Hey guys,

Ever since I started getting into fountain pens in any serious manner (about 1-2 years ago now, after years of just being a 'user' and not a hardcore collector), I have made it a point to try and return my gran's pen-rest to it's original purpose. I have since bought an inkwell, three pen-shafts and a mountain of nibs - All of which I am using on a regular basis & having a lot of fun with (I just think it's fun tinkering around with dip-pens. Even when I was a kid!).

I have started this topic to ask a few questions about the necessary accessories of the dip-pen: blotting-paper and blotter.

I recently managed to get my hands on some nice, big sheets of blotting-paper at an amazingly cheap price ($2 for a sheet the size of a bloody coffee-table! ) and I will soon be cutting it down to size. On Monday, I'll be heading off to the nearest antique-shop to see if I can find a good-quality, cheap rocker-blotter.

So my questions are:

1. What's a good, useful size for a sheet of blotting-paper to be? Right now I have two massive sheets of paper that you could use for a blanket and I need to cut them down to size. What are some good dimensions?

2. Related to the size of blotting-paper is my next acquisition - the rocker-blotter. How big is the average rocker-blotter? What size should I go for and is there anything I should look for and/or try to avoid?

I feel like an idiot asking these questions, but I'd rather have some sort of input before I make a big mistake later on.

PS - My dad tells me that blotting-paper can collect dust very easily. Is this true? Should I store it somewhere dust-free, instead of leaving a stack of papers on my desk?

1. Roughly, 2-3 inches wide (Approx. 5 cms) and 8-10 inches (approx. 25 cms), depending on the blotter.

2. Average blotter size 2-3 inches by 7-8 inches (Eh... I don't do cm)

3. Blotting Paper does collect dust easily, I suggest storing it face down in a plastic bag.

Try to get blotters with metal tops with the screw-type handle, its easier to change out the blotting paper. I have the fold-and-tuck type (not fun...)

4. Where did you get such cheap paper? Hope it helps.

No, inches is fine, Immoteus. Easier to measure!

Thanks for the measurements & the warning about dust. I'll find somewhere safe to store it. By the way - How exactly does dust affect blotting-paper?

Everything I've read about blotters have led me to believe that you're supposed to attach the paper to the underside the blotter. How is this done? Or do you just lay the paper over your writing and rock the blotter over the top of the paper, pressing down as you roll across?

And regarding the price - At this massive art & craft superstore in the next suburb. The lady who showed it to me said it was all they had left (it was a LOT of 'left'! Something like fifty sheets all stacked up on this massive metal storage-rack!). She said it was $5.50 a sheet, but she decided to knock it down to $2 because it had been hanging around there for so long and they were trying to sell it. I bought two of those sheets ($4) and they're lying on my bed right now.

From my experience, dust causes the blotting paper to smear the ink instead of absorb it.

To install the paper:
1. you unscrew the handle.
2. remove the top plate and wrap the blotting paper (with the blotting side faced down) around the blotter
3. replace the top plate
4. screw on the handle

Note how you see some paper sticking out from under the top plate. And when your blotter begins to smear ink, its time for new paper.

It might help if you look at the image below

Oh so that's how it's done. Because I've seen some blotters made entirely of wood. Do they work in the same manner?

Yes, it should if it has a screw-type handle (regardless of material).

Thanks, Immoteus. Well, I hope the shop I'm planning to visit has something nice when I drop by it on Monday!

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I've been chatting to Immoteus on MSN Messenger - Is blotting-paper REALLY as expensive in the 'States as he's making me believe?