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A surprising tale of 3 notebooks


DKbRS

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I am going to jump in here a little late to the conversation, but to echo what's been said above, the US has different versions of the Webbie and Habana.

 

US Webbie is 90g and ver FP friendly

US small Habana is white 64g paper and is fountain pen friendly with a tough of see-through (not bleedthrough)

US Large Habana is 90g white and very FP friendly

 

When I went back to view the details of my US versus UK Habana review, I found there was some inaccurate information included and have just updated and re-published the review which can be found here: http://www.biffybeans.com/2010/02/updated-review-us-versus-uk-paper.html

<span style='font-family: Georgia'><span style='font-size: 14px;'><strong class='bbc'> Stephanie "Biffybeans" Smith</strong></span><p><a href='http://www.biffybeans.com/' class='bbc_url' title='External link' rel='nofollow external'>Blog: Spiritual Evolution of the Bean</a><p><a href='http://www.etsy.com/shop/biffybeans?ref=si_shop' class='bbc_url' title='External link' rel='nofollow external'>Purchase Stephanie "Biffybeans" Smith's Original Art on Etsy</a>

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I have found that I have had few problems with all of the Moleskines I have used.

PMS

When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty -Thomas Jefferson

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I have a small Habana and have found I have few issues. While there is see through, it does not make it unreadable. I use blue inks and do not use black ink though, so with a darker ink it could be an issue.

Have fist, will travel

My deviantArt page

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This is why posting one's general location can make a world of difference as products can and do differ by global region.

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Wow! That's amazing. I am totally surprised. When they sell Rhodia (I ovserved that at the LA Pen show), they always advertise that Rhodia is much better for writing with fountain pens. Obviously, not so...

 

But I also heard that Moleskines improved the quality of their paper. Do you know if it's their new improved paper?

 

Need to get more of those Moleskines... I love that graph paper design.

 

The paper in the American versions of the Habana and Webbie are much better than the paper in the Canadian version. I have both of these in their American incantation and they are very good. I have the large versions, by the way.

Edited by jgrasty
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  • 2 weeks later...

I would interested in seeing a comparison of dry times between the three notebooks. I can't stand the bleeding and feathering on Moleskines, but really long dry times on nicer paper may drive me just as crazy.

Inked:

Pelikan m205 black 0.9ci/F Italifine (Diamine Damson);

Aurora 88 nikargenta (Iroshizuku Kon-Peki);

Pelikan 140 Steno (J Herbin Lie de Thé)

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I would interested in seeing a comparison of dry times between the three notebooks. I can't stand the bleeding and feathering on Moleskines, but really long dry times on nicer paper may drive me just as crazy.

It's always a compromise of dry time vs. feathering or spreading of ink. Think about it, the more the paper repels the ink, the longer it will take to dry. Sadly, the laws of physics will not allow an extremely fast drying paper that is resistant to feathering and spreading. It's finding the level of compromise that you're most comfortable with that's the key. Between these three journals, Moleskine dries fastest but feathers worst, Webbie won't feather at all and has a longer dry time, and the Habana is the best performing (slightly better than Webbie) but will take just a hair longer. If you write at a desk mostly, you may consider using an ink blotter to soak up the extra ink before flipping the page. I'm actually going to be carrying the J. Herbin rocker/blotter here in a week or so when it comes in to me. That's what they're for, when you want to write fast with wet nibs and just rock it over the last 1/3 of the page to soak up the extra before you flip the page. It's a big time saver.

Brian Goulet</br><a href='http://www.gouletpens.com' class='bbc_url' title='External link' rel='nofollow external'>www.GouletPens.com</a></br><a href='http://twitter.com/GouletPens' class='bbc_url' title='External link' rel='nofollow external'>GouletPens on Twitter</a></br><a href='http://blog.gouletpens.com' class='bbc_url' title='External link' rel='nofollow external'>Goulet Pens blog</a>

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I would interested in seeing a comparison of dry times between the three notebooks. I can't stand the bleeding and feathering on Moleskines, but really long dry times on nicer paper may drive me just as crazy.

It's always a compromise of dry time vs. feathering or spreading of ink. Think about it, the more the paper repels the ink, the longer it will take to dry. Sadly, the laws of physics will not allow an extremely fast drying paper that is resistant to feathering and spreading. It's finding the level of compromise that you're most comfortable with that's the key. Between these three journals, Moleskine dries fastest but feathers worst, Webbie won't feather at all and has a longer dry time, and the Habana is the best performing (slightly better than Webbie) but will take just a hair longer. If you write at a desk mostly, you may consider using an ink blotter to soak up the extra ink before flipping the page. I'm actually going to be carrying the J. Herbin rocker/blotter here in a week or so when it comes in to me. That's what they're for, when you want to write fast with wet nibs and just rock it over the last 1/3 of the page to soak up the extra before you flip the page. It's a big time saver.

 

Yeah. It's just finding out the balance that I can work with. For example, I like Kokuyo notebooks, and have tried a couple, but will need to get used to the dry times if I'm gonna keep using them. It's interesting because some inks are less affected in their dry times on "nicer" paper than others.

