Strange Paper Behavior- Pens Won't Write?

[KellyMcJ]

It took me a decent while to figure this one out.

 

I was using lined paper at work, from Staples. No idea where it was made, etc as I threw out the packaging long ago. Some of it was fine, and some of it...

 

My pilot Metro WOULD NOT WRITE. Total frustration. I thought it was the pen, but the pen writes just fine on any other paper and even my hand. It's like the ink won't associate with this paper. (I discovered Pilot metros have problems with this paper with other inks, too.)

 

So I brought it home and tested it with other pens and inks. 70% of them behave oddly. They might not skip, but they're dryer than usual etc.

 

It's almost like the paper is coated with something. One side of the paper (some sheets) would be OK, and the other side the pen wouldn't write on. And vice versa.

 

I have some Staples lined paper here that I'm happy with, but I'm afraid to buy Staples lined paper again because I don't want to deal with this a second time.

 

Is this...a known thing that happens with paper? At first, when using a wetter, broader pen, I was delighted with it. But the EF that I like to use at work turned out to be a nightmare. I'm used to "suck the ink out of the pen" paper not "refuse to associate with the ink" paper.

[Sasha Royale]

Interesting ! Would you consider sending me three or four sheets, in an envelope ? I would like to try my pens and ink, on it. Just for fun. My address on your PM.

[KellyMcJ]

Interesting ! Would you consider sending me three or four sheets, in an envelope ? I would like to try my pens and ink, on it. Just for fun. My address on your PM.

 

Gladly! Got your PM, might take me a couple of days.

 

I picked up HP 32 lb laser paper and other than the fact that it's much heavier than I expected (I could have happily gone with the 24 lb and probably will next time) I really like it!

[Studio97]

I have a similar problem with a fountain pen and roller ball and gel pens that should write on any paper with no problem. I dont want to mention what that paper is. I think there is some kind of coating going on and it varies from front and back of a page.

[Ron Z]

Some papers do have a coating depending on the intended application. Take thermal print register paper.

 

I don't want to mention what that paper is.

 

Why not? To name it wouldn't be saying that it is a bad paper. It may be great as a copy paper, just not fountain pen friendly. I would find that to be useful information

[migo984]

I have intermittent problems with Clairefontaine/Rhodia. As it is a surface coated/sized paper, I expect some skipping, but sometimes it almost feels 'greasy', for want of a better word. Ink refuses to properly associate with the paper, irrespective of the nib.

[KellyMcJ]

I picked up some of the famous UNCOATED HP 32 lb LaserJet paper and I'm already in love. Great stuff and cheap!

[Parker51]

There is some paper out there which really isn't paper. It is a plastic film coated with clay. Some sellers tout it being tree free and fairly robust, and it is, but accept ink, well, not so good is it at that. A way to test for this is to heat it. If it shrinks, it is plastic. Also, the uncoated side will not accept ink, period. And it is water and oil resistant and requires special printer inks for some applications, for some it will not work at all in a satisfactory way, and it is heavy.

[KellyMcJ]

There is some paper out there which really isn't paper. It is a plastic film coated with clay. Some sellers tout it being tree free and fairly robust, and it is, but accept ink, well, not so good is it at that. A way to test for this is to heat it. If it shrinks, it is plastic. Also, the uncoated side will not accept ink, period. And it is water and oil resistant and requires special printer inks for some applications, for some it will not work at all in a satisfactory way, and it is heavy.

What the heck? That sounds way worse, environmentally speaking. What the heck is the point?

[Sandy1]

Hi,

 

I agree with prior Replies.

 

Part of the thing is how the lines are printed. If lithography was used to print the lines, there may be residue leftover from that process, typically the fountain solution. Wiki Offset Printing https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Offset_printing (If one has a loupe, inspect the line. Ideally it should be a halftone, not a solid line.)

 

I have also encountered naughty_word paper that doesn't just vary from sheet-to-sheet, but within a single sheet. That sort of product is best used to line bird cages. (Poo) e.g. Staples 20lb Cream.

 

To improve absorption, paper can be treated with pounce, such as climbers' chalk or gum sandarac, or gifted with tooth by giving it a swipe with coarse cloth (denim, tweed) or brown/kraft paper, but when one is at full speed, such measures are just daft - more of a calligrapher's process.

 

Some ink+paper+pen combos just don't get along. Though after doing some 138 Ink Reviews, which often embraced six pens over four papers, there were astonishingly few catastrophic failures (OK, no poking fun at my handwriting.)

