My favorite paper for taking notes is no longer available in the US in pads. It is available as loose leaf pages, however. I built a padding press to make my own from loose leaf pages so I can leave my writing workflow undisturbed. I'll update this project with pictures, measurements and a BOM soon. For now, a textual description of my press and process: ### The Press #### Panels I had an 8x12 sheet of 3/4" bamboo that I purchased as a sample some time in the past. I used this as the base of the press. I used a scrap of 3/4" MDF as the top. #### Hardware I had a box of 3/8" x 6" hex head bolts and wing nuts from a book press I made a few years back. I probably had a few 3/8" washers from that project, but I couldn't find them in a hurry. I printed some out of PLA which I will replace with Nylon eventually. #### Construction I recessed the head of the bolts 1/4" into the bamboo so I could set the base flat on a work surface. I used a 5/8" forstner bit to make the recess. It was slightly smaller than the head of the bolts. I hammered the nut flush so they wouldn't spin as I tightened the wing nuts. ### The Process To make a pad, I place a [book board](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D37VCCDK) in the press and lay 25-50 sheets of paper on top of it. I set it flush with the edge of the press by tapping them on the work surface. After clamping the stack of pads, I apply a thin coat of [padding compound](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07NBPKL82) with a foam brush. After an hour, the compound is dry and I remove the pads from the press with a [pad knife](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0941YRQYK). ![[Discussions]]