Mixed Results With A Mead Comp Book

The test scan tells the tale of the fountain pen ink and the Mead Composition Book. The smooth paper ought to behave better but the performance is about what you would expect from a low-end product.

At 100 sheets/200 pages, the show-through and bleed-through limit use to one side so it isn’t exactly a bargain. Still the low amount of feathering with some inks means this comp book has its uses.

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The designs for the cardboard covers are simple if youthful and the college ruling will work well for most writers. The dimensions are 9.75 x 7.5 inches and will lay flat after a little use. The notebook comes with a stitched binding concealed by a cloth strip which is typical for any composition book.

My comp book was made in Vietnam in 2012 so another run might have different properties. For $1.50 at Target stores, you just might find a slot for it in your paper arsenal.

Miquelrius Notebooks Are Perfect For Fountain Pens

Some brands of paper accept fountain pen ink without hesitation. Miquelrius is one of them.

Never heard of this company? According to the website, “Miquelrius is a family company whose origins go back to 1839 in Barcelona, Spain.” Its products are available at a variety of retailers but the plain black cover might not stand out on crowded shelves or turn up in an online search. At the price point, it’s worth seeking out and the scan shows why.

This white paper is more lightweight than Black ‘n Red or Staples Arc but show-through and bleed-through were non-existent even from my Namiki Falcon SB gusher. A variety of inks and nibs produced clean margins and no feathering. The 6.5 x 8″, spiral bound, 140 sheet version can easily be written on both sides yielding 280 pages. The edges are colored-coded blue, red, green, and gray for four-subjects should you be so organized. Retail prices vary but I purchased mine on sale at Target for around $4 a few months ago. Now I wish I’d bought a stack of them.

The paper is very smooth. Resistance is absent and makes the paper ideal for long sessions. The number of pages per notebook is significantly greater than comparable products. That’s value for money I appreciate. Line-spacing is 7mm or just over a quarter inch which is fine for most people and suitable for those who write large like me.

The thin-ish paper has a quirk that I like but won’t suit everyone. Pages that have been written on can be seen through an unwritten page. I find that rather charming in a vintage way. In use, it wasn’t off-putting at all but instead made me rather pleased that I’d filled up so many pages. For a writer, that’s a good thing.

In addition to a simple black polyproplyene cover with the MR logo, Miguelrius notebooks come in a variety of patterns though only a few were available at Target. All of those were too cutesy for my taste but they do change offerings from time to time. The next batch might have one that would be just the thing. These notebooks come in several sizes and with different numbers of pages. Some are bound while others are spiral with micro-perforated pages that are hole punched. There are grid versions as well as lined. If you order online, check the specs to ensure you get exactly what you want.

Links to explore: Miquelrius, Target, Barnes & Noble, Amazon.

ARC Customizable Notebook System From Staples

This is one time when images tell the tale. arc notebooks are both configurable and good with fountain pen ink. If Staples keeps the same supplier for paper in the future, this is one product that is well worth considering.

Staples arc Notebook with sample page

If you aren’t familiar with this sort of notebook system, suffice to say it is extremely flexible and yet very simple. The heavy weight paper moves easily into and out of the plastic discs. Position things any way you like. You can even purchase a special hole punch to add other items but flimsy paper might not hold up to the rigors of more than a few removals. For small items a glue stick would come in handy to attach bits to an arc sheet so nothing gets damaged or lost.

Staples arc Notebook with Dividers

My arc notebook has an unadorned poly cover but it also comes in leather at a very reasonable price point. The paper is offered in narrow or graph ruled sheets as well as a project planner and a “to do” version. Just add a poly divider with pockets or tabs to keep things in their proper categories. Extra tools include page flags and task pads. Again, this is a simple system yet easily customized to your work flow and needs.

Staples arc Notebook Writing Sample

It took magnification to reveal feathering on the ruled sheets though only with one of the eight inks tested and at that only from the most free-flowing nib used. On the reverse there is no bleed-through and just the faintest hint of show-through. This is a paper destined for double-sided use and easily so considering the cover can be folded back to lay perfectly flat. Finally there is a notebook that fits both my limited space and my individual work style.

How can I use thee? Let me count the ways! No, I won’t bore you with my ideas but it should start you thinking about how you can use arc notebooks to increase your productivity and keep your fountain pens happy at the same time. Ready, set, go!

Staples Filler Paper – Will It Work For You?

Ruled filler paper that plays well with fountain pens can be a challenge to find. Bagasse or pineapple paper has been the best inexpensive product on the market for the last few years but it is in short supply. Last night at Staples I could only find the ringed notebooks and the wide-ruled composition books. The filler paper is long gone and not expected to return. So what’s a fountain pen aficionado to do?

A recent discussion at Fountain Pen Network piqued my interest in Staples College Ruled Filler Paper so I bought a packet and put it to the test. The results were a little mixed but for most people it should work well enough. The only less than perfect ink was Diamine Ultra Green but I’ve seen it feather on Apica with the same free-flowing pen. It is a small amount of feathering but to a perfectionist, it might be annoying.

The paper is smooth and light weight. All inks displayed show-through on the reverse but not so much that I couldn’t write legibly. Again Diamine Ultra Green was the exception and bled through too much to write on the back. I love the swathe of green but have concluded this ink is not the best for general purposes. Noodler’s Ottoman Azure and Diamine Mediterranean Blue suit the red margin and blue lines nicely. Other inks had no issues but I like those two blue inks best for this paper.

At 75¢ for 120 sheets, it is easy to put this paper through your own test. Note that the packet I purchased is marked ©2012 to the left of the bar code and was made in Brazil. Product from other regions may not perform similarly.

Don’t take the scan as a good representation of ink color. It is unadjusted, unfiltered, and served without prejudice so you can reach your own conclusions about Staples filler paper.

Staples Ruled Filler Paper