Levenger Circa

[Djehuty]

I've been flipping through a Levenger catalog, and apart from being mildly annoyed that there's so much nifty stuff that's both far too expensive and made entirely out of cow (I'm not a fan of leather, which seemingly makes me a hated minority at places like Levenger ), I'm intrigued by the Circa notebooks.

 

Has anyone here used them? Are they good for fountain pens, or are there major drawbacks? And do they actually work? I can't decide whether those solid rings and the unusual ring-punch design are an incredibly good or an incredibly bad idea.

 

[rroossinck]

The design is fantastic. I've got 3 or 4 of them, and use 'em every day!

[jsonewald]

I bought a couple of them on closeout at Levenger store. The design is definitely appealing, however in practice I found them not very useful. I carry that kind of notebook in a messenger bag, and found the pages were constantly coming loose. There was a laptop right next to the notebook, so there wasn't much bending involved.

 

The paper was also disappointing. The notebooks came with the lined/box margin style, blank, and grid paper. All 3 bleed through and feather with every fountain pen I've tried.

 

If you are in the US and close to a Staples, look at their "Rolla" notebooks, which are the same style and punch pattern. The Rolla notebooks are also much less expensive.

[sleek_lover]

QUOTE (jsonewald @ Mar 23 2007, 03:52 PM)

I bought a couple of them on closeout at Levenger store. The design is definitely appealing, however in practice I found them not very useful. I carry that kind of notebook in a messenger bag, and found the pages were constantly coming loose. There was a laptop right next to the notebook, so there wasn't much bending involved. The paper was also disappointing. The notebooks came with the lined/box margin style, blank, and grid paper. All 3 bleed through and feather with every fountain pen I've tried. If you are in the US and close to a Staples, look at their "Rolla" notebooks, which are the same style and punch pattern. The Rolla notebooks are also much less expensive.

I just started a thread on the Rolla. I had the same experience with the bleeding issue.

 

Gonna try the Black and Red next, and if that doesn't work, I am gonna start thru the Strathmore samples I have upstairs.

[HDoug]

I use them every day too. The quality of the paper has been the subject of some controversy here -- some say the paper changed for the worse recently. It will feather and bleed with wet nibs and inks, but if you have a pen that writes well on the other paper in the office, this will work as well.

 

I like the Cornell style of ruling that Levenger paper has, but "Circa" is just a rebranded version of Rollabind products that you can get elsewhere (as mentioned above) or directly through Rollabind.

 

You can also get some fountain pen friendly paper and print the rulling on with your own printer. I keep meaning to do that, and also keep forgetting. But the Circa system works really well. I use it for various purposes both at the office and at home.

 

Doug

[Djehuty]

Thank you very much! I had no idea Levenger had just rebranded someone else's system. I'll look for the cheaper version, and put better paper in it.

 

[cowboyjack]

I purchased the inexpensive Circa sampler notebook and a hole punch from Levenger and added my own custom printed HP 32# paper using diyplanner.com forms.

 

I find the HP 32# paper very smooth with a fountain pen.

 

I have 3x5 inch, 5x8 inch and 8.5x11 inch notebooks, and being able to move notes, images and materials from one size to another is the single best feature of the Circa system.

 

Could not be happier with a notebook system.

 

[sleek_lover]

QUOTE (HDoug @ Mar 23 2007, 04:24 PM)

I use them every day too. The quality of the paper has been the subject of some controversy here -- some say the paper changed for the worse recently. It will feather and bleed with wet nibs and inks, but if you have a pen that writes well on the other paper in the office, this will work as well. Doug

Doug...

I am not disputing your experience--

 

The pens and ink I used on the Staples Rolla paper are the same that I use on any number of other papers here in my office and there is not a hint of bleed through. And I am talking about some fairly pedestrian stuff...one of the pens was a Sheaf Legacy II with a Skrip Jet Black cartridge. You don't get more "vanilla" in ink than Skrip Black. The other pen that was problematic on the paper was a Sheaf Imperial using a standard Sheaf converter with PR Velvet Black. Again, pretty mundane. Both pens are M nibs...

