Andy Pastuszak
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Post by Andy Pastuszak on Apr 4, 2022 13:42:34 GMT
I thought it would be nice to create a thread about recommended paper types for DIY pages. I have two to recommend today that I got from Amazon yesterday. 1. Hamilco Cream Colored Cardstock 80 lb. www.amazon.com/dp/B07KYY2RZSPaper costs $13.95 for 50 sheets, so not the cheapest stuff in the world. But it's nice and thick AND it's inkjet printer friendly. Printing on black and white and on color setting leads to crisp text without any feathering. The paper is a nice cream color that is a tiny bit on the yellow side. 2. Accent Opaque Cream Printer Paper 28 lb Bond/70 lb text www.amazon.com/dp/B0114MUO3A
At $13.50 for a 500 sheet ream, this is a much more affordable paper. It's a little bit thicker than a Mystic Heirloom page. The cream color, is a smidge more "tan" than it is yellow. The paper is very inkjet friendly, both when printing black and white and color. I think this makes a great choice for printing your own cream colored pages.
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angore
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Post by angore on Apr 4, 2022 18:09:06 GMT
The paper I use is a Domtar's EarthChoice 104gsm cream. It costs more than what you show. I may give Accept paper a try. My paper measures ~5.3 mils.
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Post by PostmasterGS on Apr 4, 2022 19:07:50 GMT
I use this. It's a nice mid-weight cream color. Mill: | Neenah Paper | Brand: | Exact Velllum Bristol | Size: | 8.5" x 11" | Printer Compatibility: | Copiers (Color), Inkjet Printers, Laser Printers, Offset Printing | Finish: | Vellum | Coating: | Uncoated | Grain Direction: | Grain Long | Paper Weight: | 67 lb Bristol, 148 G/M2, Caliper 8.3, 240 PPI | Brightness: | 92 | Color Values: | CMYK C=0, M=1, Y=10, K=0 RGB R=255, G=250, B=230 |
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Andy Pastuszak
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Praying for my family and everyone in Ukraine.
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Post by Andy Pastuszak on Apr 5, 2022 1:54:19 GMT
I use this. It's a nice mid-weight cream color. Mill: | Neenah Paper | Brand: | Exact Velllum Bristol | Size: | 8.5" x 11" | Printer Compatibility: | Copiers (Color), Inkjet Printers, Laser Printers, Offset Printing | Finish: | Vellum | Coating: | Uncoated | Grain Direction: | Grain Long | Paper Weight: | 67 lb Bristol, 148 G/M2, Caliper 8.3, 240 PPI | Brightness: | 92 | Color Values: | CMYK C=0, M=1, Y=10, K=0 RGB R=255, G=250, B=230 |
Neenah paper taught me the value of a somewhat muted white. I used to buy white paper with a super hight brightness rating, 98 or higher. That looks cool and all at first, but when you're flipping through your album and look at details in your stamps, the super white paper really strains my eyes.
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brightonpete
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Post by brightonpete on Apr 5, 2022 12:23:56 GMT
I suppose that's why I like the coloured cardstock now, and the black pages 50 years ago!
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Post by albertabob on Apr 5, 2022 12:59:19 GMT
Which style of paper do you all use for exhibit purposes?
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jpotx113
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What I collect: USA, Germany, Croatia, Slovenia, Machins, misc. WW
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Post by jpotx113 on Apr 5, 2022 15:45:25 GMT
Great timing for a much needed thread. I was about to print off some DIY pages I've recently downloaded for France, Great Britain, and a few others. I think the Accent paper will work well for what I have planned.
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stainlessb
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qaStaHvIS yIn 'ej chep
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Post by stainlessb on Apr 5, 2022 15:52:32 GMT
PostmasterGS same "exact" paper I've been using. Quite happy with it
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renden
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Post by renden on Apr 5, 2022 17:54:37 GMT
Lots of paper posts but many members use the Metric system so.......thanks !
René mine is 170g/m2
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damo
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Post by damo on Jul 18, 2022 16:53:06 GMT
Hi all, I just bought a paper that is card stock. It's 250 gsm which I'm told is over 80lb paper. It's white and smooth but does not state that it's acid free. I hoped to use it for album pages. Could I get some opinion as to whether I could use it for this purpose? I would be using stamp mounts for the stamps. Best wishes to everyone
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paul1
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Post by paul1 on Jul 18, 2022 17:39:18 GMT
no idea as to whether there is a simple home-made test for acid in paper - you might contact the manufacturers who should know. Looking at on line charts for grammage to weight comparisons, 255 gms. equals 140 lbs., so quite heavy. Do you know the intended purpose for this particular paper?
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damo
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Post by damo on Jul 18, 2022 18:15:08 GMT
no idea as to whether there is a simple home-made test for acid in paper - you might contact the manufacturers who should know. Looking at on line charts for grammage to weight comparisons, 255 gms. equals 140 lbs., so quite heavy. Do you know the intended purpose for this particular paper? It says on the wrapper that its an environmental craft paper, chlorine free and can be used in any printers.
