#3 vs. #2 gloss stock - what are the definitions or specification limits?

[BillO]

What is the specification or definition of what is categorized as a #3 gloss stock compared with a #2 gloss stock compared with a #1 gloss stock?

 

[FSA]

#3 has more fill (clay) and less fiber (pulp) and a pouruse surface with the least amount of dyes (whitening agent)
#1 has more fiber and less fill, smooth surface on both side more dyes to make the 95-97 brightness (very white)

hope that helps

FSA

 

[BillO]

Thanks very much FSA.

One thing I'm still unclear about -- is there an exact line between the worst #2 stock and the best #3 stock? Are there hard specs for what qualifies as a #1 rather than a #2 stock or are the #1, #2, #3 "soft" categorizations that people use somewhat loosely?

 

[FSA]

The paper reps I talked to about this said there is no hard line between 1-2-3, they are numbers put to stock by the mill, therfore they can make-up what they want, when they are trying to sell you paper, sorry if I come across anything more solid I'll pass it on.

 

[BillO]

Thank you very much FSA. I got different definitions from different sales people I talked with (one said it was only whiteness, while others said it referred to other properties like smoothness too), some quite broad and others more specific. I'll use the #1, #2, #3 as a guide and ask for specifics or samples when needed. Thanks very much for your time.