cards yourself, take the stack of card stock to Staples, Kinko's, a local quick print shop, or someplace similar, and have them cut the paper for you. Typically they will charge $1 or so per cut. It takes 4 cuts to get 4 3x5's out of an 8 1/2 x 11 sheet. One package of card stock cut into 800-1000 cards should total about $10.

Most print shops will custom cut your cards for you for just a dollar or two per cut if you bring them your paper.

what brand of card stock did you buy? I've tried Exact Index and didn't like it at all. But some of this depends on the inks and pens you are using.

I have pads made up out of Wassau Exact Index and like it very much with fountain pens.

hmm... maybe the difference between inks or flow. I just have nothing but feathering from it.

Really wet writers (and dip pens) don't do well on Exact Index but some pens just glide on it. Do you have a favorite card stock?

The ream of cardstock I bought and like is Georgia Pacific White Card Stock. It is 110 lb. and acid free.

Matt C.

never seen anything around here other than Exact Index.

If I found cardstock as good as Levenger's 3x5s, I'd be willing to have my own cut.

You don't say what pen(s) you are trying. My dry-writing extra-fine Esties do great on any 3 x 5 card I've ever used. However, some of my other pens with broader nibs and wetter application don't. I use a fair number of them monthly.

I found the Georgia Pacific cardstock at Walmart.

Matt C.

I use index cards from KMart and they do not feather at all.
Check here
http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/in...c=6591&hl=kmart
for details.

I use the Exacompta Bristol Index Cards from Pendemonium (and others, I'd imagine.)

They are not 3x5, but I get the 5x8 size, run them through the inkjet, and cut to size.

Great with every pen+ink combination I've tried.

These cards are actually 4.875" x 7.875" if that impacts your application.

Best regards, greg