Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
I just watched a video on removing modern self adhesive stamps from the envelope backing with a chemical called Heptane. (video was on "StampSmarter" website)
The process was "fairly" pleasant, but the Heptane might be hard to acquire(?). Not sure about that quite yet.
Is this the process that most use on self adhesives? If not can you assist me with a better way?
Leaving the stamps on the paper does not seem like a bad idea, but they mentioned that the acid in the envelope "could" damage the stamp in the (very?) long term.
Thanks,
JR
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This article from the American Philatelist describes an alternative method of removal using Fresh Citrus air freshener.
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This topic should really be a FAQ.
Heptane (look it up in an encyclopedia) is a hydrocarbon that is found in petroleum distillates, such as petrol, gasoline, lighter fuel, petroleum ether, thinner for oil paints, ... There is a whole zoo of similar compounds (such as hexane, octane, iso-octane etc.). They and their mixtures are all fairly good solvents for self adhesive glues. You can include turpentine and turpentine substitute. The air fresheners which are often mentioned are also hydrocarbon based and work on the same principles.
So, your local shop might carry lighter fuel, or your pharmacist might sell cleansing petrol or petroleum ether (the name may be different, depending on where you are), you can use both. They also work as watermark fluid. Soften the glue with the solvent, pull the stamps off the backing, scrape off the remaining glue, wipe the back of the stamp clean.
Just stay away from benzene and other so-called aromatic compounds (check the label, look the ingredients up if in doubt), they are bad for your health.
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The Pure Citrus Air Freshener that I use claims:
"Pure Citrus contains 100% natural, delightfully fragrant oils found in fresh oranges." "non-aerosol dispenser"--- "absolutely no man-made chemicals, heavy perfumes or artificial ingredients" --- "made in the USA"
Anyone have any other info on the ingredients?
The product works fine (for me) in removing all self-adhesive stamps from the envelopes.
Tad
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Well, air freshener should not be poisonous, or the manufacturers would be in deep trouble, wouldn't they? As long as it works, and you can live with the stamps smelling of oranges, it should be fine. Not that I have ever bothered looking for such products this side of the pond. I've always got some turpentine substitute around for DIY purposes, and that gets the "goo" off rather nicely, too.
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If you use lighter fluid you can also use it for detecting watermarks.
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Hi all,
Thanks, I'm gonna try a product called "Goo Gone", which I believe is all citris and 100% natural.
I'm also going to experiment with lighter fluid.
Thank you all!
JR
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heptane is used by commercial artists ... artsupplies
https://machinstudygroup.blogspot.ca/search?q=heptane
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The active ingredient in Pure Citrus is limonene, the stuff that burns your eye when you peel a citrus fruit.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limonene
I've used the Pure Citrus Orange to removing all sorts of price stickers, package address labels, etc. Great stuff.
I recently tried one of the non-orange varieties - in my case, Pure Citrus Vanilla - and it works okay, but I suspect not as well as Original Orange.
Pure Citrus at Jet dot com
Cheers,
/s/ ikeyPikey
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A commonly used n-Heptane available readily is a product named Bestine. It can be found at Hobby Lobby near the drawing/drafting supplies. And it's available here on Amazon.com
https://www.amazon.com/Bestine-Solvent-Thinner-Rubber-Cement/dp/B004O7HM38/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1521166483&sr=8-1&keywords=bestine
I've been using the Bestine with much success, but will likely give the Pure Citrus a go next just to try it (and to smell like oranges).
Doug
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Thanks guys,
I'm going to try "Goo Gone" at some point as I believe it is of the "Citrus Decent" of natural cleaners, but to be honest, I must investigate a bit more, or try it on a stamp that I don't care about.
To me Goo Gone is quite oily, so that is my only concern.
@Doug,
Thanks for the tip! I'll be at Hobby Lobby tonight! 
JR
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I think all postal agencies should use the glue the Russian Post office uses on their self adhesive stamps.
I use a liquid called Shellite, reading the label it is 100% Hydrocarbon liquid getting the glue off Aussie S/A stamps requires a couple of dips in the liquid first one to get it off the paper the second dip to soften the glue to be able to scrape it off. Using this on the Russian stamps one dip and the stamp came off the paper and the glue came off the stamp.So maybe this stuff dissolves their glue ???
Brian
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My advice is to avoid Goo-Gone (or at least do some very limited test cases first). I've had nothing but trouble using it to separate self-adhesive stamps (SAS) from paper and cleaning Vario pages with glue remnants.
Different countries (and different issues within the same country) must have a different process for making these stamps. I tried a number of previous suggestions and ended up destroying some very high face value SAS US stamps.
But the Scandinavian country SAS have been very easy to deal with using just normal soaking (except for a few issues). They seem to have a two-layer paper backing separated by a thin glue that easily peels off.
Eventually, though, I've just concluded that the excessive work (and often frustration caused by the lack of success) trying to get most SAS off paper is just not worth it. My collecting just won't include those stamps...
Dave.
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this post
Hi all,
I just watched a video on removing modern self adhesive stamps from the envelope backing with a chemical called Heptane. (video was on "StampSmarter" website)
The process was "fairly" pleasant, but the Heptane might be hard to acquire(?). Not sure about that quite yet.
Is this the process that most use on self adhesives? If not can you assist me with a better way?
Leaving the stamps on the paper does not seem like a bad idea, but they mentioned that the acid in the envelope "could" damage the stamp in the (very?) long term.
