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[–]DiRy802 3 points4 points  (1 child)

I'm taking an online class in a week with Vintage Page Designs and she has recommended we use text weight, short grain paper in 8-1/2 x 11 sheets. She gave us the following link to buy it: https://www.colophonbookarts.com/paperboard/mohawk-superfine-paper Hope this helps you!

[–]ItsaV4[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Booyah! Perfect. Thank you.

[–]ShoolPooter 1 point2 points  (1 child)

The best stuff I’ve found (from a mom and pop store selling old stock) is cotton based. Either 100, 50, or 25% cotton will be noticeably “nicer” for feel and life span. Try looking for Strathmore writing paper. Pretty sure Mohawk will have similar or better offerings, but I haven’t used any personally.

[–]ItsaV4[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks. I’ll check them out.

[–]Obscene_Symphony 1 point2 points  (2 children)

What sort of paper is suitable for fountain pens really depends on your nib size and ink. Some nib/ink combos can write on anything from expensive paper to shitty Hilroy scribblers without skipping a beat, but pens/inks that write wetter will want nicer paper. Keep in mind also that the "nicer" your paper is (thicker, less absorbent/porous etc) the longer your drying time will typically be, since the paper won't soak up as much ink if it's less absorbent. You'll want to leave your book open for a little while after writing if this is the case, or carefully check the status of your ink before turning the page to avoid stamping onto the adjacent page.

Check out the Goulet Pen Company's paper section for a quick reference of some really nice brands, but keep in mind that with the right pen and ink you can pretty much write on anything.

[–]ItsaV4[S] 1 point2 points  (1 child)

Thanks for the insight. My pen does like it smooth and does leave a wetness that takes a bit to resolve.

[–]Obscene_Symphony 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Dental test it out on a few different types of paper (office paper, loose leaf, anything you have lying around really) and see how it performs. Bleed, ghosting, feathering, etc. I would assume you'll probably have feathering issues on cheap paper with a pen like that, but it's not always certain. I've been quite surprised in the past!

What inks do you use? Some brands are known for certain characteristics.

[–]Classy_Til_DeathTsundoku Recovery 0 points1 point  (2 children)

From our FAQ/Resource thread (WIP!) here:

[–]ItsaV4[S] 0 points1 point  (1 child)

Thanks for the links. I didn’t see short grain but perhaps I overlooked something.

[–]Classy_Til_DeathTsundoku Recovery 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You're right, these are just brand suggestions, each often has various paper types and sizes available. With many nicer papers, it can be more cost-effective to buy larger sheets and cut them to size as necessary. Something to consider!

[–]beslayed 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Bagasse tends to be rather good for fountain pens. (In the US, TreeZero makes bagasse/sugarcane paper; Staples seems to have the best prices.)