Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
Login to Like
this post
It depends on the type of ink the stamp was printed with. Before doing any experimenting on a stamp, find a damaged one in your duplicate or "throw away" pile. Then, give it a try and see what happens.
You will find threads here where several of us, me included, have indicated our experiments with using certain chemicals on stamps, and the results. This includes: hydrogen peroxide; bleach and ammonia.
Login to Like
this post
Hi Everyone;
I assume that you are asking about Isopropyl alcohol, as a method for removing self adhesive stamps.
A week ago I tried 93% Isopropyl alcohol for removing US stamps, with sticky still on their backs. After
two hours the adhesive was not even softened or slimy, just sticky. The issues I tried this on were
the 2015 coil stamps "presorted first class" eagle heads in assorted colors.
I know that there are many hundreds of Acrylic adhesives out there, manufactured for various app-
lications. When I worked as a manufacturing engineer for Flo-Tech, a company that made hydraulic flow
meters, I had to test many different types. One particular application was a clear Mylar label using an
Acrylic pressure sensitive adhesive. It was a calibrated label marked in GPM, to be attached to a
pyrex glass sleeve and used in a flow meter.
I had to apply the label to the glass sleeve, and send it to the technicians to have it boiled in hydraulic
fluid, for 72 hours at 300º F. Some of the adhesives failed and softened, however 2 out of the 5 different
labels tested didn't fail.
So what works for another collector, on the stamps of his country, might not work for others as good or
at all. The ideal solution would be if you could find out what solvent is used to clean the presses after
a printing run of the sticky gook, and where it can be purchased. The problem there is, it may be a industrial
chemical, only available in 55 gallon drums! I have heard of collectors that swear by an Orange based room
freshener tho...
The simplest solution of all, and the one I found works the best of all, is don't collect jam jar labels. Save
them until you have hundreds and sell them to someone who has lots of time on their hands to soak them off. If
I can't soak 100 stamps off of paper in an hour it is not worth my time. All the nations I collect cut off
between 1975 (US), to 1981 (Russia).
Good luck tho....
TuskenRaider
1 Member
likes this post.
Login to Like.
avoid alcohol as it used as a solvent for some inks. it take forever to evaporate and wrinkles album pages ...
heptane - a.k.a. bestine solvent or rubber cement is my preference. otherwise, ronsonol.
https://machinstudygroup.blogspot.com/2006/03/handling-machin-kiloware.html
Login to Like
this post
Hi Everyone;
One of the reasons that I decided to not collect self-stick stamps is, the fact that only water is
completely safe for used stamps.
The inks used for printing stamps is mostly very permanent and will tolerate most solvents.
However the inks used to cancel stamps, is a whole other beast. First of all there are many more
various formulas for canceling inks than for stamp printing inks. The worst of these is of course
the magenta inks commonly used for US parcels. They are so bad, that they will run and bleed even
in water, if it is just a bit too warm. These parcel inks seem to not like solvents of any kind.
The black inks used in the UK during the reign of George VI thru QEII, all three wildings sets were
very susceptible to ronsonal and some watermark fluids. Some would run and some were okay. My
experience was, that it was mostly the high values. This was a hint that parcels were canceled with
a different type of ink, than regular mail.
Just my observations....
TuskenRaider
Login to Like
this post
"only water is
completely safe for used stamps."
Not so. Aniline dyes (fugitive inks) are water soluble, and many stamps have been printed with such. Here is a StampCommunity discussion thread with examples.
Login to Like
this post
12:09:06pm
I have been using Isopropyl Alcohol ( 70% ) for years
when identifying watermarks, and see no appreciable
fading either with Wildings or older Posthorns.
Later Machins detach from paper quite easily with just
a little teasing. None ever seemed to need more than
five or ten minutes in the 70% Isopropyl Alcohol solution.
For watermark detection the suspect stamp is dipped
in the Isopropyl Alcohol only long enough to allow
the watermark to become visible, a matter of seconds,
not even close to one minute. It is immediately removed
and placed on a square of black marble to be examined.
Ronsonol is a mixture of chemicals under the general name
"naptha" and is reported to be highly flammable.
Most of the gums used on US stamps are easily loosened
but minor traces of the gum may remain and can be removed
by gently scraping the rear surface.
Everyone is free to make of these comments what they will,
but I'll stick to 70% Isopropyl Alcohol that costs
about $1.75 per liter in most supermarkets and drugstores.
Login to Like
this post
Hi Everyone;
@ cdj1122;
My post was not meant to say that whatever you and other members use, doesn't work, only that the
"2015 coil stamps "presorted first class" eagle heads in assorted colors"
did not work. Also since I do not care to work with newer US stamps I have not tried alcohol on any issues, so you are probably 100% correct about your experiences with soaking them.
