Good Thin paper

[Judybug]

Tweel and Rena - a generous FPNer is sending me a few sheets of this onion skin to try. It certainly sounds like very practical paper for international letters. Also - see-through paper has lots of creative possibilities in paper crafts - making greeting cards, scrapbooking, etc. So I'm thinking I may like to have a supply even if I can't use it in the computer. But I wonder --------- if I use a few pieces of removeable double-faced tape to stick a piece of onion skin to a piece of heavier paper, it may feed through the printer with no problem. I'll give it a try and let you know. But then if this causes a printer jam, I'll have to explain to hubby - he's the one I scream at the instant something doesn't work right with the computer. Hmm. I'll have to weigh the risks.

 

Judybug

[FLZapped]

You might want to consider this paper:

 

9 lb Bond (Onion Skin)

 

-Bruce

 

Bruce - have you used this paper with your fountain pens? It looks nice. Too bad you have buy a ream. Can this paper be used in injet printers? I might order a ream if I thought I could used it with FPs and the computer, but I would think 9lb. paper is too thin to feed through the printer. Does anybody know? The paper is described as being for "crafters" - no mention of computer use.

 

Judybug

 

 

No, I went for the 17 lb recycled Vellum instead. I liked the hard, smooth surface and the fact it was lignin and acid free.

 

They'll send you a couple sheets of almost anything for a sample if you call them on the phone.

 

-Bruce

[jbb]

Any idea where one could acquire some blank Bible paper?

If you want to try to track down a vendor, it looks like this paper is also known as "lightweight offset book" paper, e.g.:

 

Domtar Featherweight Opaque

-- Brian

I got in some samples of featherweight paper from Domtar and it feathers a bit with fountain pens and is even worse with dip pens. Perhaps with a dry writer it would be okay.

[Johnny Appleseed]

I am unaware of the practices in the UK, but here in the US there are thin papers made for legal documents. One such is Sphinx Esquire Bond. It is a 25% cotton fiber paper with a slight parchment feel/aspect. Because of the dense fiber matting, this 16 lb paper is thin and can be compactly folded. It is very FP friendly. While not fully opaque, it is far more so than onion skin. If the Sphinx is no longer available, there may be other types of business papers about.

 

A few years ago there were a number of manufacturers making 16# cotton bond paper, but their numbers have dwindled. The legal and business community have completely embraced lazer-printed documents and nearly all papers aimed at them have moved to a 20# as the minimum sheet. I have not been able to find Strathmore, Gilbert, or any of the old brands in a 16# anymore. There may be a couple still, but they are hard to find (at least in the states).

 

If you can find it, Gilbert made a 13# 25% cotton bond paper some years ago. It has been discontinued, but I happen to have some in my private stash. It is just opaque enough to write on both sides with some show-through, but not too bad - nothing like onionskin. I find it suitable for writing on both sides with a fountain pen, though you may want to avoid a really wet writer. It does not feather very much. It is really nice paper - when my wife and I were just dating and living in separate cities I went through reams of this stuff.

 

John

[FLZapped]

Tweel and Rena - a generous FPNer is sending me a few sheets of this onion skin to try. It certainly sounds like very practical paper for international letters. Also - see-through paper has lots of creative possibilities in paper crafts - making greeting cards, scrapbooking, etc. So I'm thinking I may like to have a supply even if I can't use it in the computer. But I wonder --------- if I use a few pieces of removeable double-faced tape to stick a piece of onion skin to a piece of heavier paper, it may feed through the printer with no problem. I'll give it a try and let you know. But then if this causes a printer jam, I'll have to explain to hubby - he's the one I scream at the instant something doesn't work right with the computer. Hmm. I'll have to weigh the risks.

 

Judybug

 

 

The reason I bought the lightweight vellum was for international letters. At 90 cents for the first ounce to send mail to Lithuania, I need to save all the weight I can!

 

-Bruce

[jamesbest77]

Hi All,

 

I finally tried vellum and onion skin paper, and although it is quite fountain pen friendly it didnt have the "elegance" I had been searching for. I also tried some different japanese calligraphy papers such as: Toh paper, Mine paper, Tofu paper, Danxuan and Jia xuan paper, which are each very thin and workable(ish) with fountain pens offering slightly different textures. Incidentally, if anyone wants to try samples of these papers, greatart.co.uk will post out some small sample swatches.

 

Sadly, none of these thin papers were what I was looking for and in the end, I'm a bit embarassed to say, I went with Amalfi paper :embarrassed_smile:. I know - its very expensive, had to get it from another country and not exactly "thin", but its soooooooo nice!!!!

 

Thanks for all the replies from everyone, this is an amazing community - i'm glad I stumbled across it!

James.

[jbb]

... I'm a bit embarassed to say, I went with Amalfi paper :embarrassed_smile:. I know - its very expensive, had to get it from another country and not exactly "thin", but its soooooooo nice!!!!

Ooooh. Amalfi paper has been on my wish list for some time. Someone wrote me a letter on it and the paper feels like fabric -- utterly luxurious. I have not bought it yet due to the price. How is it for actually writing on with fountain pens?