JWR-
Never mind the high tech paper that is bound to help increase a corporations quarterly profit margin and deplete your limited prepping budget…. Here is my input. Tyvek used to make various sized mailing envelopes and has replaced the old tan manila envelopes in many cases will work as a waterproof paper. Granted you might need to use a sharpie or other permanent ink pen, but you can get these Tyvek’s free of charge or close to it in many cases…If the outside of the envelope contains printing of some kind, turn it inside out and cut the paper to fit your needs.
Also if you want to make a poster or make something to be seen by an airplane, then get a roll of House Wrap used to insulate houses and structures from air infiltration at Home Depot etc. This could be cut down to smaller sizes as well. Once you have a roll you can actually make clothing or find other uses as it strikes your creative fancy.
Tyvek also has a wide variety of uses among them disposable painters coveralls and the such. Tyvek is commonly known by the fact that it can be made from recycled plastics like milk jugs.
In the broadcasting business its common to take a thick plastic page protector and insert a piece of cardboard inside to give it rigidity. Then we use a grease pencil to mark on the outside surface. Most commonly we use this for weather forecasts and current temp conditions. This technique might also work for maps and the like. In a case like this map segments could be laminated ahead of time and a grease pencil could be used to mark locations and routes. Any adaptation of this might be useable to the Prepper on a budget.
I am going to include on a separate email the Wikipedia page for you to possibility use….. as a link for those so motivated to learn more.
Take Care, – R.B.S.
Dear JWR:
Writer PNG observed in: Letter Re: Durable Paper For Printing Maps and Crucial Documents that the printer paper he had been using has been discontinued by his supplier.
My own choice for cartographic and similar uses is Mylar drafting film, usable as a “tracing paper” for map overlays, and perhaps suitable for use with at least some printers. My supplier for this and other surveying supplies is Ohio-based DraftingSteals.com:
DraftingSteals.com
PO Box 613
Springfield, OH 45501
Toll Free Order Line: 877-268-4427
E-mail: info@draftingsteals.com
Here is a link is to their catalog/price list page for 7-mil mylar, probably the most durable and suitable thickness for cartographic work, but their offerings are far more comprehensive than that. – George S.
Jim:
Regarding tough paper the company I work for, PPG Industries makes a product called Teslin. It is currently used in US passports, security IDs and thousands of other paper applications. National Geographic sells Teslin “paper” in their online store. When you print anything on it: maps, lists, etc they are then waterproof and durable (after the ink dries). I use it for all of my map printing. Sincerely, – R.K.M.