@ youpiao;
Yes, I forgot and overlooked those issues, and I also overlooked the very first issues of Dutch stamps also.
Here is what I did remember from soaking older US stamps; 1) many of the reds and purples, from the classic period and even into the fourties & fifties, have a tendency to bleed badly. 2) This is how I managed to avoid this problem, I only soaked a dozen or less at once, and watched them closly, plus I only used cool water, never hot!
I'm sure that alcohol is also perfectly fine for revealing watermarks, but all I have ever used was watermark fluid. I manage to use very little fluid, because I use a small light box with a diffused light source, and do the easy ones first, then use fluid for those that I could not detect on the light box.
Still just sortin'....
TuskenRaider
Login to Like
this post
Hi! The modern self adhesive stamps can be easily removed from paper, on an envelope or mint as purchased, with a product called Pure Citrus. Pure Citrus is an air freshener. It works wonderfully. The stamp can be pulled off the paper almost effortlessly. Then it is still a little sticky. Just spray some more Pure Citrus on the back and scrape with a credit card or similar and then you're done. Quite easy, takes a half a minute a stamp. My 2 cents worth. Chris of ccndd
4 Members
like this post.
Login to Like.
I just bought a can of Pure Citrus and am anxious to give it a try. Have not yet tried removing any self-adhesives and have not been looking forward to it, but the Pure Citrus seems to be recommended by many. Coming back to the hobby after several decades break, frankly the self-adhesives looked like a bit of a nightmare to me. We'll see how it goes. In my area (California U.S.), I found it readily at Home Depot but no where else. I saw online that they also have it at walgreens.com but not in stores.
1 Member
likes this post.
Login to Like.
Just today, I came across a YouTube video (sorry I can't recall the title, to get the link) of a collector demonstrating the use of Pure Citrus for removing self-adhesives. I was very surprised at how little was needed to get the job done. It was just a touch of the spray button, without holding it down for any length of time. He also showed that using the tongs to slide underneath the stamp for removal, kept the stamp flat, rather than pulling the stamp off, which results in curling.
Here it is; I found it.
Video removed by the webmaster as it has been removed from Youtube.
(Modified by Moderator on 2022-11-28 14:21:35)
Login to Like
this post
StampWrangler: I'm not sure what part of California you're in, but I do find Pure Citrus in Walmart here in Southern California (with the air fresheners).
Perhaps that'll give you an extra option for your next can! (and might be a few cents cheaper)
Login to Like
this post
Just to mention a few stamps printed with inks that are (partly) soluble in alcohols: 1st class gold Machin (there's a picture somewhere on Norvic's web pages) and the various incarnations of the red "Marianne du Bicentenaire". Both, however, can be lifted with petroleum-based solvents.
I haven't tried any air fresheners yet, I'm not sure whether anything comparable to "Pure Citrus" is sold this side of the pond ...
-jmh
Login to Like
this post
From Amazon UK:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Citrus-Magic-Natural-Eliminating-Freshener/dp/B0002PU6NO
Looks like the same stuff. Even the can and cap looks similar.
Ted
Login to Like
this post
Thanks Philatarium - I am also in SoCal - I did try Walmart because I always like saving a few cents 
, but unfortunately it was not carried locally, and online only in a 6-pack by a Walmart partner vendor. At least at the time I checked. I know it can vary from time to time as to what is available. Anyway, I hope it works, because I have a humongous pile of those silly self-adhesives (sigh).
1 Member
likes this post.
Login to Like.
My fingers are crossed for you, StampWrangler!
I haven't tried it on self-adhesives yet, but we have used it successfully to remove stubborn labels from empty containers we plan to repurpose. It works quite well, but I do occasionally have to follow up with a spot of lighter fluid or rubbing alcohol to get rid of the most stubborn sticky spots from the label gum residue.
Login to Like
this post
A great product I use for those sticky labels and label residue is called "Goo Gone". It smells like it is also citrus based. I'm not recommending it for stamps. Just saying it's good on sticky labels and price tags and so forth.
1 Member
likes this post.
Login to Like.
This topic was also covered on "Exploring Stamps" a rather delightful YouTube channel. The episode in question also covered two other alternatives to Pure Citrus. Worth a look, heck I recommend every episode.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3TwMX8Be7c
David
Login to Like
this post
Thanks for thank link, I'll check it out. I'm collecting all the info I can on removal techniques - still haven't been able to find time to try any yet, but have plenty of U.S. dupes to experiment on.
Login to Like
this post
11:48:45pm
re: Isopropyl alcohol
It depends on the type of ink the stamp was printed with. Before doing any experimenting on a stamp, find a damaged one in your duplicate or "throw away" pile. Then, give it a try and see what happens.
You will find threads here where several of us, me included, have indicated our experiments with using certain chemicals on stamps, and the results. This includes: hydrogen peroxide; bleach and ammonia.
