Need Ideas For Fountain Pen Appropriate Paper For Handmade Journals

[ericoahu]

I have learned to bind journals and books. Usually I use either copy paper or drawing paper. Now that I've taken an interest in fountain pens, I'd like to create some that will be ideal for writing with fountain pens.

 

I'd like suggestions for paper that can be purchased in quantity (by the ream or roll, not truckload) such that it would be still be more economical to make my own journal than buy manufactured.

 

The main quality I desire is that it wouldn't bleed through.

 

I am familiar with the Rhodia pads and the like. I guess I'm looking for something that approaches that quality but isn't already made into pad.

 

Also, if anyone has found 8.5/11 paper that I can purchase by the ream which performs decently with fountain pens, I'd be interested to know about that too.

 

 

[jimescalante]

I often use a drawing paper from the national retailer and mail order vendor called Dick Blick. They sell bulk drawing paper called Dick Blick white sulphite drawing paper. This is not as smooth as the Rhodia paper. One advantage is that they sell it in different weights and sizes. One challenge with buying 8.5 x 11 inch paper is that the paper's grain often runs long and once it is folded, the grain runs the wrong direction. It is not the end of the world, but for me, when I make a journal, I prefer to follow convention and have the grain run in the same direction as the spine. I would be happy to send you a few sheets to try if you want a drawing paper. It is not rough, but it is not buttery smooth as the Rhodia pads.

Jim Escalante

[Johan.Witt]

I have read good reports about Tomoe River and Southworth.

[ac12]

Staples sugar cane, 20#

Hammermill Color Copy Digital 28#

HP Premium 32#

[ericoahu]

I often use a drawing paper from the national retailer and mail order vendor called Dick Blick. They sell bulk drawing paper called Dick Blick white sulphite drawing paper. This is not as smooth as the Rhodia paper. One advantage is that they sell it in different weights and sizes. One challenge with buying 8.5 x 11 inch paper is that the paper's grain often runs long and once it is folded, the grain runs the wrong direction. It is not the end of the world, but for me, when I make a journal, I prefer to follow convention and have the grain run in the same direction as the spine. I would be happy to send you a few sheets to try if you want a drawing paper. It is not rough, but it is not buttery smooth as the Rhodia pads.

Jim Escalante

 

Thanks for the recommendation. I have ordered from Dick Blick before and will definitely give your suggestion a try. For my own tastes, I don't put that high a priority on smooth so much as I would rather avoid feathering and bleedthrough.

 

Thanks to the others for your suggestions as well. I'll be exploring all of them.

[cmalanis]

Tomoe River is a sweet great paper!... very thin but quite a good performer for fountain pens.

 

On the more popular side, you could try staples papers they have very good ones in larger quantities.

[dcwaites]

If you can find it, any of the quality papers by Stora Enso, such as 4CC

Clairefontaine also make a copy paper called DCP (Digital Copy Paper)

Both papers are available in various sizes and weights.

[wallylynn]

Staples sugar cane, 20#

Hammermill Color Copy Digital 28#

HP Premium 32#

I use the HP 32lb.

And I also use Staples 25% cotton.

 

I have a case of the Staples sugercane paper 20lb. Thinness means show through, but it works well without bleed. But I'm not keen on the color. The HP is 98 bright, the sugarcane is only 92 bright.

[androids.conundrum]

Staples sustainable earth paper 20lb

Southworth business 25% cotton Ivory (this is my favorite stuff)

most other 25% cotton southworth papers I have tried have also performed well

[sunsparkle]

Hi,

 

you could try Double A paper as well - I made good experience with it for bookbinding.

[legume]

You may want to check out onion skin paper. It's available by the ream and has no feathering or bleedthrough. However, it's even thinner than Tomoe River paper and cannot be used double sided. Azizah has done a review on it.