Best Check Printing Service?

[tonybelding]

Until just a couple of years ago the checks that my bank issued were excellent. The paper was fountain pen friendly, and the printing was crisp. Recently they've become garbage. Ink goes through them, and the printing looks like it was crudely run off on an inkjet printer.

 

There are services online that can print checks. The problem is, as I browse their websites, none of them give any indication towards paper or printing quality. I mean, if you want kittens or rainbows or an American flag on your checks, they've got you covered, but when it comes to paper and printing, I have no idea. I did notice that some of them have "high security checks" with holograms, watermarks, fluorescent fibers, etc. I'm not sure if that implies a better check in the ways that I actually care about, though.

 

So… Do any of you have any experience with this subject? It's all new to me, and I'd love to hear from somebody who knows more.

[jmccarty3]

Same problem here. I write very few checks anymore, though. I did order the better quality voucher checks to use with Quicken, and they are not so bad, but as far as pocket sized checks are concerned, I am afraid the Ball-pointed Philistines have won the day.

[Freddy]

Until just a couple of years ago the checks that my bank issued were excellent. The paper was fountain pen friendly, and the printing was crisp. Recently they've become garbage. Ink goes through them, and the printing looks like it was crudely run off on an inkjet printer.

 

There are services online that can print checks. The problem is, as I browse their websites, none of them give any indication towards paper or printing quality. I mean, if you want kittens or rainbows or an American flag on your checks, they've got you covered, but when it comes to paper and printing, I have no idea. I did notice that some of them have "high security checks" with holograms, watermarks, fluorescent fibers, etc. I'm not sure if that implies a better check in the ways that I actually care about, though.

 

So… Do any of you have any experience with this subject? It's all new to me, and I'd love to hear from somebody who knows more.

 

For my personal use I have been usin' Deluxe Personal checks....{+30years}....I use very wet and flexie nibs when cutting checks without Any bleeding..whatsoever..

with 21 century security features.......Check 'em out......................Over here..https://www.deluxe.com/deluxe-checks

 

Fred

 

We ink whatever we feel inspired to....the same way we make music.

 

~Nene

[CraigR]

We don't write very many checks anymore but when we do, I use a pen with an extra fine nib and permanent black ink. Even on the standard (cheapest) checks from Deluxe (bank), I see minimal bleeding or feathering with finer nibs. This is fairly limiting, but it does work for us.

[tinta]

It seems that the least expensive set of personal cheques offered by my TD (Toronto Dominion) bank is very friendly to fountain pen ink. I mostly use a Kaweco Lilliput with a custom 0.5 mm. stub & Pelikan 4001 blue/black carts to write my cheques. This combination has not given me any bleed through or feathering issues. I also use a Sailor 0.6 mm. round-nose CI with Platinum's blue/black (an IG ink) with good results.

The use of cheques has greatly deceased in the last decade, but some for services around here, it's still "cash or cheque".

[Octo]

The checks my bank supplies work fine, but their check registers are horrible. Any suggestions for check registers?

[Tweel]

The checks my bank supplies work fine, but their check registers are horrible.

 

Same here.

 

Any suggestions for check registers?

 

There are printable check register PDFs online. I've done that; right now I'm using the horrible ones though.

[jmccarty3]

Fred--

 

The changeover to horrible paper for checks happened fairly recently, so if you have not reordered in awhile, you may not have received any of the offending checks. I just sent an inquiry to Deluxe asking if any of their personal checks are printed on decent paper. We'll see if anyone there even knows what a fountain pen is.

[CraigR]

Fred--

 

The changeover to horrible paper for checks happened fairly recently, so if you have not reordered in awhile, you may not have received any of the offending checks. I just sent an inquiry to Deluxe asking if any of their personal checks are printed on decent paper. We'll see if anyone there even knows what a fountain pen is.

I am interested in what they have to say. Thanks for asking them. The checks I have on hand are several years old.

Edited March 11, 2018 by CraigR

[Freddy]

Fred--

 

The changeover to horrible paper for checks happened fairly recently, so if you have not reordered in awhile, you may not have received any of the offending checks. I just sent an inquiry to Deluxe asking if any of their personal checks are printed on decent paper. We'll see if anyone there even knows what a fountain pen is.

 

I reordered in 2017 and using flexi fine nibs..but since usin' Deluxe {1986}..checks are good..transaction register not fountain pen friendly....

 

Doubtful they'll have any information re your query...But cost nothin' to ask...

 

Fred

[tinta]

By transaction register, do you mean the record pages at the back of the booklets?

If so, then mine are not made of the same quality paper & yes they will blot. I do not fill in the running balances, only the cheque's number, date, recipient & amount. If I do this quickly enough, the writing will be quite acceptable on my TD bank "cheapo" cheque book records.

[inkstainedruth]

I'll admit that I order checks through my bank. I just looked at the package of ones that came recently, and they're made by Harland Clarke. While the paper isn't the best, I haven't had issues with stuff bleeding through onto the next page, except very occasionally in the register when I'm writing over when I make a math error. Of course, recently I'm tending to use vintage Quink Microfilm Black in a Parker Vacumatic with what I think might be an F/M (or even an M) nib, because I know that I can then address envelopes to the places I'm paying bills to and not worry about the ink not being water resistant.

I suspect that part of the problem with using not so good paper is that it may be a cost cutting measure to use recycled paper. And part of is that so much of banking is done electonically these days -- they get an image of your check but no longer have to store the physical one for as long -- so why waste money on good paper that isn't going to have to be stored....

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[tonybelding]

I received a check today from one of my neighbors, and it has the kind of sharp printing that my checks had until a couple years ago. Looks OK where I endorsed it, too. So, somebody out there is still doing it right.

[Freddy]

By transaction register, do you mean the record pages at the back of the booklets?

If so, then mine are not made of the same quality paper & yes they will blot. I do not fill in the running balances, only the cheque's number, date, recipient & amount. If I do this quickly enough, the writing will be quite acceptable on my TD bank "cheapo" cheque book records.

 

Yes.

 

Fred

 

Law is experience developed by reason and applied continually to further experience......

 

~ Roscoe Pond

[CraigR]

I'll admit that I order checks through my bank. I just looked at the package of ones that came recently, and they're made by Harland Clarke. While the paper isn't the best, I haven't had issues with stuff bleeding through onto the next page, except very occasionally in the register when I'm writing over when I make a math error. Of course, recently I'm tending to use vintage Quink Microfilm Black in a Parker Vacumatic with what I think might be an F/M (or even an M) nib, because I know that I can then address envelopes to the places I'm paying bills to and not worry about the ink not being water resistant.

I suspect that part of the problem with using not so good paper is that it may be a cost cutting measure to use recycled paper. And part of is that so much of banking is done electonically these days -- they get an image of your check but no longer have to store the physical one for as long -- so why waste money on good paper that isn't going to have to be stored....

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

I hadn't thought that banks don't really need to use archival quality paper any longer. Good point.