cheap fp friendly notebook

[HenryLouis]

Hey, I'm looking for a good wirebound (or not) FP friendly notebook. What is a good cheap one? I see apica notebooks are well regarded but on ebay the only seller I can find is take note or something like that and his/her shipping rates are like $20 per notebook. Has anyone tried the clairfontaine notebooks? It's this notebook here. http://www.peartreepens.com/Clairefontaine...ok-p/c68145.htm

 

So where can I get a good notebook? link me to some good ebay sellers please. Or some good online sellers for that matter.

[ZeissIkon]

If you have Staples (office supply stores) in Canada, run, do not walk to the nearest one (or call on the phone, at least) and ask if they have the Eco-Friendly Bagasse paper in the form you like. I know they have it in top-bound writing pads, loose-leaf, and comp books, but I'm not certain about spiral (you could buy the loose leaf and have it spiral or comb bound with covers of your choice at either Staples or your choice of print shops, BTW) -- and I'm not certain it's available in Canada. This stuff is fantastic paper, and after receiving a sample of it recently (thanks, Tejal!) it's gone to the top of my paper buying list.

 

I'm also very happy with the Office Depot brand comp books, and recently found identical books at a local grocery store for about half the price (that's under $2 US for a 100 sheet comp book, both sides usable) -- same paper, same country of origin (Vietnam), slightly lower alignment standards in the binding (not a big deal for journals, I'm not after making them look like expensive books).

 

 

[WendyNC]

6" x 9.5"

 

8.5" x 11"

 

at Staples in Canada.

 

The Clairefontaine has much more of a finish on the pages than does the Staples bagasse paper, so your pens will appear to write with a much finer line and the ink will take longer to dry. The Rhodia notebook I have, which also has a finish on the pages, is closer to the Clairefontaine than the bagasse, but some of my pens prefer it to the Clairefontaine.

 

I've been rotating among a Mead Cambridge notebook, the Clairefontaine, the Rhodia and the Staples bagasse and am fascinated by how different pens perform and the appearance of the inks among the four of them.

 

While most of my pens put down a wider line on the Staples paper, it has less "drag" than do the Clairefontaine and the Rhodia. My Mead Cambridge notebook, which was just fine before, now seems "linty."

 

 

Edited July 2, 2009 by WendyNC

[HenryLouis]

Alright staples has some of these "bagasse" notebooks. I shall pick up a few.

[Mrsal]

i have about 6, and they are all great.

[Marek Badzynski]

Don't look for "bagasse" at Staples, ask for the Eco-Friendly products.

The 2 or 3 GTA stores I went in recently all had the whole line displayed at the end of the aisle, on the short side, on it's own - not together with the rest of notebooks.

 

EcoFriendly has a distinctive "brown paper" design/cover, easy to spot once you know what to look for. Yep, load up, you will love this stuff!

 

[kushbaby]

I have both Rhodia and Clairfontaine on hand, and I have to say that for most purposes, I honestly like the Staples paper best. Good thing it's so cheap!!!!

 

You'll love it.

 

(And I think that it's so cool that the lines are light brown...)

 

 

[bwnewton]

I highly recommend Norcom composition notebooks that are made in Brazil.

[HenryLouis]

Don't look for "bagasse" at Staples, ask for the Eco-Friendly products.

The 2 or 3 GTA stores I went in recently all had the whole line displayed at the end of the aisle, on the short side, on it's own - not together with the rest of notebooks.

 

EcoFriendly has a distinctive "brown paper" design/cover, easy to spot once you know what to look for. Yep, load up, you will love this stuff!

 

Yeah I've called the store and I'll be picking up on some before school starts. Which is still a decent amount of time.

[A2JC4life]

For applications where you don't want/need lines, I like half-size sketchbooks. I don't use a "real" fountain pen yet (haven't invested in one), but the Pilot Varsity's write great on it. And if I pick one up every time I have a 40% or 50% off one item coupon at one of the local craft stores (and don't need anything more substantial), I can build up a pretty decent stock for not too much. (I use them for journals.)