 

My experience has been less than stellar. Hence I am not comfortable plumping down the bucks Levenger or Rollabind wants for the punches to make my own stuff, given the time needed for assembly, etc.

 

That said, I would like other thoughts on what to do--for a reason that is really a change for me. For the first time in three years, I am going to be doing an on-site contract recruiting gig. Normally, I work virtually, so now there will be the meetings, notes to be taken, and "stuff". This is really different for me, since I am used to working at home with MY stuff...in MY order.

 

HELP

 

Bill

[Djehuty]

That's a good thought: Is there something better than Rollabind/Circa?

 

I like spiral notebooks, but Rhodia is horrifyingly expensive, and Black n' Red is both expensive and seems not to be particularly high in quality (the notebooks I've seen have been inexpertly printed, coming complete with prefab ink blotches on many pages). Three-ring binders are convenient, but not really designed to hold pages for indefinite periods or allow much flipping back and forth. The Rollabind system seems like a good compromise, but if there's something better, and cheaper, I'd love to hear about it.

 

Sixty bucks for a hole-punch? OUCH.

Edited March 25, 2007 by Djehuty

[sleek_lover]

QUOTE (Djehuty @ Mar 24 2007, 04:14 AM)

The Rollabind system seems like a good compromise, but if there's something better, and cheaper, I'd love to hear about it. Sixty bucks for a hole-punch? OUCH.

Yep...I can get some damn nice pens for $60. And the special punches for the Daytimer/Franklin Planner systems aren't cheap either.

 

Additionally, Staples "printing" section doesn't have the Rollabind/Circa punch system so that one can just order what one wants...not at my liddle biddy Staples, at least...

 

Bill

[jsonewald]

QUOTE (Djehuty @ Mar 24 2007, 07:14 AM)

That's a good thought: Is there something better than Rollabind/Circa? I like spiral notebooks, but Rhoda is horrifyingly expensive, and Black n' Red is both expensive and seems not to be particularly high in quality (the notebooks I've seen have been inexpertly printed, coming complete with prefab ink blotches on many pages).  Three-ring binders are convenient, but not really designed to hold pages for indefinite periods or allow much flipping back and forth.  The Rollabind system seems like a good compromise, but if there's something better, and cheaper, I'd love to hear about it. Sixty bucks for a hole-punch?  OUCH.

Have a look at these products. I've used several for quite a few years and been very happy with them. They are designed for either 3-hole punching, or for 19 hole punching (like used for plastic comb binding).

 

http://komtrak.com/

 

Added: Most print centers can punch the 19 hole comb binding pattern.

Edited March 24, 2007 by jsonewald

[cowboyjack]

While I agree that $64 for a custom Circa punch is pricey, here is how I justified it myself:

 

Punch was about $70 shipped.

 

Enough covers to make 20 notebooks, ordered from Rollabind.com, about $40, as best I can recall.

 

HP 32# paper, one ream, about $10 at Office Depot.

 

I xerox various (free) diyplanner.com forms; graph paper, calendars, etc. on my HP paper at the office, no charge.

 

Miscellaneous dividers from Levenger, about $10.

 

So, for the first 20 8x5.5 inch notebooks, that comes to about $130.

 

Or, 3.50 + 2 + 0.50 + 0.50 = 6.50 for each 50 page notebook for the first 20.

 

I have used about 20 notebooks in the last year so it ran less than 50 cents a day for pure writing pleasure. I re-used the dividers and moved them from book to book. I will probably buy some additional dividers, pockets, etc. from Rollabind in the near future.

 

I figure the second year, my punch is fully depreciated so the notebooks will drop in price to about $3 each, which should remain a fixed cost for several years unless the price of paper shoots through the roof.

