Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
My mother-in-law over in Australia has been saving stamps for me. She is a lovely lady. She recently sent me over a bunch of them and I have been wondering what to do with them. I haven't tried soaking current day Australian stamps yet. Does anyone know if soaping will destroy them, like the current US stamps that someone was writing about recently.
Regards ... Tim.
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Hi Tim - soaking the recent Australian self-adhesive stamps will not destroy them but they are difficult to remove from paper.
I have almost mastered soaking these stubborn self-adhesives that want to stay firmly affixed to the paper. (excluding USA stamps that I now leave affixed to paper)
Use fairly hot water and leave undisturbed for about 15 minutes. Do not try to lift from the paper until the paper can be peeled away without any problem. You will probably damaged quite a few before you master the art of soaking these stamps.
Here's step-by-step instructions on soaking Australian stamps.
http://www.stamparena.com/kidszone/washing_stamps/index.php
Liz
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Tim,
You will like this slide show guide on how to soak off Australian self-adhesive stamps:
http://www.stamparena.com/kidszone/washing_stamps/washing_2/washing_stamps_2.php
One other problem with these recent Australian stamps is that the inkjet spray cancels appear to wash off easily. The guide recommends cold water. I have not tried that. Maybe that helps preserving the postmarks.
Arno
Edit: Liz and I should be entering a competition in simultaneous posting of messages. Nevertheless: Slide 2 says cold water and wait for 45 minutes. I have not tried either method. maybe Liz can say what is preferable.
(Message edited by rhinelander on December 11, 2008)
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Liz and Arno,
Thanks very much for the input. I'll give that a try.
Regards ... Tim.
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I don't know if the Australian stamps are the same as the U.S., but I have had remarkable luck using lighter fluid (naphtha)to remove self adhesives from envelopes. Face up I dribble a little fluid around the stamp, wait a few minutes and then pick part of the stamp up. Now I follow the pick up while dribbling fluid at the adhesive as I go. When removed you can use more fluid on a clean cloth to remove the remnants of adhesive. If it is still sticky, use a little corn starch. I have also noted no discoloration or damage to the stamps.
May want to try this one.
Bob
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An interesting thought Bob. I think my wife would kill me though if I started using lighter fluid in this way in our apartment.
Regards ... Tim.
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Tim,
This actually sounds worse than it is. I know quite a few stamp collectors who have used lighter fluid for years instead of watermarking fluid. My first use started over 30 years ago when I ran out of watermarking fluid. I tried a lot of strange stuff until I hit upon it. It worked so well, I never bought the watermarking stuff again.
Posted for what it's worth.
Regards,
Bob
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IÕve used naptha for years. I expect that it is dangerous Ñ seems to me IÕve read that itÕs a carcinogen, but what isnÕt? ItÕs probably more dangerous just to walk down city sidewalks inhaling second-hand cigarette smoke. I always use it in the kitchen or bathroom with the exhaust fan on.
Funny Ñ and true Ñ story (told here before): I once visited a stamp shop and was chatting with the owner, who was using lighter fluid to check watermarks. He thought he had a very valuable Canada Large Queen, but when the watermark proved it to be a common stamp, in irritation he held it in his tongs and torched it with his Bick. It was still damp with the lighter fluid, and it burned rather quickly! He was a strange man, but generous, and taught me a lot about stamps.
Bob
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Hi all,
just had a few minutes to myself after working my night-shift (my wife being in New York with her sisters for a couple of weeks) and thought I would tackle a few of the Australian self-adhesives that have built up, after soaking in coldish water for about 10-15 minutes all the 60c values came off very easily 
but the 55c and under values are still very problematic and need very careful handling 
. I guess Australia have improved the gum at about the same time as increasing the postal rates.
martyn
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I agree with Bob, but you still have to determine if the stamps are gummed or self-adhesive. Gummed, use water, Self-adhesive, use lighter fluid. I have done 1000's and have it down to a science. The self-adhesives are certainly gooey, but with a little technique and practice they are a snap. Happy squirting !!!
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Have you tried that "Pure Citrus" product?
Here's a link... not sure if you can find it, but people say it works great. And with the citrus smell, your wife will think you dusted the apartment instead of working on your stamps all day!
http://www.afcinternational.com.au/pc_orange207ml2.html
(Modified by Moderator on 2013-06-21 08:01:47)
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can only get the pure citrus on the internet from USA and the postage ends up more than the product, but I have soaked about 200 Australian self-adhesives so far and only 4 have damage (2 of which I think were already damaged)so am quite pleased with the results in cold water.
I used to use lighter fuel all the time for watermarks but now can't see it in any of the shops around here.
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Hi Everyone,
My mother-in-law over in Australia has been saving stamps for me. She is a lovely lady. She recently sent me over a bunch of them and I have been wondering what to do with them. I haven't tried soaking current day Australian stamps yet. Does anyone know if soaping will destroy them, like the current US stamps that someone was writing about recently.
Regards ... Tim.
