Clairefontaine Vs Rhodia?

[KellyMcJ]

I adore Rhodia's A5 graph ruled paper. I got one of their webnotebooks and I'm not as thrilled with the dot grid.

I also notice the webnotebook has different paper (ink takes longer to dry) and it says "made by Clairefontaine" in French in the front.

So if I were to buy a graph ruled Clairfontaine notebook, would it be more or less the same as my webnotebook? (I just started this notebook so I have at least a couple months to decide if a) I actually like the dot grid after all and on a different notebook if I don't.)

I really like the hard binding on the webnotebook, and I insist on the A5 size (my desk is cluttered and not ideal for writing and I have trouble handling a full sized one.) I'm just less enthusiastic about the dot grid at this point.

[dapv]

I agree with you regarding the differences in the paper. I have had good results with Rhodia's A5 top-bound pads with ruled and graph. I stick to the top-wire-bound version so I can use both side of the sheets. Being right-handed, when using side or top wire-bound, I only write on one side of the sheet all the way through the pad or notebook, and then flip it and go back in reverse using the other side of the sheets.

[KellyMcJ]

I agree with you regarding the differences in the paper. I have had good results with Rhodia's A5 top-bound pads with ruled and graph. I stick to the top-wire-bound version so I can use both side of the sheets. Being right-handed, when using side or top wire-bound, I only write on one side of the sheet all the way through the pad or notebook, and then flip it and go back in reverse using the other side of the sheets.

 

I had the same experience...I started with the staple bound one and found that it was impossible to use both sides of the sheet. So I switched to wire bound.

 

I'm not sure I'm crazy about that format for a daily journal though. It's great for my data collection journal, not sure I like the concept for other stuff.

 

That's a good idea to use one side and then flip it around and go back to front! I never thought of that.

[dapv]

Re: "I'm not sure I'm crazy about that format for a daily journal though. It's great for my data collection journal, not sure I like the concept for other stuff." I completely agree. If you haven't yet, and I have no affiliation, you may want to take a look at Innovative Journaling - excellent paper.

[KellyMcJ]

Re: "I'm not sure I'm crazy about that format for a daily journal though. It's great for my data collection journal, not sure I like the concept for other stuff." I completely agree. If you haven't yet, and I have no affiliation, you may want to take a look at Innovative Journaling - excellent paper.

 

I've actually not heard of Innovative Journaling- thank you!!! I'll check it out!

[sidthecat]

I really like the Clairefontaine 1951 journals. Wonderfully smooth paper for my dip pen nibs. I finished a Strathmore journal and was happy to see the back of it. I’ve fallen out of love with the nubbly texture.

[sodul]

ClaireFontaine acquired Rhodia in 1997 and Quo Vadis in 1999, so pretty much all the product lines are using 'ClaireFontaine' paper now. I grew up with Clairefontaine and Rhodia paper for all of my school writing until I graduated and moved to the US in 2001 so I'm quite familiar with using their products.

 

I was using a Quo Vadis soft cover notebook at work 2 years ago and I really liked the paper and the 5.5mm ruling. It is 'only' 80gsm but has high bleed through resistance at the cost of longer dry times. I'm currently using a A5 Rhodia Dot Grid at work and I'm quite happy with the paper.

 

I have a bunch of vintage saplebound Clairefontaine school notebooks from the 1990s (leftover school supplies) and the paper does not feel as smooth as their modern paper. I don't know if the paper degraded over the past 20 years but I do believe the paper is better made than it was then. I'm keeping them for the French ruling so I can practice my french cursive.

 

For 'throw away' stuff I use Daiso notebooks and paper. They have some items with really high quality paper, for example a $1.50 64 sheets soft cover dot grid notebook that has paper as good as Rhodia, unfortunately it is glue bound and does not lay flat at all. But I got 6 of them and just use one side when I'm testing pens or inks.