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paul1
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Post by paul1 on Jul 18, 2022 19:38:52 GMT
Hi - so no mention of ph value - 'environmental craft paper' sounds rather vague and perhaps a rather catch all expression - it may be sourced from sustainable material or not, we unfortunately don't know. To avoid problems with acidity in paper, you need a ph value of 7 or higher (towards the alkaline end of the scale). Below that figure and you are in a potential acidity area. When you say 'stamp mounts', do you mean hinges, or howid mounts? I wouldn't worry - keep an eye on the paper, and if it does start to turn a brownish tinge then might be good to change to another paper source - I should think you'll be o.k.
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renden
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Post by renden on Jul 18, 2022 20:11:36 GMT
Hi - so no mention of ph value - 'environmental craft paper' sounds rather vague and perhaps a rather catch all expression - it may be sourced from sustainable material or not, we unfortunately don't know. To avoid problems with acidity in paper, you need a ph value of 7 or higher (towards the alkaline end of the scale). Below that figure and you are in a potential acidity area. When you say 'stamp mounts', do you mean hinges, or howid mounts? I wouldn't worry - keep an eye on the paper, and if it does start to turn a brownish tinge then might be good to change to another paper source - I should think you'll be o.k. Knew that all along since I was a Pool Lifeguard for 5 years and we tested the water every day: PH 7 and > is alkaline son OK for our printing paper - Just find the one that mentions the proper info ?? - Good Luck - I will test mine as soon as I buy a bottle of test kit for Swimming Pools - cheap a they come - Good subject, Paul - If my paper is Acid and I mount all stamps - I will be dead by the time any acid effect is evident No worries but a good thing to know Cheers - René
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damo
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Post by damo on Jul 18, 2022 20:49:31 GMT
Hi - so no mention of ph value - 'environmental craft paper' sounds rather vague and perhaps a rather catch all expression - it may be sourced from sustainable material or not, we unfortunately don't know. To avoid problems with acidity in paper, you need a ph value of 7 or higher (towards the alkaline end of the scale). Below that figure and you are in a potential acidity area. When you say 'stamp mounts', do you mean hinges, or howid mounts? I wouldn't worry - keep an eye on the paper, and if it does start to turn a brownish tinge then might be good to change to another paper source - I should think you'll be o.k. I am going to use the howid mounts. Thank you for the advice.
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brightonpete
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Post by brightonpete on Jul 18, 2022 20:52:15 GMT
I use mounts for all my stamps - mint or used. Keeps them safe, better than hinges. Besides, I learned years ago when first trying hinges just how inept I really was, and still am!
Peter
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damo
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Post by damo on Jul 18, 2022 21:07:01 GMT
I checked on their website, they say it's archival life over 200 years, co2 neutral and acid free.
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renden
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Post by renden on Jul 18, 2022 21:12:14 GMT
I checked on their website, they say it's archival life over 200 years, co2 neutral and acid free. which website - details s.v.p. (please) René
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damo
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Post by damo on Jul 18, 2022 21:58:13 GMT
I checked on their website, they say it's archival life over 200 years, co2 neutral and acid free. which website - details s.v.p. (please) René The paper is made in Austria by Mondi. It is Color Copy Original 250g/m2. Got most of the information from mymondi.net The site is a little difficult to get around.
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tomiseksj
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Post by tomiseksj on Jul 18, 2022 22:15:53 GMT
...I will test mine as soon as I buy a bottle of test kit for Swimming Pools - cheap a they come... Lineco makes a pH testing pen for paper -- probably better (and cheaper) than a pool test kit.
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Andy Pastuszak
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Post by Andy Pastuszak on Jul 19, 2022 0:36:51 GMT
Ideally the manufacturer should state that the paper is acid AND lingen free. Either that, or that it's archival. If the paper is 100% cotton, it's automatically acid and lingen free and archival.
The problem is, a lot of manufacturers make paper is acid and lingen free, but they only state acid-free on the packaging.
Some archival papers are buffered to prevent pH drift over time. If a paper specifically says it's archival, it's buffered or it's cotton.
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jpotx113
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What I collect: USA, Germany, Croatia, Slovenia, Machins, misc. WW
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Post by jpotx113 on Jul 19, 2022 18:43:46 GMT
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renden
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Post by renden on Jul 19, 2022 19:12:25 GMT
jpotx113 is that heavy ? I use 170g/m2 paper - will have to look what it represents in lbs= around 60 lbs in the paper conversion charts (65 lbs would be cover paper ( ) - maybe I am wrong My paper does nice albums and does not take empty space - but who am I to give an opinion >? 1 thing I know is that it is an inkjet paper, not compatible with Laser printers René soloprinting.com/resources/paper-weight-conversions/
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jpotx113
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Post by jpotx113 on Jul 19, 2022 19:36:59 GMT
renden No, I would not consider that to be heavy (a couple steps beyond that is cardstock). Normal copy paper is usually 20lb. The second photo above (by Andy) is what I previously bought.