Thanks,
JR
Login to Like
this post
re: Removing backing from modern self adhesive stamps
This article from the American Philatelist describes an alternative method of removal using Fresh Citrus air freshener.
Login to Like
this post
re: Removing backing from modern self adhesive stamps
This topic should really be a FAQ.
Heptane (look it up in an encyclopedia) is a hydrocarbon that is found in petroleum distillates, such as petrol, gasoline, lighter fuel, petroleum ether, thinner for oil paints, ... There is a whole zoo of similar compounds (such as hexane, octane, iso-octane etc.). They and their mixtures are all fairly good solvents for self adhesive glues. You can include turpentine and turpentine substitute. The air fresheners which are often mentioned are also hydrocarbon based and work on the same principles.
So, your local shop might carry lighter fuel, or your pharmacist might sell cleansing petrol or petroleum ether (the name may be different, depending on where you are), you can use both. They also work as watermark fluid. Soften the glue with the solvent, pull the stamps off the backing, scrape off the remaining glue, wipe the back of the stamp clean.
Just stay away from benzene and other so-called aromatic compounds (check the label, look the ingredients up if in doubt), they are bad for your health.
Login to Like
this post
re: Removing backing from modern self adhesive stamps
The Pure Citrus Air Freshener that I use claims:
"Pure Citrus contains 100% natural, delightfully fragrant oils found in fresh oranges." "non-aerosol dispenser"--- "absolutely no man-made chemicals, heavy perfumes or artificial ingredients" --- "made in the USA"
Anyone have any other info on the ingredients?
The product works fine (for me) in removing all self-adhesive stamps from the envelopes.
Tad
Login to Like
this post
re: Removing backing from modern self adhesive stamps
Well, air freshener should not be poisonous, or the manufacturers would be in deep trouble, wouldn't they? As long as it works, and you can live with the stamps smelling of oranges, it should be fine. Not that I have ever bothered looking for such products this side of the pond. I've always got some turpentine substitute around for DIY purposes, and that gets the "goo" off rather nicely, too.
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this post
04:34:24pm
re: Removing backing from modern self adhesive stamps
If you use lighter fluid you can also use it for detecting watermarks.
Login to Like
this post
re: Removing backing from modern self adhesive stamps
Hi all,
Thanks, I'm gonna try a product called "Goo Gone", which I believe is all citris and 100% natural.
I'm also going to experiment with lighter fluid.
Thank you all!
JR
Login to Like
this post
re: Removing backing from modern self adhesive stamps
heptane is used by commercial artists ... artsupplies
https://machinstudygroup.blogspot.ca/search?q=heptane
Login to Like
this post
re: Removing backing from modern self adhesive stamps
The active ingredient in Pure Citrus is limonene, the stuff that burns your eye when you peel a citrus fruit.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limonene
I've used the Pure Citrus Orange to removing all sorts of price stickers, package address labels, etc. Great stuff.
I recently tried one of the non-orange varieties - in my case, Pure Citrus Vanilla - and it works okay, but I suspect not as well as Original Orange.
Pure Citrus at Jet dot com
Cheers,
/s/ ikeyPikey
Login to Like
this post
re: Removing backing from modern self adhesive stamps
A commonly used n-Heptane available readily is a product named Bestine. It can be found at Hobby Lobby near the drawing/drafting supplies. And it's available here on Amazon.com
https://www.amazon.com/Bestine-Solvent-Thinner-Rubber-Cement/dp/B004O7HM38/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1521166483&sr=8-1&keywords=bestine
I've been using the Bestine with much success, but will likely give the Pure Citrus a go next just to try it (and to smell like oranges).
Doug
1 Member
likes this post.
Login to Like.
re: Removing backing from modern self adhesive stamps
Thanks guys,
I'm going to try "Goo Gone" at some point as I believe it is of the "Citrus Decent" of natural cleaners, but to be honest, I must investigate a bit more, or try it on a stamp that I don't care about.
To me Goo Gone is quite oily, so that is my only concern.
@Doug,
Thanks for the tip! I'll be at Hobby Lobby tonight!
JR
Login to Like
this post
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re: Removing backing from modern self adhesive stamps
I think all postal agencies should use the glue the Russian Post office uses on their self adhesive stamps.
I use a liquid called Shellite, reading the label it is 100% Hydrocarbon liquid getting the glue off Aussie S/A stamps requires a couple of dips in the liquid first one to get it off the paper the second dip to soften the glue to be able to scrape it off. Using this on the Russian stamps one dip and the stamp came off the paper and the glue came off the stamp.So maybe this stuff dissolves their glue ???
Brian
Login to Like
this post
re: Removing backing from modern self adhesive stamps
My advice is to avoid Goo-Gone (or at least do some very limited test cases first). I've had nothing but trouble using it to separate self-adhesive stamps (SAS) from paper and cleaning Vario pages with glue remnants.
Different countries (and different issues within the same country) must have a different process for making these stamps. I tried a number of previous suggestions and ended up destroying some very high face value SAS US stamps.
But the Scandinavian country SAS have been very easy to deal with using just normal soaking (except for a few issues). They seem to have a two-layer paper backing separated by a thin glue that easily peels off.
Eventually, though, I've just concluded that the excessive work (and often frustration caused by the lack of success) trying to get most SAS off paper is just not worth it. My collecting just won't include those stamps...
Dave.
Login to Like
this post