[figment7]

When ever I've used the Eco friendly line of products sold at Staples, I was not thrilled with the results. I am cost minded when it comes to my fountain pen accessories but the low cost of he Eco Friendly line at Staples does not, in my opinion come close to The Paper/notebook line of products now provided by Clairfontaine. Exacompta, Quo Vadis, Rhodia premium, the famous,Dot Pad and now their soft touch line of note pads are all enhancements to our Fountain Pen & Ink Addiction. Other great papers that are tremendous for fountain pens are the Chinese papers, Apica Premium, Marumand , Kokuyo and the now famous, taking over the fountain pen world by storm paper & notebooks - Tomoe River - is just amazing to write on. (one of our FPN member sells his home made Tomoe River paper notebooks in the paper & classified sections of FPN). any one of these paper products can handle any ink you put on them. There is no need to worry about bleed through and ghosting at all. To me, the most impressive thing about these papers is that the ink is able to "Stand Up"and "stand out" on these papers. The ink has a chance to maintain it's intended color, shading & sheen. The ink has the ability to "Shine" and express my wishes through the color of ink I've selected for my intended reader.

I've found that the performance of the Eco friendly papers sold by Staples to be inferior to those papers mentioned above. The Eco Friendly paper absorbs the ink at a too quickly soaking in all the sheen & shading of the ink which then dulls the original ink's color. Don't get me wrong, the Eco Friendly line at Staples will do in a pinch; I have a couple notebooks of it myself BUT, you just can't beat the high quality papers I've mentioned above to heighten the experience of writing with a fountain pen. There is nothing better than the pleasure of seeing the wet ink glistening as it first leaves your nib onto the paper's surface then it produces that velvet feedback; through the nib - through the fingers - up the arm - to the brain - ending up in your heart as you read your words in a letter or in one of your older journals.

We, fountain pen enthusiasts, spend our hard earned cash on special or favorite pens and favorites inks so, it only makes sense to have the best paper you can afford to enjoy this crazy addiction! I realize that sometimes that means you are using a Jinhao pen from China and a 3 ml sample of ink But, don't lessen the experience of writing with a fountain pen by using paper just because it's the less expensive one out there. For a few dollars more you can fully satisfy your Fountain Pen & Ink Addiction by using GREAT PAPERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[cellmatrix]

You don't necessarily need to buy expensive brand name paper to have a premium writing experience. The made in Brazil one subject notebooks on sale right now at Staples for 17 cents each are outstanding. I've used most of the snob appeal papers, Clairefontaine, Rhodia, Apica as well as Tomoe river etc and, to me, these staples notebooks are in the same class as far as writing experience. Dollar tree composition books are also quite nice.

Edited August 17, 2014 by cellmatrix

[sd10521]

It's hit or miss to find the Brazilian notebooks at Staples. Mostly on the miss side for me in Westchester County, New York.

The notebooks I have looked at in this area have extremely thin, cheap feeling paper that I personally feel will have an awful outcome with any pen juicer than a fine ballpoint pen. Especially with all the back to school promotions in every store it is a little saddening to see such low quality.

So I will have to rely on the offering here in the classified and other online items I read about in here.

Thanks to all for the input, this site is a great resource for unbiased information.

[Raskovnik]

If there's a Daiso in your area, try to find a notebook brand "Combine" that is Made in Japan. It's relative fp-friendly, works well with middle nibs and below, just don't run your wet noodles on it causes it'll instantly bleed through.

[sail0rm00n]

If there's a Daiso in your area, try to find a notebook brand "Combine" that is Made in Japan. It's relative fp-friendly, works well with middle nibs and below, just don't run your wet noodles on it causes it'll instantly bleed through.

 

Thanks for the Daiso tip! I've been going there trying to find cheap, cute notebooks to use, but all the ones I've seen are "made in China." I'll have to keep searching for these "combine" ones you speak of!

[NotRosie]

I picked up a graph ruled composition book made in Vietnam from Office Depot today for $2 (100 sheets). I tested it out, and there was no bleedthrough or feathering even with my inks that are usually unpleasant to use with cheaper papers. I wish I bought more! However, my sister bought the same type of notebook a few months ago, also from Office Depot, but it was made in USA and didn't hold up well when it came to feathering and bleedthrough. So it's a mixed bag with Office Depot, but it's worth trying out. I don't know of any FP friendly wirebound notebooks though. Sorry!

Edited August 18, 2014 by NotRosie

[shea2812]

 

Thanks for the Daiso tip! I've been going there trying to find cheap, cute notebooks to use, but all the ones I've seen are "made in China." I'll have to keep searching for these "combine" ones you speak of!

 

I suppose stock of 'Combine' is drying out. We can still buy them at certain Daiso outlets around here. They are being replaced by 'Complete' which are made in Indonesia.