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General Philatelic/Gen. Discussion : Checking watermarks without expensive/hard-to-get "watermark fluid"

 

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lemaven
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14 Dec 2015
01:42:01pm
Any suggestions on other liquids that could be used? Prefer common household stuff if possible - the rare stamp store near me is almost impossible to get to when I'm free.

Toxicity is NOT an issue - I really really hate my wife's cat!

Cheers, Dave.
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usrevenues
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14 Dec 2015
02:11:00pm
re: Checking watermarks without expensive/hard-to-get "watermark fluid"

Ronsonol lighter fluid.

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In loving memory of Carol, my wife for 52 years.

14 Dec 2015
03:03:38pm

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re: Checking watermarks without expensive/hard-to-get "watermark fluid"

I use Ronsonol as well.

I used to use carbon tet but it is no longer available. Used it to clean slot car tires as well ....... great stuff.

You can also use rubbing alcohol ....

Keep in mind that any of these can possibly cause damage to stamps, although over the course of 60 years and tens of thousands of stamps checked I have never personally experienced any damage.

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tooler
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14 Dec 2015
05:32:35pm
re: Checking watermarks without expensive/hard-to-get "watermark fluid"

Have always used Ronsonol Lighter Fuel. Get from your local drug store or super market.

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michael78651

15 Dec 2015
12:21:00am
re: Checking watermarks without expensive/hard-to-get "watermark fluid"

Carbon tetrachloride is a well-known carcinogen.

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In loving memory of Carol, my wife for 52 years.

15 Dec 2015
06:15:20am

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re: Checking watermarks without expensive/hard-to-get "watermark fluid"

"Carbon tetrachloride is a well-known carcinogen."

Which is why it is no longer available. But it was used by many for decades to watermark stamps, to remove stains and to remove yuck that no other cleaners available at the time could touch. We probably went through a bottle a month back in the 50's - there is nothing comparable in today's marketplace (or I have a poor memory - it's possible).

It was used by dry cleaners, for refrigeration and extensively used in fire extinguishers (Halon-104 is carbon tet).

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cdj1122
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Silence in the face of adversity is the father of complicity and collusion, the first cousins of conspiracy..

15 Dec 2015
06:22:13am
re: Checking watermarks without expensive/hard-to-get "watermark fluid"

Isoprophl Rubbing Alcohol available at almost any drug store.
I've been using it for Watermarks for fifty years and recently to unstick the unstickable. Most of the self-adhesives respond quite well to a short soak.

Image Not Found
Walgreens Isopropyl Alcohol 70% (32 fl oz)31191712265

32 fl oz $3.39
I am pretty sure I bought an identical bottle, but for the Walgreen Label, the same size, strength, and volume at Walmart or about $2.50 or so about a month ago. I have last years empty Chloraseptic bottle, rescued from the trash and cleaned out with its handy spray head that I use to apply to the stamps.

Image Not Found

Why anyone would use lighter fluid, which I believe is somewhat more flammable and definitely more than triple the cost, is a puzzlement e.g. Zippo lighter fluid 12oz $6.00

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".... You may think you understood what you thought I said, but I'm not sure you realize that what you think you heard is not what I thought I meant. .... "
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In loving memory of Carol, my wife for 52 years.

15 Dec 2015
09:20:46am

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re: Checking watermarks without expensive/hard-to-get "watermark fluid"

Rubbing alcohol is certainly flammable and can also cause liver and kidney damage. It is between 70 and 90 per cent pure isopropyl alcohol. That doesn't make it a bad choice but we should remember that whatever we use there are going to be risks. If there are no risks known wait a few years. Those of us old enough to remember when Thalidomide was the drug of choice for morning sickness remember.

http://nj.gov/health/eoh/rtkweb/documents/fs/1076.pdf

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cdj1122
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Silence in the face of adversity is the father of complicity and collusion, the first cousins of conspiracy..

15 Dec 2015
12:32:29pm
re: Checking watermarks without expensive/hard-to-get "watermark fluid"

I can easily agree that Isopropyl has its drawbacks, but I hope you are not implying that it is more dangerous than lighter fluid ?

Use of either in a well ventilated area goes without saying, although I suppose it should be said anyway.

Use of either in a well ventilated area is strongly advised !


Four pages of love notes

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".... You may think you understood what you thought I said, but I'm not sure you realize that what you think you heard is not what I thought I meant. .... "
Webpaper

In loving memory of Carol, my wife for 52 years.

15 Dec 2015
04:49:30pm

Auctions - Approvals
re: Checking watermarks without expensive/hard-to-get "watermark fluid"

"I hope you are not implying that it is more dangerous than lighter fluid ?"

No such implication was intended - I was trying to point out that any type of solvent can be dangerous under the right (or wrong) conditions, and that even those considered "safe" by today's standards may someday be found to be unsafe.

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lemaven

14 Dec 2015
01:42:01pm

Any suggestions on other liquids that could be used? Prefer common household stuff if possible - the rare stamp store near me is almost impossible to get to when I'm free.

