How Do You Test Paper?

[Paddler]

I load up a pen with an ink from my collection that bleeds and feathers the most and then drive to a store that has paper supplies. I go into the store and buy one notebook, pad, box of whatever paper looks good and then take it out to the car and write on a piece of it (the last page, usually) with the sloppy ink. If it passes the test, I return to the store and buy a supply of that paper.

 

Paddler

[nxn96]

I think the general advice of just write as you would normally and use the ink(s) you would normally use would tell you what you need to know for well over 95% of your writing needs. Holding the nib to the paper for a second or two longer than you would normally might also help you gauge the "bleed", but I wouldn't go much further than that.

 

Realistically, a lot of our writing is not meant to be saved for the ages; it's a lot of notes and lists that, once the purpose is served, out goes the scribble. In those sort of cases, if my grocery list has a bit of "feather", so what as long as I can read "gallon of milk"? For that purpose, I'll use any bit of paper lying handy to make my list. On the other hand, for correspondence, I want a paper that reacts well to my "regular" pens. In other words, how I expect to use the paper determines how much I worry about how the pen reacts to the paper.

[Chevalier]

I wish I could be so pragmatic. I know that we have learned lots of interesting facts from old letters and scribblings. I love the thought that somebody is able to read my letters in 400 years, learning how life was back now. Disintegrating ink (or ink that disintegrates the paper) is a big problem today (for historians and people interested in the past). There are 800 years old documents that are more legible than documents that are only 50 years old, just because someone has chosen to use the wrong paper and/or ink.

[parilla]

All of the replies are great, except they don't address what generally happens in the real world where you are in a stationary shop and can hardly sneak open a new type of notebook when the assistant isn't looking and try (with the pen you probably do not have with you anyway). I simply run my fingers over the page and this allows a judgment to be made on how smooth the fountain pen is likely to be. If it passes the test and is cheap enough, I buy a copy and try at home.

[Chevalier]

All of the replies are great, except they don't address what generally happens in the real world where you are in a stationary shop and can hardly sneak open a new type of notebook when the assistant isn't looking and try (with the pen you probably do not have with you anyway). I simply run my fingers over the page and this allows a judgment to be made on how smooth the fountain pen is likely to be. If it passes the test and is cheap enough, I buy a copy and try at home.

 

 

I always ask for samples. I did buy paper without having a sample, but most of the time I simply wouldn't buy the paper without having a chance to test it. I have a huge pile of paper that I use for drafts only. I even started to build stuff from paper (like boxes, hand fans, aso.), because the pile won't get smaller. This is of cause a problem with notebooks, but testing paper a lot helps to judge it superficially.

Edited October 14, 2010 by Chevalier

[txinsk]

All of the replies are great, except they don't address what generally happens in the real world where you are in a stationary shop and can hardly sneak open a new type of notebook when the assistant isn't looking and try (with the pen you probably do not have with you anyway). I simply run my fingers over the page and this allows a judgment to be made on how smooth the fountain pen is likely to be. If it passes the test and is cheap enough, I buy a copy and try at home.

 

Some stationery shops will have something to try if you ask. Whether it is sample paper or a shop notebook, a proper stationery store often will assist you. Now a big box store may be another story, but I am sure many will try to do something.

 

Rick

[nxn96]

I wish I could be so pragmatic. I know that we have learned lots of interesting facts from old letters and scribblings. I love the thought that somebody is able to read my letters in 400 years, learning how life was back now. Disintegrating ink (or ink that disintegrates the paper) is a big problem today (for historians and people interested in the past). There are 800 years old documents that are more legible than documents that are only 50 years old, just because someone has chosen to use the wrong paper and/or ink.

I understand your point, and certainly appreciate that old notes and scribbles are often the key to understanding how life might have been lived. I think my point is that I don't compose my grocery list with posterity in mind; I only want to remember to pick up the gallon of milk so I don't get home and realize I've forgotten the milk. For that purpose, the list gets tossed as soon as the purpose has expired, and I don't sweat the paper, pen or ink I use to write that list. On the other hand, for any note, card, letter, scribble I've written to my wife, all that matters.

[Chevalier]

I understand your point, and certainly appreciate that old notes and scribbles are often the key to understanding how life might have been lived. I think my point is that I don't compose my grocery list with posterity in mind; I only want to remember to pick up the gallon of milk so I don't get home and realize I've forgotten the milk. For that purpose, the list gets tossed as soon as the purpose has expired, and I don't sweat the paper, pen or ink I use to write that list. On the other hand, for any note, card, letter, scribble I've written to my wife, all that matters.

 

The point is that anything could be important, even the grocery list. Sure, it will be burned in most cases anyway, but you never know. Such scribbles gave us lots of wonderful insights into the everyday life. The scribbles of Roman soldiers that occupied the northern territories are the perfect example. Most of the knowledge we have about the diet and illnesses came from little wood plates, that have been used as note. It's pretty surprising that we got very valuable information from the most ordinary and even profane scribbles.

 

I think I always think about people in my situation. Restoring stuff (sorry Soot) is fun but still often annoying.