Where To Find Quality Fountain Pen Friendly Paper?

[DrDebG]

Another Japanese import that is seen in many university bookstores: Kokuyo paper - comes in spiral bound notebooks and also filler paper. Much less expensive and fairly decent with fountain pens.

[Karmachanic]

Another Japanese import that is seen in many university bookstores: Kokuyo paper - comes in spiral bound notebooks and also filler paper. Much less expensive and fairly decent with fountain pens.

 

In the US perhaps.

[migo984]

I’ve had good results (with fine & med nibs) on Silvine (red) notebooks & pads. I also like their Student Spiral A4 notebooks; spiral bound, narrow ruled, no margin, perforated, 4 hole punched. 12 notebooks, each 120 page (60 sheets), are usually around £20 delivered on Amazon.

[Paul80]

Hi

 

I know the OP said he didn't like NU notebooks, but have you tried their NU Elite pads, they are my favourite pad for fountain pen use, super smooth paper with no bleed or feathering and thats using a nice jucey broad nib and Parker Quink. I bought a load a few years ago when Tesco and Wilco sold them and now on my last one.

 

Well worth a look

 

Paul

[1nkulus]

I know the OP said he didn't like NU notebooks, but have you tried their NU Elite pads, they are my favourite pad for fountain pen use, super smooth paper with no bleed or feathering and thats using a nice jucey broad nib and Parker Quink. I bought a load a few years ago when Tesco and Wilco sold them and now on my last one.

 

Are they still available?

Any Wilko pads/books worth trying?

[Paul80]

Sadly no longer available from either Tesco or Wilko so will have to get my next batch direct from NÜ, were I see they have almost doubled in price over the five years since Tesco were selling them now £8.49 for and A5

 

I use the cream paper version but white is available.

 

http://nuco-direct.com/nu-elite-prestige-tan-pu-wiro-journal/

 

Paul

[aurore]

 

Am I correct that the postage to GB is 10.39 euro? In which case, an order of over a dozen pads would be quite reasonable.

 

https://www.office-profishop.com/suche.php

 

I believe so. However, while this paper is excellent I would hesitate calling it exceptional (though for me the quality is flawless and even without coating it works very well). I am not a big fan of coated papers, I like them but they are not what I consider high quality since their properties are mainly because of the coating. Whether or not it worths buying a bulk of Staufen without trying it first I am not quite sure, I believe there must be something locally available of a similar quality.

[steve50]

Sadly no longer available from either Tesco or Wilko so will have to get my next batch direct from NÜ, were I see they have almost doubled in price over the five years since Tesco were selling them now £8.49 for and A5

 

I use the cream paper version but white is available.

 

http://nuco-direct.com/nu-elite-prestige-tan-pu-wiro-journal/

 

Paul

Thanks, Paul. NU does have a variety of papers and I read good reviews of some of them, but couldn't find them near me. Will have a look at ordering directly from them.

[1nkulus]

I believe so. However, while this paper is excellent I would hesitate calling it exceptional (though for me the quality is flawless and even without coating it works very well). I am not a big fan of coated papers, I like them but they are not what I consider high quality since their properties are mainly because of the coating. Whether or not it worths buying a bulk of Staufen without trying it first I am not quite sure, I believe there must be something locally available of a similar quality.

 

Can you compare Staufen to any other paper?

Which paper/s would you consider high quality?

 

 

 

[1nkulus]

Sadly no longer available from either Tesco or Wilko so will have to get my next batch direct from NÜ, were I see they have almost doubled in price over the five years since Tesco were selling them now £8.49 for and A5

 

I use the cream paper version but white is available.

 

http://nuco-direct.com/nu-elite-prestige-tan-pu-wiro-journal/

 

Paul

 

Any other options considering the price increase?

[aurore]

 

Can you compare Staufen to any other paper?

Which paper/s would you consider high quality?

 

 

 

 

In fact no. I have come across quite a few good quality uncoated papers but all of them were more absorbent than Staufen.

Staufen is very smooth, white and fountain pen friendly (no bleeding, feathering or other misbehaviour) without being coated. And this is exactly what I consider high quality. The most popular paper today is probably Rhodia or Tomoe River - both excellent in their own way, both rather expensive and both peroforming well mainly because of the coating. Above all from my experience glass smooth nibs do not work well with a heavily coated paper.

