Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
03:17:53pm
My neck is killing me. I'm taking breaks, sitting upright on my couch using one of those tables that pull up under the couch. I'm going to see if I can lower it one more notch without catching my legs.
Anyone have any suggestions?
By the way, despite the discomfort, I'm having a ball :-) Never realised Denmark had so many issues. I'll be happy to get rid of them.
Kelly
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I am about to start sorting my denmark today aswell!! As far as the stiff neck. Take a break go for a walk. Good luck sorting. I probably wont buy from your approval anytime soon since Denmark is low on the priority list for me but I am interested to see what you come up with.
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04:52:39pm
Thanks Franky 
It will be a long time before I've got Denmark up in a book, but bit by bit, I'll get there
Kelly
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Sorting is detailed, close work; here are some tips I learned working with datasets all day, every day: Take 10 to 15 minute breaks every hour at least, or even a brief "get up and stretch" every 30 to 45 minutes. Gauge how long you can go before you start feeling a bit stiff or your neck "cracks" when you turn your head. I take Coco for a walk. I set the kitchen timer to buzz every hour. I then have to get up to go and turn it off, so it forces me up at least once an hour.
Also, since eye strain is also possible, remember to change your point of focus regularly. Look up from the stamps and catalogue pages into the distance. Don't just look at the TV across the room; do something that doesn't require eye strain. Watching the clouds, looking at the horizon, checking out the stars at night (they sure shine bright ... Okay Texans, your cue! 
).
All considered, I love sorting big piles too!
Cheers,
Peter
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The stars aren't shining so big and bright down here any more. Urban sprawl has taken that away. It takes a drive now to get away from the lights, and then it is a beautiful site indeed.
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I've been suffering stiff neck too. And a bad back. And..
What's worked somewhat well for me, is to do sorting while standing and/or walking around the kitchen /house at the same time. I just take an empty plastic (ice cream or similar) tub, pour a good variety of stamps into there, and start picking some specific country or series as I walk around.
-k-
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01:33:32am
Hmm... interesting method. You've given me an idea of what I can do. Unfortunately I can't walk around, but you have given me a thought. Thanks
Kelly
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03:08:45am
The important thing is to take a mental break even if it means rolling my wheel chair over to the coffee pot again.
For me it is not the neck that gets stressed so much as the shoulders and upper back. Right now I feel some discomfort in the right shoulder blade area, so it must be time to reheat the coffee pot. Fortunately, I am not totally confined to the wheel chair and can stumble around a bit now and then.
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Hi there. Gee if we lived close, you could hire me. hehehe! I started helping a friend out like that, about 36 years ago and ended up working for him until he went to the stamp club in the sky three years ago.
I have a lot of the manilla stock cards and plastic sleeves. I just sort out for one country at a time, and put them onto the stock cards in the sleeves and into a binder.
When I get tired of looking for that country I go on to another one. And so on. Especially when there aren't many left of the countries I've done.
As you pull out the stamps that are plentiful for a country, you can also start seeing the few that are left for the countries that you have worked on already, and pull them as well. The pile goes quickly. At least for me.
When you have all of the sorting done, then you can put all of the stock pages into country order, and then if you want, go back and put each country into catalogue order. Or not! Depending on how you want to list the stamps in the auction.
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11:55:44am
When I sort huge piles of WW stamps, I break it into two steps: first I sort into 16 letter groups (A, B, C, DE, F, G, HIJ, KL, M, N, OP, QR, S, T, UVW, XYZ), then as each group is manageable (and not so intimidating) I sort each group into their respective countries. I haven't had to do a large group in a while, but the last time, as there were about 30,000 stamps, I took a couple of shirt boxes and partitioned each one into 8 compartments, and then labeled each compartment with a tab.
To avoid getting cramps or other assorted aches, I limit myself to no more than one 60 minute television show of sorting at a time, using commercial breaks to stretch (now, however, as I do not watch commercial TV anymore, I'll have to figure out another timing mechanism).
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06:45:20pm
Sorting is finished. I decided to sort into continents with a few exceptions - since I know where I need to start.
Lesson learned? Look at an atlas BEFORE beginning to sort - apparently there are a number of countries that I have no idea which continent they belong on! Things got sticky with the Caribbean/Central America and Middle East/Asia - like where the heck do you stick Pakistan? I would put India with Asia but then Pakistan belonged in the same area. Methinks I'm going to find stamps in strange places when I move on to detailed sorting!
