Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
On some pre-1930s MH stamps especially, I have found very heavy hinge remnants that in some cases seem to cause slight paper bends. Is there a good way to get these off without causing further gum disturbances.
My first thought is a wet q-tip applied judiciously but I haven't tried anything yet (other than manual attempts at puling on a loose corner, to no great success).
All these things I'm finding as I start to actually get some of my Germany stamps on album pages!!!
Thanks, Dave.
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Again, this works SOME of the time:
Using the blunt end of tongs (bent spades work as well), gently apply pressure and burnish the hinge - start on a corner or edge. For some adhesives, this will cause the adhesive to warm up and release the hinge. Lift gently until you encounter resistance, then burnish again. You'll want glassine between the hinge and the tongs.
This works much more frequently with a used stamp, but I have had sporadic success with gummed. If it won't lift on the first attempt, it's not going to go at all. Don't force it.
-Darryl
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I have used the Q-tip method with some success for very stubborn multi-layer hinge remnants. I use saliva which allows for fine control of the amount of moisture, but you might find that gross.
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I use the cotton swab method. I use that "Super Safe Stamp Lift" fluid, but basically, a very heavily diluted mixture of clean water and a mild dish detergent would effectively be equivalent. I would apply, let it soak in, then perhaps reapply if the hinge doesn't peel off readily.
Sometimes you end up locally weakening the stamp when it gets wet making it highly prone to tearing, so take great care.
Also, after successfully removing the hinge, the stamp tends to warp something fierce unless you managed to keep it pretty dry. You may want to have some wax paper or other non-stick substrate ready and let it dry/flatten between pages in a book or something.
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Thanks, will try a couple things and report back.
One question for doomboy before I do something that will turn me into dumbboy: what exactly do you mean by burnish in this context?
Thanks, Dave.
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My guess is to rub with pressure with a flat spade so as to heat with friction and smooth out the surface to create a strain gradient across the thickness of the hinge.
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"...to rub with pressure ... so as to heat with friction and smooth out the surface to create a strain gradient across the thickness of the hinge."
See above. A term I learned from my artistically-oriented-turned-gainfully-employed-architectural-technologist-eldest-son.
-Darryl
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Here's one of several videos on the subject. Around 2:03 the burnishing starts.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdwye72HNDo
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I use a cotton bud dipped in Shellite to remove hinges from mint stamps ,I also use it to get S/A stamps off paper 10 second soak and they just peal off ,only thing is the adhesive has to be removed from the stamp.Great for stamps that have not been cancelled !!!.
Brian
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For us Americans and Canadians, Shellite would translate to lighter fluid.
Randy
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Tried the q-tip & dishwater...worked fine to remove most but not all of the hinge.
Couldn't get the burnishing to work, undoubtedly my rubbing technique...
Will try lighter fluid and report back.
Dave.
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One of the local "stamp doctors" used an eyedropper and a razor blade or scalpel and a soft bristle brush. His work was so good that sometimes you would swear they were never hinged
He wasn't cheap but it was worthwhile on the expensive stuff.
For my personal collection I prefer to soak the gum off - even on the expensive stuff
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After all that I think I'm just going to go with Webpaper's idea. And tying this into my 102 Card Thread...
I'm just going to soak the entire heavy hinge off the stamps (or the stamps off the cards). Where they are (Stuck) "MNH" or Free "MH" they will now be "MNG". I'll just keep them in my own album (where they will look nice and clean) and I can use hinges rather than expensive mounts. Plus I will save lots of time and the agony of wrecking any more stamps (5 have given their bodies to scientific research).
For Used it's no issue anyway.
Thanks for all the feedback and ideas.
Dave.
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Is "Shellite" a trade name? Is Shell big down under?
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Ernie:
I think Shellite is what the Ozzie's drink with their Vegemite Sandwiches.
Probably explains some things about those lads...
Dave.
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iF IT IS AS SIMPLE AS REMOVING AN OLD HINGE THEN THERE IS NOTHING BETTER THAN THE SWEAT BOX METHOD, IT WILL NOT REMOVE GUM AND IS VERY EASY TO USE ITS A LITTLE GREEN BOX.RICH
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As my stuck 102's cool off in the freezer I've come across another issue.
On some pre-1930s MH stamps especially, I have found very heavy hinge remnants that in some cases seem to cause slight paper bends. Is there a good way to get these off without causing further gum disturbances.
My first thought is a wet q-tip applied judiciously but I haven't tried anything yet (other than manual attempts at puling on a loose corner, to no great success).
All these things I'm finding as I start to actually get some of my Germany stamps on album pages!!!
Thanks, Dave.
Login to Like
this post
re: UPDATED - Another Technical Question: Heavy Hinge Remnants...
Again, this works SOME of the time:
Using the blunt end of tongs (bent spades work as well), gently apply pressure and burnish the hinge - start on a corner or edge. For some adhesives, this will cause the adhesive to warm up and release the hinge. Lift gently until you encounter resistance, then burnish again. You'll want glassine between the hinge and the tongs.