 

Among widely available paper (despite coated, but not that heavily) Oxford 50 sheets notepads are my favourite (plain have a blue cover, lined/squared come with a black cover). Very cheap, very well performing.

 

SBREBrown is reviewing one here:

On the Continent one can get it (with a bit of luck) for 80 pence, which can be hardly beat. I would not say Rhodia is any better.

[1nkulus]

Among widely available paper (despite coated, but not that heavily) Oxford 50 sheets notepads are my favourite (plain have a blue cover, lined/squared come with a black cover). Very cheap, very well performing.

 

On the Continent one can get it (with a bit of luck) for 80 pence, which can be hardly beat. I would not say Rhodia is any better.

 

I have used Oxford and they are fine (90gsm Optik paper) but I have never seen them that cheap.

Do you have a link/s?

[welch]

I used Black n' Red squared A4 notebooks until Staples US stopped importing them. Incidentally, I did notice that they are marketed as Oxford B&R, and, gulp, was about to suggest them. Yes, ten or twelve years ago the Oxford Black n' Red paper was just fine for fountain pens.

 

Just now, Staples US offers a Staples-brand "Tru Red" notebooks, which seem much like Blackwing flexible notebooks. The paper in both is made in Turkey. Unfortunately, Staples UK does not have them, even though the notebooks are A4 -- an odd size for a notebook in the US. Given the size, maybe Staples UK will have them soon?

[1nkulus]

Just now, Staples US offers a Staples-brand "Tru Red" notebooks, which seem much like Blackwing flexible notebooks. The paper in both is made in Turkey. Unfortunately, Staples UK does not have them, even though the notebooks are A4 -- an odd size for a notebook in the US. Given the size, maybe Staples UK will have them soon?

 

Thank you. Nothing of the sort listed on their site, yet.

Interesting, will keep a lookout.

 

Have you managed to use the notebook?

[LizB]

I've bought Muji notebooks online from their own store for a reasonable price (£3 shipping I think UK delivery).

[welch]

 

Thank you. Nothing of the sort listed on their site, yet.

Interesting, will keep a lookout.

 

Have you managed to use the notebook?

 

I've written a few test-scribbles, but I'm finishing a Levenger Notabilia. The test was fine. The Tru Red looks and fells, with fountain pen, just like Blackwing notebooks. The Blackwing is a first-rate notebook, but sells for $20 or more...plus shipping. The Tru Red is about $15, and I can walk into Staples and carry it home.

 

I checked Staples UK for "bagasse" or "sugar cane" "eco-friendly" paper that Staples, here, offered about ten years ago. It is cheap stuff and, maybe accidentally, very good for fountain pens. There are probably discussions on FPN. Staples US seems to offer it on-line, but not Staples UK.

 

Good luck!

[4lex]

I like Silvine Exercise books. They are cheaper than Rhodia and just as good. They are FP friendly, even the cheap 80p Silvine school exercise books have no bleed through.

[almoore]

If you are near a Muji store they sell FP friendly notebooks.

 

Be careful not all of their range is FP friendly but a number of them are and the prices are very reasonable.

 

I've also had good results with a Flying Tiger notebook - It's A5 black soft cover, cream lined pages and the edges of the notebook are printed in multiple colours; I recently bought three for £9.00 and my experience has been that they are FP friendly (tested with Diamine Oxford Blue).

 

If you want Tomoe River paper Amazon carries GLP's The Author notebook, review here from a friend of mine: https://theindianmarmaladecompany.com/2018/08/04/the-author-notebook-by-glp-creations/

 

Also Dingbats, excellent notebooks - great paper and build quality, review here: https://theindianmarmaladecompany.com/2018/11/07/the-elephant-the-tiger-and-the-kangaroo-a-dingbats-notebook-safari/

 

Hope this helps

 

Al

Edited June 24, 2019 by almoore

[welch]

I've had about six weeks of using the Staples Tru-Red, and it will not stand up to fountain pens. While it looks like a Blackwing notebook, and, like the Blackwing, uses paper from Turkey, the paper blots, shows through, and feathers. Tried Iroshizuku Asa-Gao, Diamine Sapphire Blue, and two or three Monteverdi inks, but all wanted to leave splotches of ink on the back of each sheet.