I am the Flattest

[Gregg111]

Wondering what you all think is the notebook that lies the flattest. Right now I use Aqua Drops from Lihit Labs which I got from Amazon and/or JetPens. Excellent quality paper for FPs. And has twist ring, so you can remove sheets. But it would be nice to have a notebook that was flat enough that I didn't have to remove paper to write on it then re insert. Looking at the Habana but haven't purchased yet. Using 3 TWSBI mini vacs, a TWSBI 580 all with broad nib.

[carlos.q]

:welcome: Welcome to FPGeeks!

When I need a notebook that lies completely flat I'll use a Black n' Red spiral bound notebook. It has FP friendly paper and it's cheaper than Rhodia or Clairefontaine. :thumb:

[Dragonmaster Lou]

:welcome: Welcome to FPGeeks!

When I need a notebook that lies completely flat I'll use a Black n' Red spiral bound notebook. It has FP friendly paper and it's cheaper than Rhodia or Clairefontaine. :thumb:

Sadly, they aren't available in graph ruled. :(

[migo984]

:welcome: Welcome to FPGeeks!

When I need a notebook that lies completely flat I'll use a Black n' Red spiral bound notebook. It has FP friendly paper and it's cheaper than Rhodia or Clairefontaine. :thumb:

Sadly, they aren't available in graph ruled. :(

I haven't seen them in scientific graph ruled but they are available with 5mm quadrille (square) ruled paper, at least in the UK. In A4 and A5, with 140 pages, micro-perforated sheets.

[stub]

The soft cover Leuchtturm1917 lay nice and flat.

[snoopy]

The Montblanc 'Notes' books lay very flat, but they are quite thin (roughly 110 pages). Some have said the older ones feathered a bit, but the more recent ones are fine (what I've used). The cover has a really nice tactile texture too.

[Marsilius]

Rhodia has spiral pads with square grids, but they are not full size paper, IIRC.

[inklord]

For me, Rhodia or Clairefontaine school notebooks do the trick - they have only 96 pages, but that's easily remedied by just bringing a spare notebook along. the individual books being less bulky also allows for more flex (you can roll them up with a rubber band around) and they are easier to carry. Calirefontaine come in square ruled fashion, as do the very similar budget-brand German school notebooks. Sizes are A6-A4.

[Scooby921]

Most any spiral bound notebook is going to lie nice and flat. The question becomes how large is the spiral binding (how many pages) and how much of an impediment does it become when your hand hits it and you have to adjust to go up and over. For this I have to say the Apica side bound are great as the wire binding is low profile. My Rhodia and Black n' Red notebooks have a much larger binding which gets to be annoying. It put me into a temporary bind as I really like the Black n' Red paper quality and notebook. It's cheaper and has better paper than Rhodia. I recently bought one of the hardcover case bound Black n' Red notebooks and thus far I really like it. It may not lay exactly flat on the table when open anywhere but straight down the middle, but when it's open it is flat from page to page.

Black n' Red Spiral vs. Apica Spiral - The Black n' Red binding is around 17mm while the Apica binding is just over 11mm, so ~1/4" difference.
http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z297/bwithorn/Pens/20160803_1005561_zpsztswqo6d.jpg

Black n' Red Spiral vs. Rhodia Spiral vs. Black n' Red case - Rhodia binding is around 16mm.
http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z297/bwithorn/Pens/20160803_1001361_zpsuy7lwiu4.jpg

[frmamede]

I've bought a few of the Oxford notebooks, and they are very FP friendly. Also, they have a "signature" line, which is a bit expensive, but lie pretty flat! They also have great spiral bound options, in many sizes. :)

[sharmon202]

There is a great on from Moo, where you buy business cards & things. Been using mine a couple months & love it flat, great paper quality

[KKay]

Nanami Seven Seas notebooks are the flattest, but you have to break them in a little.

[Cocobird]

Circa notebooks, by Levenger, use discs. They lay totally flat, and have all kinds of nice paper, and some have dots instead of lines or graph squares.

[TSherbs]

Most any spiral bound notebook is going to lie nice and flat. The question becomes how large is the spiral binding (how many pages) and how much of an impediment does it become when your hand hits it and you have to adjust to go up and over. For this I have to say the Apica side bound are great as the wire binding is low profile. My Rhodia and Black n' Red notebooks have a much larger binding which gets to be annoying. It put me into a temporary bind as I really like the Black n' Red paper quality and notebook. It's cheaper and has better paper than Rhodia. I recently bought one of the hardcover case bound Black n' Red notebooks and thus far I really like it. It may not lay exactly flat on the table when open anywhere but straight down the middle, but when it's open it is flat from page to page.

Black n' Red Spiral vs. Apica Spiral - The Black n' Red binding is around 17mm while the Apica binding is just over 11mm, so ~1/4" difference.
http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z297/bwithorn/Pens/20160803_1005561_zpsztswqo6d.jpg

Black n' Red Spiral vs. Rhodia Spiral vs. Black n' Red case - Rhodia binding is around 16mm.
http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z297/bwithorn/Pens/20160803_1001361_zpsuy7lwiu4.jpg

Very helpful pics.

[littledebbie]

Do you have any writing samples on the black & red notebooks, and are you usually able to write on both sides?


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[Bob]

Do you have any writing samples on the black & red notebooks, and are you usually able to write on both sides?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Yes, Black&Red notebooks are fountain safe. You can write on both sides


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[Scooby921]

I don't have any writing samples at the moment. I use the notepad at work, so it's filled with work-related notes I'd prefer not to share.

Here's the post for the Black n' Red paper in the paper comparison thread I made. It's not written front and back, but you can see that there is no bleed or show-through on the back side of the paper.

https://fpgeeks.com/forum/showthread.php/16766-Paper-Review-in-Photos-Multiple-brands-same-pens-and-inks?p=175991&viewfull=1#post175991

[KrazyIvan]

Spiral bound is hard to beat for flattest. I just don't like the bump that my hand runs into while I'm writting. You could have your own paper printed with grids or dots and then have it spiral bound at any big box office store.

[chalkdust]

I have found that "coptic binding" is the trick for flatness. On a recent journey, I journaled in a Moleskine Chapters Dot Grid notebook (I know, Moleskine is not "FP friendly" - but this one worked great for me and my fountain pen). This notebook is about 1/4 inch or .5 cm thick, but it lays completely flat when opened.

I am not trying to recommend this particular notebook, but instead am suggesting this type of binding. Have others found this binding to allow lay flat opening?

[Stickler]

My Rhodia 180 book lays pretty flat, until the book is like 150 pages on one side

[Armstrong]

If I need flat I generally do one of two things. If I require a spiral notebook or a bound notebook I go with a top spiral bound.

Two, use loose leaf and a clip board. Store notes in the binder, write on the clip board. This is the best system I have found for a flat writing surface.

[rluka]

On ring notebook, anyone had experience with Kokuyo's squishy ring note (http://www.kokuyo-st.co.jp/stationery/softring-note/) ?
It uses soft plastic ring instead of metal wire.
Also available in ruled, plain, square grid, dot grid, and even manuscript rule.