Blotter Paper Source/alternative

[Jimmy Vegas]

In my searches for inexpensive blotter paper (I love Rhodia, but that is not a "thirsty" paper), I did a little searching on the internet and, sparing you the full geekery, found that blotter paper is also known as "Bibulous Paper". Bibulous is primarily used to dry slides for microscopes so that residual moister doesn't interfere with samples.

Well, guess what is cheap and rather easy to come across..



I found it on Ebay for roughly 7 dollars shipped. The one pictured is a glue topped tablet of 4x6 sheets (50 pages). The packet doesn't list a weight, but it feels around 18 - 20 lb. Not as stiff as the blotter sheets that I'm used to.

I've been using it as a loose page and gently wiping with my finger, but have recently purchase a rocker blotter and will be using it in that with an index card behind it to help it fit properly. The paper is very thirsty and I am still on my first sheet. The ink side can be seen below..



There is very little bleed through and I have yet to get any ink on my fingers while dabbing with this paper.



Write on,

Jim

Edited March 15, 2015 by Jimmy Vegas

[inkypete]

Thanks for the tip - looks ideal. Blotting paper is part of the 'waterleaf' paper family so that may be another way to search.

[Jimmy Vegas]

I never knew that. Thanks for the tip!

[Bookman]

I always thought the large blotter sheets available at art supplies stores to be economical, even at $4 for a 24"x40" sheet. I buy one or two at a time and then cut them to size for various specific needs—desktop leather blotter holder, notebooks of all sizes, my dayplanner, my shirt pocket, etc. I'm sure your neighborhood Blick Art Materials sells them.

[stonezebra]

I've been using it as a loose page and gently wiping with my finger, but have recently purchase a rocker blotter and will be using it in that with an index card behind it to help it fit properly. The paper is very thirsty and I am still on my first sheet. The ink side can be seen below..

 

I used to work in a histology lab and yet I'd never heard of this paper. Thanks for educating me! You might also consider putting a piece of felt behind the paper on your rocker blotter instead of an index card, it helps the paper press more firmly onto the page.

[Jimmy Vegas]

Excellent idea. Thank you.