Login to Like
this post
re: Isopropyl alcohol
Hi Everyone;
I assume that you are asking about Isopropyl alcohol, as a method for removing self adhesive stamps.
A week ago I tried 93% Isopropyl alcohol for removing US stamps, with sticky still on their backs. After
two hours the adhesive was not even softened or slimy, just sticky. The issues I tried this on were
the 2015 coil stamps "presorted first class" eagle heads in assorted colors.
I know that there are many hundreds of Acrylic adhesives out there, manufactured for various app-
lications. When I worked as a manufacturing engineer for Flo-Tech, a company that made hydraulic flow
meters, I had to test many different types. One particular application was a clear Mylar label using an
Acrylic pressure sensitive adhesive. It was a calibrated label marked in GPM, to be attached to a
pyrex glass sleeve and used in a flow meter.
I had to apply the label to the glass sleeve, and send it to the technicians to have it boiled in hydraulic
fluid, for 72 hours at 300º F. Some of the adhesives failed and softened, however 2 out of the 5 different
labels tested didn't fail.
So what works for another collector, on the stamps of his country, might not work for others as good or
at all. The ideal solution would be if you could find out what solvent is used to clean the presses after
a printing run of the sticky gook, and where it can be purchased. The problem there is, it may be a industrial
chemical, only available in 55 gallon drums! I have heard of collectors that swear by an Orange based room
freshener tho...
The simplest solution of all, and the one I found works the best of all, is don't collect jam jar labels. Save
them until you have hundreds and sell them to someone who has lots of time on their hands to soak them off. If
I can't soak 100 stamps off of paper in an hour it is not worth my time. All the nations I collect cut off
between 1975 (US), to 1981 (Russia).
Good luck tho....
TuskenRaider
1 Member
likes this post.
Login to Like.
re: Isopropyl alcohol
avoid alcohol as it used as a solvent for some inks. it take forever to evaporate and wrinkles album pages ...
heptane - a.k.a. bestine solvent or rubber cement is my preference. otherwise, ronsonol.
https://machinstudygroup.blogspot.com/2006/03/handling-machin-kiloware.html
Login to Like
this post
re: Isopropyl alcohol
Hi Everyone;
One of the reasons that I decided to not collect self-stick stamps is, the fact that only water is
completely safe for used stamps.
The inks used for printing stamps is mostly very permanent and will tolerate most solvents.
However the inks used to cancel stamps, is a whole other beast. First of all there are many more
various formulas for canceling inks than for stamp printing inks. The worst of these is of course
the magenta inks commonly used for US parcels. They are so bad, that they will run and bleed even
in water, if it is just a bit too warm. These parcel inks seem to not like solvents of any kind.
The black inks used in the UK during the reign of George VI thru QEII, all three wildings sets were
very susceptible to ronsonal and some watermark fluids. Some would run and some were okay. My
experience was, that it was mostly the high values. This was a hint that parcels were canceled with
a different type of ink, than regular mail.
Just my observations....
TuskenRaider
Login to Like
this post
re: Isopropyl alcohol
"only water is
completely safe for used stamps."
Not so. Aniline dyes (fugitive inks) are water soluble, and many stamps have been printed with such. Here is a StampCommunity discussion thread with examples.
Login to Like
this post
Silence in the face of adversity is the father of complicity and collusion, the first cousins of conspiracy..
18 Jul 2018
12:09:06pm
re: Isopropyl alcohol
I have been using Isopropyl Alcohol ( 70% ) for years
when identifying watermarks, and see no appreciable
fading either with Wildings or older Posthorns.
Later Machins detach from paper quite easily with just
a little teasing. None ever seemed to need more than
five or ten minutes in the 70% Isopropyl Alcohol solution.
For watermark detection the suspect stamp is dipped
in the Isopropyl Alcohol only long enough to allow
the watermark to become visible, a matter of seconds,
not even close to one minute. It is immediately removed
and placed on a square of black marble to be examined.
Ronsonol is a mixture of chemicals under the general name
"naptha" and is reported to be highly flammable.
Most of the gums used on US stamps are easily loosened
but minor traces of the gum may remain and can be removed
by gently scraping the rear surface.
Everyone is free to make of these comments what they will,
but I'll stick to 70% Isopropyl Alcohol that costs
about $1.75 per liter in most supermarkets and drugstores.
Login to Like
this post
re: Isopropyl alcohol
Hi Everyone;
@ cdj1122;
My post was not meant to say that whatever you and other members use, doesn't work, only that the
"2015 coil stamps "presorted first class" eagle heads in assorted colors"
did not work. Also since I do not care to work with newer US stamps I have not tried alcohol on any issues, so you are probably 100% correct about your experiences with soaking them.
