What Paper For A Diy Notebook?

[die_krabbe]

Hi,

 

I am going to build my own Midori-style notebook (to make it a bit wider) and also wanted to make my own inserts. But I'm not sure which paper to use for it.

I like the paper in Rhodia Dot Pads, the Leuchtturm paper, that is in the thicker A5 notebooks and Clairefontaine in general. So I like a smooth, FP friendly paper (preferably dotted).

So what paper can I buy in bulk (like a pack of 100-500 pages) that has these options? Do I just buy the A4 versions of these notebooks and cut them to my taste? That seems a bit silly to me. I would rather buy a bigger quantity of the paper these company source. I know they usually produce the paper themself and don't sell it separately but is there an option to buy loose sheets of paper that have similar properties?

I would also like to have blank paper so I can print them myself.

 

What I found is just cheap printer paper or the really expensive paper where 50 sheets cost about 20 bucks.

Especially Clairefontaine Notebooks are great for their price. They are almost the cheapest option in Germany. So if anyone has an idea how to get to this paper?

 

Thanks in advance.

 

Sebastian

Edited August 5, 2015 by die_krabbe

[hbdk]

Hi

 

I use Hp Color Laser Paper, 100 gr. It is very fountain pen friendly and not very expensive. You can use it in both laser and inkjet printers if you want to make dots or lines. Comes in A4 500 sheet packets (probably other sizes as well, haven't checked). Have fun

[die_krabbe]

Yes and thanks. I saw that on a different post. Can you tell me how it behaves in regards to the aforementioned papers? And isn't 100g paper too thick for a pocket notebook? especially if it has a coating it could be noticeably thicker than 80g paper.

 

Bonus question:

Has anyone an idea what Midori uses for their notebook with the very thin paper? That felt pretty good and has to be pretty cheap as well. (I don't want to invest in Tomoe River Paper as it is almost impossible to get in germany.)

[GatzBcn]

There is a girl on the classifieds section called harrietthespy (https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/user/92960-harrietthespy/) who used to sell Tomoe River paper. I bought from her last year 100 sheets for 13 euros. She said she could ship from France or from Germany, if I recall. I don't know if she still has some, but that would be a way of getting some Tomoe River without spending too much.

 

I have used Torreon of 90g and I have found it considerable fountain pen friendly. It is 100 x 70 cm the sheet. You can get many sheets for your journal for each sheet.

[SirVival]

If you want to go as broad as A5 size, just buy Clairefontaine A5 booklets and stick them in, that is what I do.

[hbdk]

HP Color Laser behaves very much like Clairefontaine but is a bit smoother - not as smooth as Rhodia though. Too thick? Well, depends on how many pages you want, I guess still it does not seem that thick and it folds nicely.

[J_MM]

I make inserts with HP 32 pound laser printer paper. The pens really like it and I don't mind it as well.

[Rosymomma]

I love, and use the HP 32# premium papers. As a teacher, this is what I run all materials or games that need to stand up to repeated use by Middle Schoolers. It rarely even needs to be laminated, saving me much money (if I were using these materials with elementary aged kiddos I would still laminate). As a doodler, sometime artist, and owner of approximately a dozen different fountain pens, this is my paper of choice for both letter writing and artwork.

 

I definitely prefer the HP to Rhodia and the dry time is better than for the Clairefontaine. Even when using my Spencerian flexible nib (antique Waterman) I do not have bleed through.

 

I also use HP's 24# paper in my printers, both at home and school (have to run to printer with my personal stash every print job). This allows me to use my fountaine pens at work with only minimal bleed through--as opposed to the cheap 20# paper that the school can afford to purchase. I generally go through approximately 5 packages of the 24 and one package of the 32 each year. Expensive, yes, but not nearly as dear as the Clairefontaine or Rhodia.

 

These papers do have a coating, making the paper very smooth, almost like writing on glass...no tooth at all...no feathering....overall my papers of choice for every project.