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07:05:53am
Over the years any bill or advertisement (Except for those with attractive stamps.) that arrives in a white business sized envelope gets slit carefully along the top edge. Once stamps are soaked and dried flat I sort on the kitchen table generally by country or area.
Then each country gets an envelope with the countries name along the top edge. Then one nation at a time can be further sorted and stamp mounted. Extras can be put on stock pages or returned in salvaged envelopes to a different shoebox as material for trades, or further research when I suddenly discover that what seemed like a single stamp issue actually has a shade, perforation or minor variety that I hadn't considered before.
Certain issues such as Machins also have their own separate file by color value and minor variations. The recycled envelopes are larger and less expensive than glassines. For stamps with detailed notes there is more room to write out my notes to self.
The small stock cards and 102 cards get special sets or issues.
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After base sorting is done, the fun starts as it is time to look much closer at each stamp for paper, perf, color variations, flyspecks etc...This can be made easy with the help of some sort of support (like the old bible support angled at 45 degree, to facilitate reading). This can easily be made with a small piece of plywood, with a small horizontal stop (or an old ruler) to prevent stamps, stock pages and stock books from sliding. This will ease pain on the shoulder and neck.
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A Service Dog gives a person with a disability independence. Never approach, distract or pet a working dog, especially when (s)he is in harness. Never be afraid to ask questions to the handler (parent).
15 Jan 2014
03:17:53pm
I've got roughly 10,000 stamps to sort - since yesterday I'm about 1/3 finished. Sorting into continents and them I'll divide them later as I want to get them into auctions and approval books.
My neck is killing me. I'm taking breaks, sitting upright on my couch using one of those tables that pull up under the couch. I'm going to see if I can lower it one more notch without catching my legs.
Anyone have any suggestions?
By the way, despite the discomfort, I'm having a ball :-) Never realised Denmark had so many issues. I'll be happy to get rid of them.
Kelly
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this post
re: Sorting - how do you avoid a stiff neck?
I am about to start sorting my denmark today aswell!! As far as the stiff neck. Take a break go for a walk. Good luck sorting. I probably wont buy from your approval anytime soon since Denmark is low on the priority list for me but I am interested to see what you come up with.
Login to Like
this post
A Service Dog gives a person with a disability independence. Never approach, distract or pet a working dog, especially when (s)he is in harness. Never be afraid to ask questions to the handler (parent).
15 Jan 2014
04:52:39pm
re: Sorting - how do you avoid a stiff neck?
Thanks Franky
It will be a long time before I've got Denmark up in a book, but bit by bit, I'll get there
Kelly
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this post
05:11:46pm
re: Sorting - how do you avoid a stiff neck?
Sorting is detailed, close work; here are some tips I learned working with datasets all day, every day: Take 10 to 15 minute breaks every hour at least, or even a brief "get up and stretch" every 30 to 45 minutes. Gauge how long you can go before you start feeling a bit stiff or your neck "cracks" when you turn your head. I take Coco for a walk. I set the kitchen timer to buzz every hour. I then have to get up to go and turn it off, so it forces me up at least once an hour.
Also, since eye strain is also possible, remember to change your point of focus regularly. Look up from the stamps and catalogue pages into the distance. Don't just look at the TV across the room; do something that doesn't require eye strain. Watching the clouds, looking at the horizon, checking out the stars at night (they sure shine bright ... Okay Texans, your cue! ).
All considered, I love sorting big piles too!
Cheers,
Peter
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11:48:19pm
re: Sorting - how do you avoid a stiff neck?
The stars aren't shining so big and bright down here any more. Urban sprawl has taken that away. It takes a drive now to get away from the lights, and then it is a beautiful site indeed.
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re: Sorting - how do you avoid a stiff neck?
I've been suffering stiff neck too. And a bad back. And..
What's worked somewhat well for me, is to do sorting while standing and/or walking around the kitchen /house at the same time. I just take an empty plastic (ice cream or similar) tub, pour a good variety of stamps into there, and start picking some specific country or series as I walk around.
-k-
Login to Like
this post
A Service Dog gives a person with a disability independence. Never approach, distract or pet a working dog, especially when (s)he is in harness. Never be afraid to ask questions to the handler (parent).
16 Jan 2014
01:33:32am
re: Sorting - how do you avoid a stiff neck?
Hmm... interesting method. You've given me an idea of what I can do. Unfortunately I can't walk around, but you have given me a thought. Thanks
Kelly
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this post
Silence in the face of adversity is the father of complicity and collusion, the first cousins of conspiracy..