@ youpiao;
Yes, I forgot and overlooked those issues, and I also overlooked the very first issues of Dutch stamps also.
Here is what I did remember from soaking older US stamps; 1) many of the reds and purples, from the classic period and even into the fourties & fifties, have a tendency to bleed badly. 2) This is how I managed to avoid this problem, I only soaked a dozen or less at once, and watched them closly, plus I only used cool water, never hot!
I'm sure that alcohol is also perfectly fine for revealing watermarks, but all I have ever used was watermark fluid. I manage to use very little fluid, because I use a small light box with a diffused light source, and do the easy ones first, then use fluid for those that I could not detect on the light box.
Still just sortin'....
TuskenRaider
Login to Like
this post
re: Isopropyl alcohol
Hi! The modern self adhesive stamps can be easily removed from paper, on an envelope or mint as purchased, with a product called Pure Citrus. Pure Citrus is an air freshener. It works wonderfully. The stamp can be pulled off the paper almost effortlessly. Then it is still a little sticky. Just spray some more Pure Citrus on the back and scrape with a credit card or similar and then you're done. Quite easy, takes a half a minute a stamp. My 2 cents worth. Chris of ccndd
4 Members
like this post.
Login to Like.
re: Isopropyl alcohol
I just bought a can of Pure Citrus and am anxious to give it a try. Have not yet tried removing any self-adhesives and have not been looking forward to it, but the Pure Citrus seems to be recommended by many. Coming back to the hobby after several decades break, frankly the self-adhesives looked like a bit of a nightmare to me. We'll see how it goes. In my area (California U.S.), I found it readily at Home Depot but no where else. I saw online that they also have it at walgreens.com but not in stores.
1 Member
likes this post.
Login to Like.
re: Isopropyl alcohol
Just today, I came across a YouTube video (sorry I can't recall the title, to get the link) of a collector demonstrating the use of Pure Citrus for removing self-adhesives. I was very surprised at how little was needed to get the job done. It was just a touch of the spray button, without holding it down for any length of time. He also showed that using the tongs to slide underneath the stamp for removal, kept the stamp flat, rather than pulling the stamp off, which results in curling.
Here it is; I found it.
Video removed by the webmaster as it has been removed from Youtube.
(Modified by Moderator on 2022-11-28 14:21:35)
Login to Like
this post
re: Isopropyl alcohol
StampWrangler: I'm not sure what part of California you're in, but I do find Pure Citrus in Walmart here in Southern California (with the air fresheners).
Perhaps that'll give you an extra option for your next can! (and might be a few cents cheaper)
Login to Like
this post
01:56:29am
re: Isopropyl alcohol
Just to mention a few stamps printed with inks that are (partly) soluble in alcohols: 1st class gold Machin (there's a picture somewhere on Norvic's web pages) and the various incarnations of the red "Marianne du Bicentenaire". Both, however, can be lifted with petroleum-based solvents.
I haven't tried any air fresheners yet, I'm not sure whether anything comparable to "Pure Citrus" is sold this side of the pond ...
-jmh
Login to Like
this post
re: Isopropyl alcohol
From Amazon UK:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Citrus-Magic-Natural-Eliminating-Freshener/dp/B0002PU6NO
Looks like the same stuff. Even the can and cap looks similar.
Ted
Login to Like
this post
re: Isopropyl alcohol
Thanks Philatarium - I am also in SoCal - I did try Walmart because I always like saving a few cents , but unfortunately it was not carried locally, and online only in a 6-pack by a Walmart partner vendor. At least at the time I checked. I know it can vary from time to time as to what is available. Anyway, I hope it works, because I have a humongous pile of those silly self-adhesives (sigh).
1 Member
likes this post.
Login to Like.
re: Isopropyl alcohol
My fingers are crossed for you, StampWrangler!
I haven't tried it on self-adhesives yet, but we have used it successfully to remove stubborn labels from empty containers we plan to repurpose. It works quite well, but I do occasionally have to follow up with a spot of lighter fluid or rubbing alcohol to get rid of the most stubborn sticky spots from the label gum residue.
Login to Like
this post
re: Isopropyl alcohol
A great product I use for those sticky labels and label residue is called "Goo Gone". It smells like it is also citrus based. I'm not recommending it for stamps. Just saying it's good on sticky labels and price tags and so forth.
1 Member
likes this post.
Login to Like.
re: Isopropyl alcohol
This topic was also covered on "Exploring Stamps" a rather delightful YouTube channel. The episode in question also covered two other alternatives to Pure Citrus. Worth a look, heck I recommend every episode.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3TwMX8Be7c
David
Login to Like
this post
re: Isopropyl alcohol
Thanks for thank link, I'll check it out. I'm collecting all the info I can on removal techniques - still haven't been able to find time to try any yet, but have plenty of U.S. dupes to experiment on.
Login to Like
this post