 

I only use Moleskine-type journals in the small size (3.5x5.5), which I take with me everywhere I go, so a large blotter wouldn't work for. I usually have a few loose sheets of "blotting" paper in my journals though.

 

I think I may need to go with the Rhodia webbie, because the small Habanas have thin paper, right?

Inked:

Pelikan m205 black 0.9ci/F Italifine (Diamine Damson);

Aurora 88 nikargenta (Iroshizuku Kon-Peki);

Pelikan 140 Steno (J Herbin Lie de Thé)

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I'm curious! how can I get a link to the original post to see the pictures?

My life is full of mistakes. They're like pebbles that make a good road.

Beatrice Wood

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Yeah. It's just finding out the balance that I can work with. For example, I like Kokuyo notebooks, and have tried a couple, but will need to get used to the dry times if I'm gonna keep using them. It's interesting because some inks are less affected in their dry times on "nicer" paper than others.

 

I only use Moleskine-type journals in the small size (3.5x5.5), which I take with me everywhere I go, so a large blotter wouldn't work for. I usually have a few loose sheets of "blotting" paper in my journals though.

 

I think I may need to go with the Rhodia webbie, because the small Habanas have thin paper, right?

Actually, the small Webbies have 90g paper just like the large ones (these are US version ones I'm talking about). The small Quo Vadis Hababas have 64g paper (as opposed to the larger ones with 90g), which is surprisingly well-performing for such thin paper. The small Habanas are pretty neat little journals.

Brian Goulet</br><a href='http://www.gouletpens.com' class='bbc_url' title='External link' rel='nofollow external'>www.GouletPens.com</a></br><a href='http://twitter.com/GouletPens' class='bbc_url' title='External link' rel='nofollow external'>GouletPens on Twitter</a></br><a href='http://blog.gouletpens.com' class='bbc_url' title='External link' rel='nofollow external'>Goulet Pens blog</a>

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Actually, the small Webbies have 90g paper just like the large ones (these are US version ones I'm talking about). The small Quo Vadis Hababas have 64g paper (as opposed to the larger ones with 90g), which is surprisingly well-performing for such thin paper. The small Habanas are pretty neat little journals.

 

The small habanas looks nice, and echo doesn't really bother me that much. So, you haven't experienced any bleeding or feathering on those thin sheets?

 

The only thing about the small habanas is that they are a bit too large for me...maybe. the 3.5x5.5 of the Moleskine and Rhodia is a very good size, as it fits in my pockets just right.

Inked:

Pelikan m205 black 0.9ci/F Italifine (Diamine Damson);

Aurora 88 nikargenta (Iroshizuku Kon-Peki);

Pelikan 140 Steno (J Herbin Lie de Thé)

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Actually, the small Webbies have 90g paper just like the large ones (these are US version ones I'm talking about). The small Quo Vadis Hababas have 64g paper (as opposed to the larger ones with 90g), which is surprisingly well-performing for such thin paper. The small Habanas are pretty neat little journals.

 

The small habanas looks nice, and echo doesn't really bother me that much. So, you haven't experienced any bleeding or feathering on those thin sheets?

 

The only thing about the small habanas is that they are a bit too large for me...maybe. the 3.5x5.5 of the Moleskine and Rhodia is a very good size, as it fits in my pockets just right.

Here's a video review I did of the large and small Habanas: http://inknouveau.com/2010/01/episode-07-quo-vadis-habana-overview/

Brian Goulet</br><a href='http://www.gouletpens.com' class='bbc_url' title='External link' rel='nofollow external'>www.GouletPens.com</a></br><a href='http://twitter.com/GouletPens' class='bbc_url' title='External link' rel='nofollow external'>GouletPens on Twitter</a></br><a href='http://blog.gouletpens.com' class='bbc_url' title='External link' rel='nofollow external'>Goulet Pens blog</a>

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  • 1 month later...

After hearing so many bad things about Moleskine notebooks (re fountain pens) and so many good things about Quo Vadis Habana and Rhodia notebooks, I decided to buy one of each and see how they performed.

 

I bought the following notebooks:

 

Moleskine Reporter 9 x 14 cm

 

Quo Vadis Habana 10 x 15 cm

 

Rhodia Webnotebook 9.5 x 14 cm

 

http://i573.photobucket.com/albums/ss171/DKbRS/Pens/IMG_4854.jpg

 

 

I carried out a very unscientific test using the 4 pens that happened to be inked and on my desk

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pelikan brown in a Lamy Vista (1.1 nib)

 

Sailor red-brown in a Sailor Pro Gear (M nib)

 

Sailor evergreen in an Aurora 88 (stub nib)

 

Montblanc violet in a vintage Aurora 88 (flexible M nib)

 

The following images show the results. I was surprised at how the Rhodia and Habana notebooks performed relative to the Moleskine. There seems, to me at least, that there is less feathering and less bleed-through with the Moleskine......