 

Just another way to think about that initial punch price. I had the same sticker shock when I bought some Franklin Covey products; punch, leather notebook, etc., but then I used them for almost 10 years and then resold much of it on e-bay, plus I had the daily pleasure of being somewhat organized, and enjoying my writing experience, etc.

[sleek_lover]

Hmmm...good analysis...gonna have to think on that for a bit...

 

One another issue...how do you like the stuff at DIYPLANNER.COM? I have visited there a couple of times and have been impressed with what I saw, but have not had the time to really dig in. Thoughts???

 

Bill

[cowboyjack]

diyplanner.com

 

I like their site.

 

There is lots of good info. about keeping organized by folks who are far more obsessed than I and, apparently, have far more time on their hands. (Davidco.com also has lots on organization and handling paperwork efficiently, but that's another topic.)

 

I don't use all of diyplanner.com's forms... they seem endless in variety.

 

I love their Cornell Notes style graph paper and lined paper. I use their calendar and telephone address pages... and that's about it.

 

They are FREE and I can print them on my own paper, two pages (8.5x5.5) on an 8.5x11, prints double sided, etc. I take those to work, use my own HP32# paper for copies, cut 'em up with a paper cutter, punch 'em and I'm good to go.

 

There are a ton of different forms on the site and you can modify most of them very easily. I'm not very computer adept and find it easy enough for my limited skills.

 

I found out about the HP 32 pound laser printer paper here on FPN and have to thank those who mentioned it. For the money, about $10 for a ream, it is hard to beat as a very, very smooth day-to-day fountain pen friendly paper.

[Djehuty]

The HP 32# paper, is that the "Color Laser Soft Gloss Presentation Paper," or the "Premium Presentation Paper"? HP doesn't publish the weight of the paper on their site for some reason, but I've seen that with 32# weight on other sites. I've read here that 25% rag content bond paper is recommended for fountain pens; does this count as such, or is it even better?

 

I'm exploring DIYPlanner.com even now.

 

EDIT: And I must be missing something. All I can find are templates for planners, not for standard writing paper.

Edited March 24, 2007 by Djehuty

[jsonewald]

For other paper formats go here:

 

http://incompetech.com/beta/plainGraphPaper/

 

Loads of fun to play with!

[Djehuty]

Fantastic, thanks!

 

[jsonewald]

QUOTE (Djehuty @ Mar 24 2007, 03:19 PM)

... I've read here that 25% rag content bond paper is recommended for fountain pens; does this count as such, or is it even better? ...

If you can get to Staples, you might try their own brand of "Heavyweight Printing Paper", item # 510874. It is a 28# paper, and smooth. It works well with all of the pens I've tried.

[Djehuty]

Rollabind... is taunting me.

 

The official site is out of stock of everything I want. Levenger multiplies the price by ten when they put the Circa brand on it. Nowhere else can I find anything but the scrapbooking versions of the Rollabind stuff, which isn't what I want.

 

I'm beginning to wonder whether they even want to sell their product. Maybe it's a huge tax dodge, and they're creating losses and driving themselves out of business by hiding their products so no one can buy them.

 

[TopGun]

I like leather, so I have the Junior leather case. When you get it during the sale from Levenger, the cost becomes more palatable. I use both Waterman ink and Mont Blanc ink on Circa paper. I get only periodic bleed through, usually when I dwell my nib too long on a single point. I write on both sides of the paper.

 

I found the key is to use a more generous size of rings (I'm using 1 inch) even though I don't have enough paper. I found that when the paper is too tight, there is a tendency to crinkle the paper at the ring or pop them out. Now, I carry my Junior everywhere and it is my all purpose journal for work and personal. I got the dividers, also on sale. The best part of the Circa system is writing via one common journal and separating personal and work related entries to their respective sections. Archives are kept using the smaller rings that were replaced.

 

So, no one size fits all, but Circa is very useful for me used in this manner. The Junior size provides protability and convenience without sacrificing writing space. I hope this user perspective helps.