I'm getting quite an education on this subject. But KK makes an excellent point, npi. It never occurred to me that south-paws would smudge pencil notes; other than outlawing them, I reckon one of them thar fancy pens is the only way to go--eight bucks! However, I would like to hear more about the pen options and how well they stand up to time. I'm also interested in how well the Rite-in-Rain paper takes the graphite and the ink.
I only half suggested off-list that she consider India ink, but if that could be made non-clogging it might solve the problem (maybe some of the inks made have solved it, but as much as I like sharpies for less-demanding applications (e.g., writing on slides--you know, those antique pre-digital curiosities), I have found them subject to fading and they can be a disaster when the top comes off in a bag. What the h ___; I'll paste in my off-list response. Didn't think this would have such broad interest, but come to think of it, it's basic. WT Response to B (I've learned a lot since): Chisel, mallet, and granite, preferably. INA, soft pencil. Then, India ink (quill pens made from bald eagle feathers? Naw, but you might still be able to get Rapidograph pens in a garage sale--no kidding, maybe they still make them) would be better. Forestry Suppliers has "waterproof" field books, but I've never used them. You might query undewater archaeologists or use weatherproof clipboards. They also may offer permanent ink pens, but Sharpies bleed through most paper. Really, soft pencil on acid-free paper. WT At 02:59 PM 6/6/2007, Kathleen Knight wrote: >To collect data in the field, I use the Rite-in-the-rain copy paper to make >data sheets, the Rite-in-the-rain notebooks to take notes, and use the >Rite-in-the-rain pen with them. I'm left-handed, so pencil smears. You can >hold the paper under running water and still write on it. A bit pricey >($8.00 for a pen) but great products. > >The only problem I have with the Rite-in-the-rain pens is that the pen >itself is black, so when you drop it in the woods it's difficult to find. I >tie a brightly-colored piece of plastic to it. If they made some in bright >orange or yellow, it would be perfect. > >As for permanence, I have no idea. Things I did 6 years ago still look >fine, but I have no idea how they'll look in 50 or 100 years. > >-Kathleen > >On Jun 5 2007, Barbara White wrote: > > > We would like to solicit people's ideas about what kind of pens or > > pencils they think are appropriate for taking field notes with respect to > > permanence. > > > >-- >----------------------------- >Kathleen S. Knight