 

 

http://i573.photobucket.com/albums/ss171/DKbRS/Pens/moleskine1.jpg http://i573.photobucket.com/albums/ss171/DKbRS/Pens/habana1.jpg http://i573.photobucket.com/albums/ss171/DKbRS/Pens/rhodia1.jpg

 

http://i573.photobucket.com/albums/ss171/DKbRS/Pens/moleskine2.jpg http://i573.photobucket.com/albums/ss171/DKbRS/Pens/habana2.jpg http://i573.photobucket.com/albums/ss171/DKbRS/Pens/rhodia2.jpg

 

 

Thanks so much for this comparison!

 

 

Treet

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The small habanas looks nice, and echo doesn't really bother me that much. So, you haven't experienced any bleeding or feathering on those thin sheets?

 

The only thing about the small habanas is that they are a bit too large for me...maybe. the 3.5x5.5 of the Moleskine and Rhodia is a very good size, as it fits in my pockets just right.

 

I'm finally using my small habana (after it sat on the shelf for several months) and am enjoying it more than I expected. I actually like the larger size (compared to moleskine) but then again I don't put it in my pocket - it's in my small messenger bag. There is definitely showthrough or echo as you call it, more so than on the moleskine. However, there is substantially less bleedthrough and zero feathering. So it's a tradeoff. I'm getting fonder and fonder of it all the time. At first I wasn't sure I'd like using it because I sketch as well as write in my notebooks, but it tolerates what I throw at it as well as the moleskine paper, with the exception of colored pencils; the paper is too smooth for it.

 

I'm not sure whether I will go back to the pocket moleskine after this. I might do, just by default, since they're so much easier to find than the small blank Habana - I'd have to order that one on-line. It's a great little notebook, though: if I found it on a shelf right next to a moleskine, I would probably choose it instead. However, that happy day is not yet here.

meantime, writing sample on the 64 g small Habana - echo clearly visible, but not obnoxious.

 

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2441/3939966408_c876361663.jpg

Edited by limesally
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After hearing so many bad things about Moleskine notebooks (re fountain pens) and so many good things about Quo Vadis Habana and Rhodia notebooks, I decided to buy one of each and see how they performed.

 

I bought the following notebooks:

 

Moleskine Reporter 9 x 14 cm

 

Quo Vadis Habana 10 x 15 cm

 

Rhodia Webnotebook 9.5 x 14 cm

I carried out a very unscientific test using the 4 pens that happened to be inked and on my desk

 

 

Your results are not what I am use to seeing. Webbie and Rhodia's clairefontaine paper I have never seen act this way with the amount of bleed through you described. Are you working with the US versions???

Edited by farseer911

A gentleman is one who puts more into the world than he takes out.

 

http://clipart.usscouts.org/library/BSA_Character_Counts/thumbnails/cub_scouts_char_counts_co.giffpn_1364474496__woundedwarriorlogo03.jpg

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  • 2 weeks later...

I've used both the Habana and the Webbie (US versions) and both have outstanding paper. Almost no inks bleed through either one. I've not used Moleskine, so I can't comment about that brand.

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  • 3 weeks later...

Actually, the small Webbies have 90g paper just like the large ones (these are US version ones I'm talking about). The small Quo Vadis Hababas have 64g paper (as opposed to the larger ones with 90g), which is surprisingly well-performing for such thin paper. The small Habanas are pretty neat little journals.

 

The small habanas looks nice, and echo doesn't really bother me that much. So, you haven't experienced any bleeding or feathering on those thin sheets?

 

The only thing about the small habanas is that they are a bit too large for me...maybe. the 3.5x5.5 of the Moleskine and Rhodia is a very good size, as it fits in my pockets just right.

Here's a video review I did of the large and small Habanas: http://inknouveau.co...abana-overview/

 

Thanks for your links and videos, Brian! You specifically answered the questions I was asking in my head. I was most concerned with whether I should stick with the Quo Vadis or go with the Webbie. Due to the lay flat issue, I think I'll stick with the Habana. The ivory paper looks awfully nice, but you make a good point about the color of the ink showing through better. I do wonder if they will ever make a Habana with ivory paper... ;)

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  • 1 month later...

As many responders to this thread have noted, the poor performance of the Rhodia paper in this highly scientific research project probably related to the fact that this was a Canadian-purchased Rhodia notebook and that the Rhodia products in the US have heavier paper and perform much better.

 

So I eventually got around to getting hold of the equivalent notebook purchased in the US. Before writing in it, I noticed that (i) despite presumably having the same number of pages, the US version was 2 mm thicker than the Canadian, probably due to thicker paper, and (ii) the colour of the paper was different - yellower in the US product, more like the Habana paper. This does not show in the images below, mind you.

 

I used the same inks for the test, the results of which are below, and which speak for themselves:

 

http://i573.photobucket.com/albums/ss171/DKbRS/Pens/Rhodia-US1.jpg http://i573.photobucket.com/albums/ss171/DKbRS/Pens/Rhodia-US2.jpg

 

Below are the original Rhodia images:

 

http://i573.photobucket.com/albums/ss171/DKbRS/Pens/rhodia1.jpg http://i573.photobucket.com/albums/ss171/DKbRS/Pens/rhodia2.jpg

 

I figured that July 4th was an appropriate date to post the results of this test.

Edited by DKbRS

David

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