Paper Recommendation For Steiner Pages

So I'm thinking of using some Steiner pages for WW classics and I'm wondering what paper people use? I'm thinking regular old printer paper is too thin, but cardstock seems too thick. I'm open to recommendations from the mundane to the posh; just wondering what people have used and liked. :)

I use 65lb card stock, relatively hard finish, relatively bright white rather than the ivory some people prefer (and part of me agrees with them). Matte or other soft finishes don't take inkjet as well and, believe it or not, adhesive mounts don't stick as well (require more, not less, moisture to stick). I know that most people use laser printers, but I had trouble with toner rubbing off. (Some say that that's a matter of adjusting the fuser temperature; all I know is that I prefer inkjet.)

It adds weight and bulk compared to, say, 24lb paper but I like the extra stiffness. I don't have to worry about valleys developing where the moisture on the mounts creates a waffling effect on thinner paper. (I know, a solution to that is glue sticks but I've never been convinced on that point.) It may make page turning slightly harder (tendency for 3-ring pages to catch at the joint in the rings). If one went beyond 65lb one would need to be sure one's printer could handle it. Mine does okay with 65lb, even 110 occasionally, though sometimes the take-up mechanism leaves a wrinkle in the page top center.

Steiner classics (to 1952 for Commonwealth) plus many countries onward to 1950 and a few to 1960 (roughly the endpoint of the other colonial empires) add up to 20 linear feet of shelf space in 50+ binders. One might save 2-4 feet (just guessing) by using 24lb paper. But I'm guessing that you aren't planning on printing all countries right away. It doesn't hurt, however, to have some notion of what a full set of Steiner pages on 65lb card stock adds up to.

A number of people have insisted on previous threads and other sites on the importance of using archival quality paper, not merely acid-free paper. I think that's probably important if you use hinges. I use 100% mounts, so I'm happy with acid-free cardstock. Because I use 100% mounts, I also do not have the concern that some have voiced about whether the inkjet ink is archival quality.

I use 110lb cardstock in a subdued gray to make my index-tab pages between countries and within countries.

You could look at what album manufacturers use. Davo uses 100 gsm for its standard album, but 170 gsm for its hingeless. Lighthouse pages are also 170 gsm. I'm not quite sure what these translate to in terms of weighing paper in pounds.

I can probably figure it out. :) Thank you Geoff!

Edit:

100gsm = 70 lb paper
170gsm = 120 lb paper

Is most paper these days acid free?
Does it need to be archival?
When using mounts, does it matter?

Best I found is Cougar natural 65lb cover. My local printer orders it for me; it's cheaper than getting it on Amazon.com

I've used several types of paper to print the thousands of Steiner pages I've printed. The paper I used the most was a Hammermill 60-lb cover stock. It's just heavy enough to be durable and hold the stamps well, but not so heavy that the pages are stiff. The pages are brighter than I would prefer, but in terms of bang for the buck, it was tough to beat at around 3 cents a page.

If I had it to do over again, I probably would have printed a lot fewer pages and put them on a little better paper. The best experience I had personally with paper is Paper Studio brand cardstock from Hobby Lobby, which has a really great feel with a softer white page. But that stuff is closer to 10 cents a page, so the cheapskate in me won out again.

I totally understand the cheapskate part! That's me for sure.
I may take one of my pages to my printer friend and ask what he thinks.

Pretty much.




In my opinion, No. See below.




Probably not.

For the Steiner pages and my collection (1840-1940 WW; -1952 British Commonwealth), I use Opaque Text, Cream, Vellum, 8.5" x 11", 70 lb. (Domtar, 81077).

I find Card stock (67 lb) a little too stiff. The 70 lb paper is more flexible. All stamps are in mounts.

How does one feed 65 or 70 lb paper into an inkjet? One page at a time, or...?

I don't know. I have a laser printer. I would try printing by feeding in a small amount, maybe ten sheets, and seeing what happens.

On my HP inkjet....

67 lb card stock- does tend to jam because it is stiffer..

70 lb paper- more flexible, does not jam. I can print as many pages as permitted by the feeding tray.

I have used 28-lb copy paper as well, and while it's better than standard 20-lb copy paper, I still wouldn't recommend it. It actually holds the stamps OK - Steiner pages are printed one side only and have a relatively sparse layout - but I don't think the paper will hold up over time, particularly around the hole punches. A heavier weight paper is definitely recommended. I only used the ligher weight paper on some countries that I wasn't all that interested in, and I wanted to save money and shelf space. I'm still not all that interested in the countries I printed on those pages and if I had it to do over again, I probably wouldn't have bothered printing them at all.

I bought 80 lb and 100 lb text paper from the PaperMillStore.com, Neenah CLASSIC CREST Classic Natural White Paper. Its very close to high quality Scott National pages, roughly same thickness, texture and color.

For my son I bought 8 1/2 x 11 in 80 lb Text Smooth 500 per Ream, specifically for Steiner pages.

For myself I bought 9 1/2 x 12 1/4 for use in self made pages that would fit in Scott National or Vario Grande binders. I had to have it cut from 13 x 19 in 100 lb Text Smooth 250 per Package, giving me 500 sheets as well.

I use regular weight paper from Staples, but I place 2 sheet back to back in plastic protectors from Staples too. I use their lightweight, I place the pages in 3 rings binders the time I work with them, when I have enough of them I place them in 2 post Unitrade binders, they are advertize as 3" but it's actually 3½" for $ 16, the hole don't fit the page, I just use a drill and make 2 new holes in the plastic angle . The main advantage is that I can very be rough in the way handle the pages and nothing destroy, it's very easy to scan too. It cost me $ 11 for 500 sheet of cream color paper and $ 11 for 200 protectors , not that bad

NOTE the thin protector from Staples are semi-tansparent, it good because it remove the glare, you can see them in the firt photo, the one in the 2 post binder ( second photo) is not staples, it's a local brand in Canada and have glare.

One other thing, with the plastic protector system, you can add also any albums pages you get from Ebay, here an exemple with Scott Int. sorry for the glare, those are not Staples one, they are 10 years old , at the time I get what I have on hand