[MHBru]

I've been on a bit of a notebook tour over the past few months and have acquired a stack that will last for some time. My favorite so far is the clairfontaine paper... Love how smooth it is. An exceedingly close second is the rhodia. I'm going to have to really force myself to work through the others i have now.

[ReadyFireAim]

ClaireFontaine acquired Rhodia in 1997 and Quo Vadis in 1999, so pretty much all the product lines are using 'ClaireFontaine' paper now.

Didn't know that.

 

I've had big problems with picking up fibers on Rhodia & won't buy it anymore.

Haven't had issues with ClaireFontaine.

[Amory]

Didn't know that.

 

I've had big problems with picking up fibers on Rhodia & won't buy it anymore.

Haven't had issues with ClaireFontaine.

Are you talking about Rhodia webby letting fibres loose?

Webby and the Leuchtturm1917 often have loose paper fibres betwixt pages which seems to be as a result of stitching. The 1917 I have just started needs a wipe to rid the page before giving it ink.

 

New batch webby (longer ribbon) seem much better.

[ReadyFireAim]

My problems were with Rhodia pads & dip nibs like the Zebra-G and Leonardt Principal.

 

With new nibs it would just make a mess everywhere.

On seasoned nibs I'd pick up a fiber on the bottom of a shaded stroke when I started to come back up off the base line.

[Amory]

Ah that is interesting, the brands are often mixed in French supermarkets. Not by customers but as shelf fillers take them from carton.

[tvradio]

I agree with you about the dot pads - I loved them at first then found myself writing smaller and smaller to fit inside the dots, at a time when I already wrote small and wanted to actually write larger. Right now I am back with lined pas. Never had a problem with Rhodia's paper quality though.

 

I've become a fan of Rhodia's lined perforated pads but please note that it's not all the same paper. The paper in my Rhodia No. 16 lined pads is a bit thinner than the paper in Rhodia's premium 'ColoR' pads, for instance.

[jmnav]

I have to say that, since I'm using A5's at work and not doing fancy journals or such, I find *both* Clairefontaine and Rhodia lines too glossy, with too much dry time. Nowadays I prefer Leuchtturm, Midori, or even Enri (a Spanish brand): all of them quality paper, only with a "surface quality" which is not so much "en vogue" right now. And what says @sodul makes me think that, no, his old school notebooks are not losing their properties but that current "too glossy" trend is more a fad than anything else.

[inkypete]

I'm a massive Clairefontaine fan. I use Clairefontaine everyday. So far their regular notebooks have never let me down in terms of paper consistency. Rhodia is generally good but like posters point out in this thread it can vary from notebook style to notebook style. I walked into a well established store in Melbourne the other day to be told by the 12yo behind the counter (well, she looked about 12 - means I am probably old) that Clairefontaine and Rhodia have exactly the same paper. An education followed as I explained that paper made by one company for two different stationery ranges is not necessarily the same paper.

[tvradio]

I have to say that, since I'm using A5's at work and not doing fancy journals or such, I find *both* Clairefontaine and Rhodia lines too glossy, with too much dry time. Nowadays I prefer Leuchtturm, Midori, or even Enri (a Spanish brand): all of them quality paper, only with a "surface quality" which is not so much "en vogue" right now.

If that's what you prefer you might also like notebooks from Kyokuto. Paper hits all your buttons.

[dukkimoon]

Have you looked at Mnemosyne's offerings?

[ReadyFireAim]

Have you looked at Mnemosyne's offerings?

 

That is pretty much all I use

[Rosymomma]

I have never been able to find a rhodia that I enjoyed writing on.

 

I currently use the Clairfontane french ruled notebooks. They come in either spiral or bound and either side or top. There is almost no feedback with this paper, although I know that not everyone likes this type of ruled paper.

 

When I need something that isn’t ruled, I use HP 32# paper that I buy by the ream. There is a bit more feedback than the clairfontaine, but it is still incredibly smooth. Different inks can sometimes take differeing periods of time to dry, but nothing terribly long. I have also used the HP paper to hand bind a journal for myself.