 

Roll the dice with alt / low cost papers, AND let us know if there's a badger sett under the woodshed.

 

Bye,

S1

Edited July 20, 2017 by Sandy1

[Studio97]

Some papers do have a coating depending on the intended application. Take thermal print register paper.

 

 

Why not? To name it wouldn't be saying that it is a bad paper. It may be great as a copy paper, just not fountain pen friendly. I would find that to be useful information

Ahem....Moleskine

[senzen]

There is another possibility: as you write your hand releases oils onto the paper, no matter how clean they are; just use a smaller piece of paper (say a letter sized sheet folded in two) under your hand as you write.

[Sandy1]

There is another possibility: as you write your hand releases oils onto the paper, no matter how clean they are; just use a smaller piece of paper (say a letter sized sheet folded in two) under your hand as you write.

 

 

Or wear silk gloves - no joke...

We do what's necessary to get the job done

Edited July 21, 2017 by Sandy1

[DrDebG]

I too have experience similar things with inexpensive notebook papers from various suppliers. It can be very frustrating to be writing on a page and then all of a sudden, the paper no longer absorbs the ink, or "sucks the ink right out of the pen leaving a large blob.

 

Until yesterday, I found that the Cambridge Premium Spiral Bound Notebooks had reasonably fountain pen friendly paper. I purchased these at Sams Club. But yesterday, when I was picking up a few things at WalMart, I found the new Five Star spiral bound notebooks from Mead/Acco. They said they were made of high quality paper resistant to bleeding. I purchased a couple of them for my work. They are light weight, but the paper is remarkable for inexpensive notebooks. Very little feathering or spreading, minimal bleedthrough, and little to no showthrough with fine and medium pens. Works for me for quick note-taking. They would be great for a student.

[Ron Z]

I've never had a problem with oils from my hand causing skipping with fountain pens. Ever... and you would see the crud that lands on my test pad while I work. I jot down measurements and notes while working. I've seen feathering problems from wet spots, but not much else. On the other hand, I have had papers with coatings on them that refuse to allow fountain pen ink to stick. My first journal was like that. The ink actually beaded up on the paper. Really.

[Bluey]

I've never had a problem with oils from my hand causing skipping with fountain pens.

Try a Pelikan, MB or other German nib pen in B(and sometimes medium) or wider, and then notice when you get to the lower half of the page of A4. Then you will.

It only happens with those because those nibs typically have excessive smoothing applied to them

Edited July 21, 2017 by Bluey

[Parker51]

What the heck? That sounds way worse, environmentally speaking. What the heck is the point?

It's production takes much less energy and water than real paper. In regard to the environment those are positives. Also, it is photodegradable, though not biodegradable. So, if left out in the environment, it will degrade and cause minimal damage to the environment, long term (it takes a few years to degrade completely in full sun). It is also cheaper to produce than real paper. And it does not require the growing of trees such as have been grown in Portugal for paper production, eucalyptus, which last year, when hot and dry burned and killed some people. With all the wild fires around the world, it is becoming clear some forests that are grown for paper production are not the safest kind of trees for the environments they are currently being grown in. All trees are not suitable for all locations and just like tourism, what appears profitable and having a minimal impact on where it occurs and thus is valued by many, upon examination, aren't such a good thing.

[FOUR X FOUR]

Hey Studio 97. You are absolutely correct. However, there is a line of Moleskine that is FP friendly. Moleskine sketch doesn't bleed. The sheeets are thicker and the paper doesn't have lines. It's intended for sketching but it's still FP friendly.

Allan😀😀

[jde]

 

 

I was using lined paper at work, from Staples. No idea where it was made, etc as I threw out the packaging long ago. Some of it was fine, and some of it...

 

 

 

It was rare but I had this experience with Staples' bagasse/sugar cane paper, lined notepads & composition books. Writing along, happy & free, & then hit a part of a sheet that won't take any FP ink! It was inconsistent, not all pages not all notebooks and pads. A coating of some sort. Kept buying them anyway until my store stopped carrying them, because otherwise they worked out fine for me.

Edited July 21, 2017 by jde

[Studio97]

Hey Studio 97. You are absolutely correct. However, there is a line of Moleskine that is FP friendly. Moleskine sketch doesn't bleed. The sheeets are thicker and the paper doesn't have lines. It's intended for sketching but it's still FP friendly.

Allan😀😀

i have a stack of those as i draw,and paint in them. Maybe if i sold off a number of my other moleskine notebooks i would buy more sketchbooks for journaling purposes.