Has anyone found a good source for checks that are fountain pen ink friendly? It seems to me that no matter what type of ink I use, I get a lot of feathering. And unlike writing paper, you cannot just set aside your checks if they do not perform well with your inks.

As of now, I have tried Skrip ink, Pelikan ink, and Noodler's ink, all in many different colors. Still no luck, as they all feather.

The strange thing is that the feathering is not consistant. One part of the check may feather, while another part may not. I find the feathering to be the worst in the box for the dollar amount.

Sorry, no pictures to be posted for obvious reasons.

Here are a few golden oldies 1800 and later, no feathering. See if your local bank can find out what type of paper was used or consult a local printer. Plus you can print your own check with desk top software so you can control paper quality.

There is even one here signed by Abe Lincoln.

I haven't really had a problem, so I haven't tested a lot of brands. My bank uses Clarke-American to print checks ordered through them (regular handwritten checks in a checkbook pad). I also use computer checks with Quicken, those are three-up on a letter size sheet with perfs and tearoff stubs, so they separate into three check-size pieces. I order those from Checks For Less. I only sign those, the computer prints the rest. (Neither uses NCR paper for a copy)

I mostly use Noodler's Black, but I have used Waterman Blue Black. PR Midnight Blue, and PR DCSS Blue. At Christmas, I've even used Levenger Cardinal Red and Gemstone Green. I don't get feathering or real bleedthrough. With the darker inks and wetter pens, I may get show-through, where the back side paper is darkened (less reflective) but ink color hasn't bled through.

Where I get TERRIBLE paper is the statements and bills. I usually note check number and date on them when I pay, and that paper is just awful, feathering, spreading, bleedthrough. It looks like it was attacked by a paintball.

How wet a pen are you using? Have you tried a dry pen to see if the ink feathers? I write on Moleskin notebooks and find that my drier pens show much less feathering than the wet ones.

Best of Luck,
Randal

I have never had a problem with my checks. I order them directly from the bank. My bank uses Harland checks. Mine are the blue safety paper. I use medium nib pens and Noodler's Polar Blue.

I used the same pen/ink combination to endorse U.S. savings bonds. I handed them to the teller right after I filled out name, address, SSN, and signature. She stamped them immediately, and there were no issues with smearing.

I use checksinthemail..... the paper feels very solid and shows no feathering. Granted I usually use Noodler's Black which is designed to be feather resistant. But just tried Waterman Blue with no problems.

My bank uses Harland checks, like an earlier poster. I've found them quite satisfactory, too, using Noodler's Legal Lapis and Standard Brown in moderately wet pens.

I get the default Wells Fargo checks, printed by Harland. They take my Pelikan 4001 black ink pretty well, even out of my wetter pens. I often blot it with the back of my register, just to be safe, but smearing is never really an issue.

I also use checksinthemail. No feathering issues when using any of the Noodler's Bulletproof inks (Legal Lapis, Black, Galileo Brown or Violet Vote) Also no issues when using the non-bulletproof, but permanent inks (Gulfstream Blue and Verdun Green)

French

No problems with my special order checks, checks from the bank (for my parents' estates), or with any that I get to endorse. I mostly use Legal Lapis in a Parker 51 desk pen to write and endorse checks. Sorry I can't help any more than that.

My basic blue Deluxe checks from Chase work great with my FPN Galileo Brown!

I could send you some cut-offs from the check stock I use in my printer. Trade for a paper sample of whatever.

--John

Dear Kaos,

My first instincts concerning the feathering on checks, would be from fingerprint oil from your fingers and or oil from your hands, or edges of your hand when writing. If you put a paper under your hand as you write across your check, see if that solves the issue of 'feathering' on your check(s).

If you have an ink blotter tap the check and then write your check and see if that might soak up excess body oil and or residue on your hand.

Some banks have sample checks. Perhaps the bank may permit you to write on some of their 'dummy' checks.

Just some thoughts.

Respectfully,
Maria

Key Bank orders checks from Deluxe. I use a style called Antique. We use so few checks these days that we need order only every three or four years. I use a variety of inks with no problems.