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angore
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Post by angore on Jul 20, 2022 9:50:21 GMT
I believe the discussion of acid-free paper is way overblown. Most paper today is acid free at manufacture but the question is if it will stay that way. In the order of risks to stamps, it is fairly low. As @ renden says, for the time one owns the collection it may never be an issue if properly stored, Handling and environment are much greater influences. I believe the real threat is the stamp hinge. Hinges cause instant damage and when poorly applied (too much moisture, etc.) causes more damage. . Mounts protect from paper and from the environment. Of course, there is the comment that split back mounts can leave marks. I suspect this is from improper storage. Like paper, glassine can deteriorate over time. I have a Lineco ph pen and rarely see acid results from paper (not scientific sample size) but do see more issues with manila stock pages. I test glassine but do not seem to get a response (usually means acid) but may be the coating.
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brightonpete
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Post by brightonpete on Jul 20, 2022 12:15:56 GMT
I don't know if the black quadrilled pages I used back in the 70's were acid free, but stamps in mounts, still mounted on them today look just fine. I suppose using hinges may pose a problem, but in mounts, does it really matter?
Just my 2¢ worth...
Peter
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Andy Pastuszak
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Praying for my family and everyone in Ukraine.
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Post by Andy Pastuszak on Jul 20, 2022 13:10:49 GMT
I have used 24 lb and 28 lb paper. 24 is better than copy paper, but 28 lb is better. I think you'll notice a difference.
I've also noticed that all the Accent Opaque brand paper is out of stock on Amazon. I wanted to buy a ream of the 32 lb paper, but it's only available from a 3rd party seller in a pack of 4 for an insane price.
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Andy Pastuszak
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Praying for my family and everyone in Ukraine.
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What I collect: United States, Ukraine, Ireland
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Post by Andy Pastuszak on Jul 22, 2022 1:20:42 GMT
Need to add another paper to the mix. Today I bought a ream of Staples 32 lb (120 gsm) ivory laser printer paper. www.staples.com/Staples-25-Cotton-Fine-Laser-Paper-Ivory/product_703366It was US$24.99 for a pack of 300 sheets in the store, so 8.3₵ a sheet. Like any slightly thicker paper, it curls in my laser printer:
On the inkjet everything is nice and flat.
The paper is 25% cotton, but when inkjet printing in black and white there is no feathering. I'm sure if I printed in color, there would be some feathering.
32 lb (120 gsm) is probably as thick as I can go on either printer and still have double-sided printing work without jamming the printer.
Overall, not a bad choice.
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Andy Pastuszak
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Praying for my family and everyone in Ukraine.
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Post by Andy Pastuszak on Jul 22, 2022 2:27:34 GMT
I'm building up quite the pile of paper here. I need to just pick one and move on. I think the 32 lb weight is a winner. It's a good balance between thickness and ease of printer feeding. The Accent Opaque is a nice paper and comes in a 32 lb weight, but the 32 lb is out of stock EVERYWHERE now, not just Amazon. Every online paper supplier is out, except for one, and they want me to buy a case of the stuff. Amazon has a 4-pack for sale for $288 from a third party seller. But the lack of availability makes me nervous. Is this just a supply chain issue, or is this paper destined to be discontinued in the near future? The Staples paper is good. The in-store price is $24.99. The online price is $37.49. The Staples website claims that there are 9 300 sheet reams at my local store. But when I was in there, I definitely got the last one. Plenty of other stores in my area say they have it in stock. So, this one looks like a regular product I can easily get. As much as I like heavier paper such as 65 lb/67 lb, feeding it through the printer is less than reliable. On my laser printer, it really comes out curled and the rollers in both the inkjet and laser don't always grab it and pull it through properly. So some pages end up with the printout lower on the page than it should be, so I end up reprinting a bunch of pages. And my last observation.... The 32 lb. Staples paper where I posted the curled images, the paper has somewhat uncurled as it sits on my desk. Still not flat, but definitely much better than it was. In my obsession with this stupidity, I actually tried to see if I could quickly iron these pages flat again. Well, kind of. It never gets perfectly flat. and if you try to do a pile of pages, they stick to each other, since the toner heats up and slightly sticks to the pages above it. There was no toner transfer, but I wonder if that weakens the toner long-term, and I might experience issues with toner flaking off the page. I know when I print on 67 lb or higher paper, I have to set the fuser to a hotter settings (you can do it manually or just change the paper type to "Thicker Paper") or the toner will flake off the page.
The print dialog for my Brother HL3170-CDW has an option to "Improve Toner Fixing," which heats up the fuser. I like it because it makes sure the toner is REALLY stuck to the page, but it's a lot hotter, so the paper curls more.
Need to find a good way to uncurl the paper that doesn't involve a lot of manual effort.
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brightonpete
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Post by brightonpete on Jul 22, 2022 10:30:12 GMT
I found that the manual twisting of the paper works about the best. It is still curled a bit, but a lot less than before. I was lazy at one point and just put them under a stockbook for a while, It did help, but not as good as the twisting! I'm back to the inkjet, and use the laser when I feel like proofing a page and other stuff.
Peter
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