Doane Grid+Lines Loose Leaf Paper Review

[fncll]

This is my first review in the pen/paper/ink world...please let me know how I can make it (or the next one) better! But you'll have to live with my, umm, unique handwriting which is never going to change...

Also blogged on InkProne

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3757/9908384436_7f801c2205_n.jpg
Doane Paper by ChrisL_AK, on Flickr

Verdict

If you use filler paper and like (or at least don't mind) the lines+grid pattern, you ought to try it.

Doane paper is a unique and somewhat expensive major upgrade to most filler papers. I don't use filler paper much, but it greatly outperforms any of the common filler papers listed below. I'm not actually aware of any other filler papers that are positioned as high grade in the way Doane papers are. But then I'm not a student so I can count the times I use filler paper each year without resorting to using my toes.

The big feature of Doane paper other than the higher quality is the "lines+grid" pattern. The .125 x .125 in. grid is quite dense---maybe engineers with their tiny leads could use something smaller, but it's more than enough for me. It's great for boring meetings though...filling in each square individually uses up a lot of time while someone drones on.

While show-through was pretty obvious, only the broadest, wettest pens I tried---a Pilot Parallel and stub dip nib---resulted in any bleed-through and that was minor. But---and this is a big but (I cannot lie)---the offset printed lines tended to resist the ink. As you can see in the scans---particularly in the swab/knife/scribble page---the lines often show through where the ink didn't adhere. For obvious reasons this phenomenon is less distinct with the finer grid lines, but if you aren't one to stay between the lines it might annoy you. If the color of the lines were lighter, which is my only other caveat about this paper, it would be less of a problem.

Features

• 50 lb; vellum finish; offset printed light blue rules + grid
• 150 sheets/pack; 8.5 x 11 in. (21.6 x 28 cm.)

Performance

(Scale 0-5, 0=none 5=like a mofo)

• Feathering: 2 (surprise!)
• Show-Through: 3
• Bleed-through: 1
• Dry-time: 2

Cost Comparison

• Mead Filler Paper: $5.39/200 sheets = .03/sheet
• Ecology Recycled Filler Paper: $2.99/100 sheets = .03/sheet
• Top Flight Filler Paper: $12.99/500 sheets = .03/sheet
• Five Star Filler Paper: $5.29/100 sheets = .05/sheet
• You get the idea...
• Doane Notebook Filler Paper: $9/150 sheets = .06/sheet

Other Reviews, Threads, etc.

A quick search didn't reveal reviews of the loose leaf Doane paper. Since I have reason to believe, based on some other reviews, that some of the paper lines used on pads and notebooks differ, I'm not confident in extrapolating from reviews of other formats. Plus, extrapolation is hard. Dammit, Jim, I'm a poet not an engineer.

Scans

MUCH larger images available if you click through...

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7390/9908139245_d59b3c14c6.jpg
Doane Paper Writing Sample (front) by ChrisL_AK, on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7325/9908195955_8b411e1773.jpg
Doane Paper Writing Sample (back) by ChrisL_AK, on Flickr

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2850/9908247645_fd29cfb8e1.jpg
Doane Paper KiSS Test (front) by ChrisL_AK, on Flickr

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3797/9908351326_a1a5432492.jpg
Doane Paper KiSS Test (back) by ChrisL_AK, on Flickr

 

 

[Gloucesterman]

if you think about it, 6 cents/sheet for good quality paper is reasonable. Of course if Doane is smart enough to offer a larger quantity, say 500 sheets, at say, $20-25.00, that would be attrac tive - imho!

[fncll]

I probably should rephrase my note about the cost... sure .06 is double some of the other filler, but it's so many notches above that it's well worth it!

[MisterBoll]

This paper is lovely to look at but feathers like crazy.

 

Not made for fountain pens.

[fncll]

It's funny you say that--and I think you might have done the same at FPG--when proof to the contrary is literally right there I the original post. I don't know what the paper is "made for" but it OBVIOUSLY doesn't "feather like crazy" with ALL fountain pen inks. It's right there in the scans...

Edited September 26, 2013 by fncll

[Keyless Works]

There doesn't seem to be much feathering but there is considerable bleed through and I do see that issue with the ink resisting the lines which is too bad because the grid + lines pattern is awesome. It's interesting that there are a lot of cool new American paper companies like Doane and Field Notes but none of them seem to be designed for use with fountain pens.

Edited September 27, 2013 by Keyless Works

[MisterBoll]

There doesn't seem to be much feathering but there is considerable bleed through and I do see that issue with the ink resisting the lines which is too bad because the grid + lines pattern is awesome. It's interesting that there are a lot of cool new American paper companies like Doane and Field Notes but none of them seem to be designed for use with fountain pens.

 

It is amazing looking paper. I love the way it looks. But here, and as I said on FPGeeks, way too much feathering and someone else mentioned (which I had forgotten) how the ink seems to not stick to the printed portion of the doane page.