This works much more frequently with a used stamp, but I have had sporadic success with gummed. If it won't lift on the first attempt, it's not going to go at all. Don't force it.
-Darryl
Login to Like
this post
re: UPDATED - Another Technical Question: Heavy Hinge Remnants...
I have used the Q-tip method with some success for very stubborn multi-layer hinge remnants. I use saliva which allows for fine control of the amount of moisture, but you might find that gross.
1 Member
likes this post.
Login to Like.
re: UPDATED - Another Technical Question: Heavy Hinge Remnants...
I use the cotton swab method. I use that "Super Safe Stamp Lift" fluid, but basically, a very heavily diluted mixture of clean water and a mild dish detergent would effectively be equivalent. I would apply, let it soak in, then perhaps reapply if the hinge doesn't peel off readily.
Sometimes you end up locally weakening the stamp when it gets wet making it highly prone to tearing, so take great care.
Also, after successfully removing the hinge, the stamp tends to warp something fierce unless you managed to keep it pretty dry. You may want to have some wax paper or other non-stick substrate ready and let it dry/flatten between pages in a book or something.
Login to Like
this post
re: UPDATED - Another Technical Question: Heavy Hinge Remnants...
Thanks, will try a couple things and report back.
One question for doomboy before I do something that will turn me into dumbboy: what exactly do you mean by burnish in this context?
Thanks, Dave.
Login to Like
this post
re: UPDATED - Another Technical Question: Heavy Hinge Remnants...
My guess is to rub with pressure with a flat spade so as to heat with friction and smooth out the surface to create a strain gradient across the thickness of the hinge.
Login to Like
this post
re: UPDATED - Another Technical Question: Heavy Hinge Remnants...
"...to rub with pressure ... so as to heat with friction and smooth out the surface to create a strain gradient across the thickness of the hinge."
See above. A term I learned from my artistically-oriented-turned-gainfully-employed-architectural-technologist-eldest-son.
-Darryl
Login to Like
this post
re: UPDATED - Another Technical Question: Heavy Hinge Remnants...
Here's one of several videos on the subject. Around 2:03 the burnishing starts.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdwye72HNDo
Login to Like
this post
Auctions
re: UPDATED - Another Technical Question: Heavy Hinge Remnants...
I use a cotton bud dipped in Shellite to remove hinges from mint stamps ,I also use it to get S/A stamps off paper 10 second soak and they just peal off ,only thing is the adhesive has to be removed from the stamp.Great for stamps that have not been cancelled !!!.
Brian
Login to Like
this post
re: UPDATED - Another Technical Question: Heavy Hinge Remnants...
For us Americans and Canadians, Shellite would translate to lighter fluid.
Randy
1 Member
likes this post.
Login to Like.
re: UPDATED - Another Technical Question: Heavy Hinge Remnants...
Tried the q-tip & dishwater...worked fine to remove most but not all of the hinge.
Couldn't get the burnishing to work, undoubtedly my rubbing technique...
Will try lighter fluid and report back.
Dave.
Login to Like
this post
02:44:14pm
Auctions - Approvals
re: UPDATED - Another Technical Question: Heavy Hinge Remnants...
One of the local "stamp doctors" used an eyedropper and a razor blade or scalpel and a soft bristle brush. His work was so good that sometimes you would swear they were never hinged
He wasn't cheap but it was worthwhile on the expensive stuff.
For my personal collection I prefer to soak the gum off - even on the expensive stuff
Login to Like
this post
re: UPDATED - Another Technical Question: Heavy Hinge Remnants...
After all that I think I'm just going to go with Webpaper's idea. And tying this into my 102 Card Thread...
I'm just going to soak the entire heavy hinge off the stamps (or the stamps off the cards). Where they are (Stuck) "MNH" or Free "MH" they will now be "MNG". I'll just keep them in my own album (where they will look nice and clean) and I can use hinges rather than expensive mounts. Plus I will save lots of time and the agony of wrecking any more stamps (5 have given their bodies to scientific research).
For Used it's no issue anyway.
Thanks for all the feedback and ideas.
Dave.
Login to Like
this post
04:55:48pm
re: UPDATED - Another Technical Question: Heavy Hinge Remnants...
Is "Shellite" a trade name? Is Shell big down under?
Login to Like
this post
re: UPDATED - Another Technical Question: Heavy Hinge Remnants...
Ernie:
I think Shellite is what the Ozzie's drink with their Vegemite Sandwiches.
Probably explains some things about those lads...
Dave.
Login to Like
this post
06:09:45pm
re: UPDATED - Another Technical Question: Heavy Hinge Remnants...
iF IT IS AS SIMPLE AS REMOVING AN OLD HINGE THEN THERE IS NOTHING BETTER THAN THE SWEAT BOX METHOD, IT WILL NOT REMOVE GUM AND IS VERY EASY TO USE ITS A LITTLE GREEN BOX.RICH
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likes this post.
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