A sweatbox can be used to separate stuck together stamps. Some or all the gum may be preserved through this method, but it will be very "disturbed." For a discussion of sweatboxes, see http://stamporama.com/discboard/disc_main.php?action=20&id=4405 the later posts even have instructions for building your own.
Subway sells a gadget called StampLift, it's shown on their website
Subwaystamp.com
Click here , Stmplift
That's what Stamplift is - a store-bought sweatbox.
You can easily make your own like I did with a small tupperware (or similar) container with a lid and a square sponge.
Most households already have these items, so no need to buy anything.
Randy
PRINZ UHU hinge remover ... I can attest works on mint stamps - preserving gum.
place face down on wax paper or acetate sheets to dry.
for adhesives stuck - heptane works ... (rubber cement thinner) in art supplies
I made a sweat box in a few minutes using a piece of plastic screen stapled to short pieces of wood which hold it above saturated washcloths in a small plastic box.
Unfortunately it didn't, work. The stamp blocks are stuck in a mess about 1/4 inch thick.
The box would probably work with a stamp stuck on an album page or to remove a hinge.
Thank you for your help.
LarryG
Follow up on unsticking stuck stamps.
I tried a sweat box. I suspect that it would work for one or two stamps or blocks. After a few days the stamps were still stuck solidly. I had tried the freezer,but nothing.
I ended by soaking them and now have beautiful, gum free blocks, pairs and singles.
Thanks to all of you for suggestions.
LarryG
To check for watermarks I soak in cigarette lighter fluid. It will unstick stamps and leave the gum intact as well, dry's out quick evaporating, so no drying book needed
Fred
It occurs to me that, if stamps are stuck to other stamps, a sweat box will let you pull off one set of stamps but will leave WAG (Water Activated Gum) residue on the face of the other set of stamps ... whereas soaking will clear the gum off of the face of those stamps.
I appreciate that preserving gum on the backs of stamps is a big deal to some folks, but why isn't it just as big a deal to remove stray gum from the faces of stamps?
Cheers,
/s/ ikeyPikey
I recently acquired a hoard of stamps and included was a "clump" of high value blocks. Is there any method other than soaking to separate these?
Thank you
LarryG
re: Stuck Stamps
A sweatbox can be used to separate stuck together stamps. Some or all the gum may be preserved through this method, but it will be very "disturbed." For a discussion of sweatboxes, see http://stamporama.com/discboard/disc_main.php?action=20&id=4405 the later posts even have instructions for building your own.
re: Stuck Stamps
Subway sells a gadget called StampLift, it's shown on their website
Subwaystamp.com
re: Stuck Stamps
Click here , Stmplift
re: Stuck Stamps
That's what Stamplift is - a store-bought sweatbox.
You can easily make your own like I did with a small tupperware (or similar) container with a lid and a square sponge.
Most households already have these items, so no need to buy anything.
Randy
re: Stuck Stamps
PRINZ UHU hinge remover ... I can attest works on mint stamps - preserving gum.
place face down on wax paper or acetate sheets to dry.
for adhesives stuck - heptane works ... (rubber cement thinner) in art supplies
re: Stuck Stamps
I made a sweat box in a few minutes using a piece of plastic screen stapled to short pieces of wood which hold it above saturated washcloths in a small plastic box.
Unfortunately it didn't, work. The stamp blocks are stuck in a mess about 1/4 inch thick.
The box would probably work with a stamp stuck on an album page or to remove a hinge.
Thank you for your help.
LarryG
re: Stuck Stamps
Follow up on unsticking stuck stamps.
I tried a sweat box. I suspect that it would work for one or two stamps or blocks. After a few days the stamps were still stuck solidly. I had tried the freezer,but nothing.
I ended by soaking them and now have beautiful, gum free blocks, pairs and singles.
Thanks to all of you for suggestions.
LarryG
re: Stuck Stamps
To check for watermarks I soak in cigarette lighter fluid. It will unstick stamps and leave the gum intact as well, dry's out quick evaporating, so no drying book needed
Fred
re: Stuck Stamps
It occurs to me that, if stamps are stuck to other stamps, a sweat box will let you pull off one set of stamps but will leave WAG (Water Activated Gum) residue on the face of the other set of stamps ... whereas soaking will clear the gum off of the face of those stamps.
I appreciate that preserving gum on the backs of stamps is a big deal to some folks, but why isn't it just as big a deal to remove stray gum from the faces of stamps?
Cheers,
/s/ ikeyPikey