Blotting Paper

[USMCMom]

I've been looking around for blotting paper. I know that paper for the rockers can be purchased from several fountain pen websites, but I don't want the replacement strips used in rockers. I'm looking for sheets.

 

Since I use artist's grade watercolor paper for my artwork, I'm familiar with cold press, hot press and the different weights, but wondered if anyone uses watercolor paper for their blotters and if so ... what weight? 90 lb, 140 lb or 300 lb? Seems like the 300 lb would be too heavy.

[spiv]

j. herbin offers sheets

 

http://www.gouletpens.com/J_Herbin_White_Ink_Blotting_Paper_p/h255-00.htm

[WOBentley]

I have not tried it, but being married to an artist it is plentiful around here...on the other hand, if I were to start cutting it up for Blotter paper I would likely not last until dinner time

[xiewadu]

Talas bookbinding in NYC has some, and they do mail order:

 

http://apps.webcreate.com/ecom/catalog/product_specific.cfm?ClientID=15&ProductID=24213

http://apps.webcreate.com/ecom/catalog/product_listing.cfm?ClientID=15&SearchType=TalasOnline&SearchField=blotter&x=0&y=0

 

- Jen

[USMCMom]

j. herbin offers sheets

 

http://www.gouletpen...r_p/h255-00.htm

 

Thank you ... I saw that, but it was much smaller than I was looking for. I wanted artist size sheets.

[USMCMom]

I have not tried it, but being married to an artist it is plentiful around here...on the other hand, if I were to start cutting it up for Blotter paper I would likely not last until dinner time

 

LOL ... You know, I uderstand that. I have sheets of 140 and 300 lb artist's watercolor paper, but didn't want to cut into what I have. Your artist husband/wife I'm sure, would understand. I wasn't sure if 90 lb would work as a decent blotter paper or if 140 lb would be better. Someone with one of the artist's websites said she thought 300 lb would be best, but I'm afraid that would be too heavy.

Edited July 13, 2011 by USMCMom

[USMCMom]

Talas bookbinding in NYC has some, and they do mail order:

 

http://apps.webcreat...ProductID=24213

http://apps.webcreat...blotter&x=0&y=0

 

- Jen

 

Thank you for the Talas site. I hadn't been there before and now have it bookmarked. Thank you!

[spiv]

ahh - there was a thread or two regarding desk blotters, they might do the trick

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php?/topic/199384-where-to-purchase-real-blotters/page__p__2030767__hl__%2Bdesk+%2Bblotters__fromsearch__1#entry2030767

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php?/topic/199026-large-sheets-of-blotting-paper/page__p__2025701__hl__%2Bdesk+%2Bblotters__fromsearch__1#entry2025701

 

...and good luck with Talas if they have what you need.

Edited July 13, 2011 by spiv

[TMA]

I bought an A1 sized sheet of blotting paper from my local Art Supplies and Stationery store. It was in the section with all the other large sized sheets of Cartridge and Poster paper.

[USMCMom]

I bought an A1 sized sheet of blotting paper from my local Art Supplies and Stationery store. It was in the section with all the other large sized sheets of Cartridge and Poster paper.

 

There are 2 such places ... well, sort of ... a Michael's and Hobby Lobby in the next big city, but no one knows whether which weight would work the best. No one seems to understand "blotting" paper. LOL The so-called stationary stores are actually more for those who are into scrap booking. When you mention stationary and letter writing, you just get "that look". LOL

[Moagy]

I'm not so sure it as much about the weight as the softness with blotting paper. I'm lucky enough to have ready access to big sheets of blotting paper from stationers here in the UK so I've never had to use watercolour paper as a blotter, although instinct tells me it must surely work, after all that stuff is designed to soak up a lot of water!

 

Blotting paper is quite soft though and quite "fibrous", I would think more so than watercolour paper, which means it soaks up liquid extremely easily. I would say its more like a really thick, untextured, kitchen roll - does that compare with your heavyweight paper in description?

 

Sorry if I'm teaching my granny to suck eggs here :embarrassed_smile:

[USMCMom]

I'm not so sure it as much about the weight as the softness with blotting paper. I'm lucky enough to have ready access to big sheets of blotting paper from stationers here in the UK so I've never had to use watercolour paper as a blotter, although instinct tells me it must surely work, after all that stuff is designed to soak up a lot of water!

 

Blotting paper is quite soft though and quite "fibrous", I would think more so than watercolour paper, which means it soaks up liquid extremely easily. I would say its more like a really thick, untextured, kitchen roll - does that compare with your heavyweight paper in description?

 

Sorry if I'm teaching my granny to suck eggs here :embarrassed_smile:

 

Cold press watercolor paper has a bit of a texture to it. Hot press watercolor paper has very, very little "tooth" or texture. The "rough" watercolor paper is definitely texture. The weight (thickness) varies quiet a bit. The 300 lb paper, for example, is really quite thick and would be rather difficult to roll up. My guess is, the 140 lb or 300 lb hot press paper would be fine for the desk, but may be too thick to use in a rocker blotter. Not certain, as I've not tried it. I may just have to break down and cut into a sheet of the watercolor paper I have and test it out.