Toxicity is NOT an issue - I really really hate my wife's cat!

Cheers, Dave.

Like
Login to Like
this post
Members Picture
usrevenues

14 Dec 2015
02:11:00pm

re: Checking watermarks without expensive/hard-to-get "watermark fluid"

Ronsonol lighter fluid.

Like
Login to Like
this post

www.revenue-collecto ...
Webpaper

In loving memory of Carol, my wife for 52 years.

14 Dec 2015
03:03:38pm

Auctions - Approvals

re: Checking watermarks without expensive/hard-to-get "watermark fluid"

I use Ronsonol as well.

I used to use carbon tet but it is no longer available. Used it to clean slot car tires as well ....... great stuff.

You can also use rubbing alcohol ....

Keep in mind that any of these can possibly cause damage to stamps, although over the course of 60 years and tens of thousands of stamps checked I have never personally experienced any damage.

Like
Login to Like
this post

www.hipstamp.com/sto ...
Members Picture
tooler

14 Dec 2015
05:32:35pm

re: Checking watermarks without expensive/hard-to-get "watermark fluid"

Have always used Ronsonol Lighter Fuel. Get from your local drug store or super market.

Like
Login to Like
this post
michael78651

15 Dec 2015
12:21:00am

re: Checking watermarks without expensive/hard-to-get "watermark fluid"

Carbon tetrachloride is a well-known carcinogen.

Like
Login to Like
this post
Webpaper

In loving memory of Carol, my wife for 52 years.

15 Dec 2015
06:15:20am

Auctions - Approvals

re: Checking watermarks without expensive/hard-to-get "watermark fluid"

"Carbon tetrachloride is a well-known carcinogen."

Which is why it is no longer available. But it was used by many for decades to watermark stamps, to remove stains and to remove yuck that no other cleaners available at the time could touch. We probably went through a bottle a month back in the 50's - there is nothing comparable in today's marketplace (or I have a poor memory - it's possible).

It was used by dry cleaners, for refrigeration and extensively used in fire extinguishers (Halon-104 is carbon tet).

Like
Login to Like
this post

www.hipstamp.com/sto ...

Silence in the face of adversity is the father of complicity and collusion, the first cousins of conspiracy..
15 Dec 2015
06:22:13am

re: Checking watermarks without expensive/hard-to-get "watermark fluid"

Isoprophl Rubbing Alcohol available at almost any drug store.
I've been using it for Watermarks for fifty years and recently to unstick the unstickable. Most of the self-adhesives respond quite well to a short soak.

Image Not Found
Walgreens Isopropyl Alcohol 70% (32 fl oz)31191712265

32 fl oz $3.39
I am pretty sure I bought an identical bottle, but for the Walgreen Label, the same size, strength, and volume at Walmart or about $2.50 or so about a month ago. I have last years empty Chloraseptic bottle, rescued from the trash and cleaned out with its handy spray head that I use to apply to the stamps.

Image Not Found

Why anyone would use lighter fluid, which I believe is somewhat more flammable and definitely more than triple the cost, is a puzzlement e.g. Zippo lighter fluid 12oz $6.00

Like
Login to Like
this post

".... You may think you understood what you thought I said, but I'm not sure you realize that what you think you heard is not what I thought I meant. .... "
Webpaper

In loving memory of Carol, my wife for 52 years.

15 Dec 2015
09:20:46am

Auctions - Approvals

re: Checking watermarks without expensive/hard-to-get "watermark fluid"

Rubbing alcohol is certainly flammable and can also cause liver and kidney damage. It is between 70 and 90 per cent pure isopropyl alcohol. That doesn't make it a bad choice but we should remember that whatever we use there are going to be risks. If there are no risks known wait a few years. Those of us old enough to remember when Thalidomide was the drug of choice for morning sickness remember.

http://nj.gov/health/eoh/rtkweb/documents/fs/1076.pdf

Like
Login to Like
this post

www.hipstamp.com/sto ...

Silence in the face of adversity is the father of complicity and collusion, the first cousins of conspiracy..
15 Dec 2015
12:32:29pm

re: Checking watermarks without expensive/hard-to-get "watermark fluid"

I can easily agree that Isopropyl has its drawbacks, but I hope you are not implying that it is more dangerous than lighter fluid ?

Use of either in a well ventilated area goes without saying, although I suppose it should be said anyway.

Use of either in a well ventilated area is strongly advised !


Four pages of love notes

Like
Login to Like
this post

".... You may think you understood what you thought I said, but I'm not sure you realize that what you think you heard is not what I thought I meant. .... "
Webpaper

In loving memory of Carol, my wife for 52 years.

15 Dec 2015
04:49:30pm

Auctions - Approvals

re: Checking watermarks without expensive/hard-to-get "watermark fluid"

"I hope you are not implying that it is more dangerous than lighter fluid ?"

No such implication was intended - I was trying to point out that any type of solvent can be dangerous under the right (or wrong) conditions, and that even those considered "safe" by today's standards may someday be found to be unsafe.

Like
Login to Like
this post

www.hipstamp.com/sto ...
        

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