Testing with pH Pens: When "Acid-Free" Paper Isn't

See the follow-up article (July 25, 2005).

In my continuing quest to discover whether buying pH pens was a wise decision, this week I bought and tested more scrapbooking paper. I am still not sure whether I am reviewing scrapbook paper, or the pH testing pens themselves.

The first 30 sheets of scrapbooking paper I selected were identified as "acid-free" (as measured by the pH testing pens). But then came some surprises.

Failure #1

Now I'm faced with a curious dilemna. I bought this particular paper as part of an eBay lot, and I really can't vouch for its history. Although the paper shows no sign of wear or damage, I can't be sure that someone else didn't store it in a way that might have exposed the paper to something that would cause it to become more acidic. I am particularly suspicious because the "acidic" sheet carries a "clearance" price tag (perhaps meaning that the paper sat on a store shelf for several years), while the "acid-free" sheet does not.

I am awaiting a response from Amscan Inc.

Failure #2

I went back to check the Scrapbook.com web site, and found no actual claim that the "Nature's Handmade Paper" was actually acid-free. (I then tried an old reporter's trick: I called the company's customer service phone line, and asked if this particular paper was acid-free. The "customer service" person checked with someone else and then assured me that yes, the paper was acid-free and lignin-free. When I then disclosed that I'd tested the paper and found that it was acidic, she took a message and promised someone would call me back.)

I had strongly suspected that any "handmade paper" was quite likely to be acidic, and I also feel that any company selling scrapbooking supplies exclusively should certainly make a clear disclosure that the item is not acid-free, and staff should be trained to never tell customers that an item is acid-free unless that's true. This was a disappointment; I am waiting to hear how the company explains this.

Follow-up: On July 21, Scrapbook.com forwarded me an email from Nature's Handmade Paper, in which NHP wrote: "Our India paper is acid free except for the Alpine and the Winter Floral." Later, NHP said it would investigate (see my July 25 column).

Failure #3 ??

The result was the same even after I "distressed" the paper, rubbing off the top layers with the edge of a pair of scissors.

I also tested several sheets of regular preprinted scrapbook paper from Creative Memories, all of which tested as "acid-free."

This "failure," like the first one, just leaves me baffled. I am waiting for a response from Creative Memories.

Once again, here are the five pens I used (in alphabetic order, which is the same order I marked pages):

• Abbey pH Pen - purchased from Demco, $5.09 plus s&h
• American Crafts pH Tester Scrapbooking Utility Pen - purchased from a seller on eBay, $2.39 plus $1.25 s&h ($3.64 total)
• Light Impressions pH Test Pen from Light Impressions, $4.95 plus $6.95 s&h ($11.90 total)
• Lineco pH Testing Pen - purchased from Paper Mojo , $7.00 plus $7.25 FedEx s&h ($14.25 total)
• Lithco pH Paper pH Test Pen - purchased from Bosworth Papers, $10.85 plus $4.25 s&h ($16.00 total)

These entries (reviews, critiques, commentaries) are written by Mark J. Welch, and reflect his personal opinions. They are not the opinions of this site's advertisers and sponsors, who are not responsible for this content.