16 Jan 2014
03:08:45am
re: Sorting - how do you avoid a stiff neck?
The important thing is to take a mental break even if it means rolling my wheel chair over to the coffee pot again.
For me it is not the neck that gets stressed so much as the shoulders and upper back. Right now I feel some discomfort in the right shoulder blade area, so it must be time to reheat the coffee pot. Fortunately, I am not totally confined to the wheel chair and can stumble around a bit now and then.
Login to Like
this post
re: Sorting - how do you avoid a stiff neck?
Hi there. Gee if we lived close, you could hire me. hehehe! I started helping a friend out like that, about 36 years ago and ended up working for him until he went to the stamp club in the sky three years ago.
I have a lot of the manilla stock cards and plastic sleeves. I just sort out for one country at a time, and put them onto the stock cards in the sleeves and into a binder.
When I get tired of looking for that country I go on to another one. And so on. Especially when there aren't many left of the countries I've done.
As you pull out the stamps that are plentiful for a country, you can also start seeing the few that are left for the countries that you have worked on already, and pull them as well. The pile goes quickly. At least for me.
When you have all of the sorting done, then you can put all of the stock pages into country order, and then if you want, go back and put each country into catalogue order. Or not! Depending on how you want to list the stamps in the auction.
Login to Like
this post
They who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety. -Benjamin Franklin
16 Jan 2014
11:55:44am
re: Sorting - how do you avoid a stiff neck?
When I sort huge piles of WW stamps, I break it into two steps: first I sort into 16 letter groups (A, B, C, DE, F, G, HIJ, KL, M, N, OP, QR, S, T, UVW, XYZ), then as each group is manageable (and not so intimidating) I sort each group into their respective countries. I haven't had to do a large group in a while, but the last time, as there were about 30,000 stamps, I took a couple of shirt boxes and partitioned each one into 8 compartments, and then labeled each compartment with a tab.
To avoid getting cramps or other assorted aches, I limit myself to no more than one 60 minute television show of sorting at a time, using commercial breaks to stretch (now, however, as I do not watch commercial TV anymore, I'll have to figure out another timing mechanism).
Login to Like
this post
A Service Dog gives a person with a disability independence. Never approach, distract or pet a working dog, especially when (s)he is in harness. Never be afraid to ask questions to the handler (parent).
16 Jan 2014
06:45:20pm
re: Sorting - how do you avoid a stiff neck?
Sorting is finished. I decided to sort into continents with a few exceptions - since I know where I need to start.
Lesson learned? Look at an atlas BEFORE beginning to sort - apparently there are a number of countries that I have no idea which continent they belong on! Things got sticky with the Caribbean/Central America and Middle East/Asia - like where the heck do you stick Pakistan? I would put India with Asia but then Pakistan belonged in the same area. Methinks I'm going to find stamps in strange places when I move on to detailed sorting!
Login to Like
this post
Silence in the face of adversity is the father of complicity and collusion, the first cousins of conspiracy..
17 Jan 2014
07:05:53am
re: Sorting - how do you avoid a stiff neck?
Over the years any bill or advertisement (Except for those with attractive stamps.) that arrives in a white business sized envelope gets slit carefully along the top edge. Once stamps are soaked and dried flat I sort on the kitchen table generally by country or area.
Then each country gets an envelope with the countries name along the top edge. Then one nation at a time can be further sorted and stamp mounted. Extras can be put on stock pages or returned in salvaged envelopes to a different shoebox as material for trades, or further research when I suddenly discover that what seemed like a single stamp issue actually has a shade, perforation or minor variety that I hadn't considered before.
Certain issues such as Machins also have their own separate file by color value and minor variations. The recycled envelopes are larger and less expensive than glassines. For stamps with detailed notes there is more room to write out my notes to self.
The small stock cards and 102 cards get special sets or issues.
Login to Like
this post
10:45:20am
re: Sorting - how do you avoid a stiff neck?
After base sorting is done, the fun starts as it is time to look much closer at each stamp for paper, perf, color variations, flyspecks etc...This can be made easy with the help of some sort of support (like the old bible support angled at 45 degree, to facilitate reading). This can easily be made with a small piece of plywood, with a small horizontal stop (or an old ruler) to prevent stamps, stock pages and stock books from sliding. This will ease pain on the shoulder and neck.
Login to Like
this post