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this post
10:21:19pm
Auctions - Approvals
re: how to soak off Australian self-adhesive stamps
Hi Tim - soaking the recent Australian self-adhesive stamps will not destroy them but they are difficult to remove from paper.
I have almost mastered soaking these stubborn self-adhesives that want to stay firmly affixed to the paper. (excluding USA stamps that I now leave affixed to paper)
Use fairly hot water and leave undisturbed for about 15 minutes. Do not try to lift from the paper until the paper can be peeled away without any problem. You will probably damaged quite a few before you master the art of soaking these stamps.
Here's step-by-step instructions on soaking Australian stamps.
http://www.stamparena.com/kidszone/washing_stamps/index.php
Liz
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re: how to soak off Australian self-adhesive stamps
Tim,
You will like this slide show guide on how to soak off Australian self-adhesive stamps:
http://www.stamparena.com/kidszone/washing_stamps/washing_2/washing_stamps_2.php
One other problem with these recent Australian stamps is that the inkjet spray cancels appear to wash off easily. The guide recommends cold water. I have not tried that. Maybe that helps preserving the postmarks.
Arno
Edit: Liz and I should be entering a competition in simultaneous posting of messages. Nevertheless: Slide 2 says cold water and wait for 45 minutes. I have not tried either method. maybe Liz can say what is preferable.
(Message edited by rhinelander on December 11, 2008)
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Auctions - Approvals
re: how to soak off Australian self-adhesive stamps
Liz and Arno,
Thanks very much for the input. I'll give that a try.
Regards ... Tim.
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this post
03:28:48pm
re: how to soak off Australian self-adhesive stamps
I don't know if the Australian stamps are the same as the U.S., but I have had remarkable luck using lighter fluid (naphtha)to remove self adhesives from envelopes. Face up I dribble a little fluid around the stamp, wait a few minutes and then pick part of the stamp up. Now I follow the pick up while dribbling fluid at the adhesive as I go. When removed you can use more fluid on a clean cloth to remove the remnants of adhesive. If it is still sticky, use a little corn starch. I have also noted no discoloration or damage to the stamps.
May want to try this one.
Bob
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Auctions - Approvals
re: how to soak off Australian self-adhesive stamps
An interesting thought Bob. I think my wife would kill me though if I started using lighter fluid in this way in our apartment.
Regards ... Tim.
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this post
03:55:50pm
re: how to soak off Australian self-adhesive stamps
Tim,
This actually sounds worse than it is. I know quite a few stamp collectors who have used lighter fluid for years instead of watermarking fluid. My first use started over 30 years ago when I ran out of watermarking fluid. I tried a lot of strange stuff until I hit upon it. It worked so well, I never bought the watermarking stuff again.
Posted for what it's worth.
Regards,
Bob
Login to Like
this post
re: how to soak off Australian self-adhesive stamps
IÕve used naptha for years. I expect that it is dangerous Ñ seems to me IÕve read that itÕs a carcinogen, but what isnÕt? ItÕs probably more dangerous just to walk down city sidewalks inhaling second-hand cigarette smoke. I always use it in the kitchen or bathroom with the exhaust fan on.
Funny Ñ and true Ñ story (told here before): I once visited a stamp shop and was chatting with the owner, who was using lighter fluid to check watermarks. He thought he had a very valuable Canada Large Queen, but when the watermark proved it to be a common stamp, in irritation he held it in his tongs and torched it with his Bick. It was still damp with the lighter fluid, and it burned rather quickly! He was a strange man, but generous, and taught me a lot about stamps.
Bob
Login to Like
this post
re: how to soak off Australian self-adhesive stamps
Hi all,
just had a few minutes to myself after working my night-shift (my wife being in New York with her sisters for a couple of weeks) and thought I would tackle a few of the Australian self-adhesives that have built up, after soaking in coldish water for about 10-15 minutes all the 60c values came off very easily but the 55c and under values are still very problematic and need very careful handling . I guess Australia have improved the gum at about the same time as increasing the postal rates.
martyn
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this post
re: how to soak off Australian self-adhesive stamps
I agree with Bob, but you still have to determine if the stamps are gummed or self-adhesive. Gummed, use water, Self-adhesive, use lighter fluid. I have done 1000's and have it down to a science. The self-adhesives are certainly gooey, but with a little technique and practice they are a snap. Happy squirting !!!
Login to Like
this post
re: how to soak off Australian self-adhesive stamps
Have you tried that "Pure Citrus" product?
Here's a link... not sure if you can find it, but people say it works great. And with the citrus smell, your wife will think you dusted the apartment instead of working on your stamps all day!
http://www.afcinternational.com.au/pc_orange207ml2.html
(Modified by Moderator on 2013-06-21 08:01:47)
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re: how to soak off Australian self-adhesive stamps
can only get the pure citrus on the internet from USA and the postage ends up more than the product, but I have soaked about 200 Australian self-adhesives so far and only 4 have damage (2 of which I think were already damaged)so am quite pleased with the results in cold water.
I used to use lighter fuel all the time for watermarks but now can't see it in any of the shops around here.
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