 

LOL ... love the expression, "... teaching my granny to suck eggs here" !!

[dnayakan]

You cannot use watercolour paper as blotting paper - well, not good ones anyway. Watercolour paper is sized (i.e., coated with gelatin or some other substance). This helps to avoid the water (and paint) feathering into the paper - it also helps a more even rate of absorption into the paper. What this means is that water will puddle on the surface of the paper and be absorbed at a slower rate - not exactly characteristics you want in a blotting paper. With a blotting paper, you want the opposite - you want the water to be drawn immediately into paper and rapidly dissipated through the fibres of the paper.

 

Cheers, DJ

[watch_art]

here are some large sheets.

http://www.dickblick.com/products/cosmos-blotting-paper/

[USMCMom]

You cannot use watercolour paper as blotting paper - well, not good ones anyway. Watercolour paper is sized (i.e., coated with gelatin or some other substance). This helps to avoid the water (and paint) feathering into the paper - it also helps a more even rate of absorption into the paper. What this means is that water will puddle on the surface of the paper and be absorbed at a slower rate - not exactly characteristics you want in a blotting paper. With a blotting paper, you want the opposite - you want the water to be drawn immediately into paper and rapidly dissipated through the fibres of the paper.

 

Cheers, DJ

 

Hmmm ... I've not had the puddles (and no warping or buckling), if I stretch the paper first, which I always do. I've tried to get puddles a few times, though. What type of watercolor paper do you use ... might like to try it out for some of the different effects I try to get.''

 

 

This was done on artist grade cold press 140 lb paper.

[USMCMom]

here are some large sheets.

http://www.dickblick...blotting-paper/

 

Thank you! They require a 10 sheet minimum, so it might be a while before I try it out. Maybe I can ask them for a sample ......

[Moagy]

You cannot use watercolour paper as blotting paper - well, not good ones anyway. Watercolour paper is sized (i.e., coated with gelatin or some other substance). This helps to avoid the water (and paint) feathering into the paper - it also helps a more even rate of absorption into the paper. What this means is that water will puddle on the surface of the paper and be absorbed at a slower rate - not exactly characteristics you want in a blotting paper. With a blotting paper, you want the opposite - you want the water to be drawn immediately into paper and rapidly dissipated through the fibres of the paper.

 

Cheers, DJ

 

Hmmm ... I've not had the puddles (and no warping or buckling), if I stretch the paper first, which I always do. I've tried to get puddles a few times, though. What type of watercolor paper do you use ... might like to try it out for some of the different effects I try to get.''

 

 

This was done on artist grade cold press 140 lb paper.

 

Well that's just gorgeous!

 

We may be getting in to the realm of the ridiculous here, but is it possible to "de-size" watercolour paper? I'm thinking - stretch the paper, spray it with lots of water so it's really "in to the bone" wet and then let it dry out again completely? It might make it more absorbent... or not. By the way - I've been cheated, the last bit of blotting paper I bought is thin and hard and ink smears on it . That's not supposed to happen!!

 

Glad you like the suck eggs expression!

[txinsk]

You cannot use watercolour paper as blotting paper - well, not good ones anyway. Watercolour paper is sized (i.e., coated with gelatin or some other substance). This helps to avoid the water (and paint) feathering into the paper - it also helps a more even rate of absorption into the paper. What this means is that water will puddle on the surface of the paper and be absorbed at a slower rate - not exactly characteristics you want in a blotting paper. With a blotting paper, you want the opposite - you want the water to be drawn immediately into paper and rapidly dissipated through the fibres of the paper.

 

Cheers, DJ

 

Hmmm ... I've not had the puddles (and no warping or buckling), if I stretch the paper first, which I always do. I've tried to get puddles a few times, though. What type of watercolor paper do you use ... might like to try it out for some of the different effects I try to get.''

 

 

This was done on artist grade cold press 140 lb paper.

 

 

I've done the watercolor on stretched paper, it still does not behave like blotter paper. There is a lot more to paper than just the weight. Blotter paper at 100pt (at that weight it is 1/10th inch thick) is the thickness and weight of very heavy watercolor paper and behaves much differently. When you bring you brush down the paint would immediately start to soak into the paper much more than spread. Blotter paper is more like a sponge. In fact when I bind books, I have started putting sheets of blotter paper to absorb excess moisture.

 

If you order from Talas you can get single full size sheets, trust me part of one order for me was 2 30pt full size blotter papers. If your willing to pay a bit more they will even cut it down to size for you. Send them an email and they will help.

 

Rick

 

 

[D Armstrong]

You didn't specify the size of the sheet you're after.

 

I can get blotting paper (cold press) in quite large sheets here, and trim it to size. Let me know how much you want, and I'll see what I can do. It's pretty cheap, so it won't likely be more than about $5 for an 8½" x 11", including postage. Depending on, of course, how many sheets you want. ; )

[Aunt Jill]

In a junk shop years ago I found a Photographic Blotter Book (9x12) used for washed prints. I still have it; I'm making nice blotters by decorating one side of a strip or square. The books are readily available.

 

Here's a link to the Google results for "blotter book."

Edited July 16, 2011 by Aunt Jill