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General Philatelic/Supplies, Literature & Software : U/V Lamp Recommendations

 

Author
Postings
StanC
Members Picture


25 Sep 2014
07:31:22pm
I'm wanting to get a U/V lamp to work with the tagged stamps in my grandfather's collection. I don't need a handheld model, but would like recommendations and tips on using one. Thanks in advance.
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TuskenRaider
Members Picture


25 Sep 2014
08:23:03pm
re: U/V Lamp Recommendations

Hi Everyone;

I've never used one myself. From a health standpoint here is my recommendations.

1) NEVER look directly at the bulb!

2) Do not buy one that recommends being used in a darkened room. The dark room will cause the iris of your eye to open very wide and allow more reflected UV radiation into your eye.

3) Do not use on a reflective or brightly colored surface. Place the stamp on a large sheet of black paper, to absorb the UV and not reflect back at your eyes.

4) Cut a square hole in a sheet of black paper and place over a stamp in an album, so the album page is not reflecting UV back at your eyes. When used on stamps in an album, the album page will turn a deep blue color. That is UV being reflected back at you.

5) Try not to use for more than 15 minutes at a time. Scan the stamps quickly and save some for later on, or the next day.

Sorry if I'm scaring you. I think they are perfectly safe to use if used properly.

Most companies that make those things won't tell you everything I have, or you may not want to use their product. I never trust corporations to do the right thing. Capitalism, only works when driven by greed, not doing the right thing.

there are people on here will swear they have used for years with no ill effects. Sight and hearing loss is something that happens so slowly, that those same people will not even notice that they are doing damage.

OHSA doesn't make rules without good reason. That is why all welders must place a black screen around their work areas, to protect us from UV from their arc.

Happy stamp sorting
Ken Tall Pines

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StanC
Members Picture


25 Sep 2014
08:45:26pm
re: U/V Lamp Recommendations

As always Ken, you've given me great information and I'll definitely heed your advice. I'm wanting to study some of the stamps for tagging and also make sure that some of the stamps in the albums are not affected by mold or mildew. Thanks again for the quality information.

Stan

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larsdog
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APS #220693 ATA#57179

25 Sep 2014
11:28:36pm
re: U/V Lamp Recommendations

Stan,

Ken is right about not looking directly looking into the lamp and to avoid reflected light. I like to take the stamps out of the album to check with a UV lamp if they are in mounts. (If they are hinged, just leave them in the album). However, the most common source of UV radiation is the sun. Tanning beds also emit a lot of UV light. UV lamps for philatelic use, by comparison, emit a very low level that isn't a major concern if you don't look directly into them and avoid reflected light. I wouldn't worry too much, but common sense is in order, and moderate use is wise.

What I found out when first trying to check for tagging is two things:

1) You don't have to make the room as dark as you might think
2) You have to get the lamp a LOT closer to the stamp than you might expect (because it is a rather weak lamp).

I was holding the lamp 6 to 12 inches above the stamp and kept making the room darker and darker. Even so I could barely make out the tagging. Then I held the lamp an inch or two above the stamp and viola! No problem seeing the tagging and I could turn the lights back up, which made the whole process much easier.

One final issue is wavelength. I have two UV lamps (shortwave and longwave). It's important to know which to use. (US stamps, for example, are typically shortwave).

I also found it handy to get an inexpensive, definitive version of each type of tagging. The "Great Americans" Series is good for that. I have a grid (kinda like a tic-tac-toe board) with a blank spot in the middle and 7 of the 8 perimeter spots with a stamp affixed (one each for untagged, small block tagging, large block tagging, overall tagging, solid tagging, mottled tagging, and grainy solid tagging). Lick-and-stick the stamps or use hinges (not mounts). I used 2170a, 1862, 2171, 2187, 2187a, 1862d, and 2187b, verifying them by buying plate blocks. I can place the stamp to be checked in the middle and compare to known tagging types. Big time saver. I did the same thing with gum on Transportation coils: Shiny Gum, Low Gloss Gum, Dull Gum. I just glued the examples to the page upside down.

Happy hunting!

Lars

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StanC
Members Picture


25 Sep 2014
11:47:08pm
re: U/V Lamp Recommendations

Thanks Lars. I am getting the education I need for tagging, and I've not even thought about determining watermarks yet. All of this, at times, seems daunting, but I am having a great time learning some of the nuances. This forum has been a great help in keeping from straying into the minefields. Thanks again.

Stan

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doodles69ca
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Suzanne

26 Sep 2014
01:14:23am
re: U/V Lamp Recommendations

Also if you get headaches easily don't use the lamps often. I would be in my office which is beside the living room, and my mother could tell I was using the lamp. About 10 minutes after I started using it, she would get a horrible headache. I'd stop using it and about a half hour later her headache was gone. If I started using it again, she would get another headache.
And just to be sure that it wasn't just her imagination causing her headache, because she THOUGHT that it could, I tried a couple of times just turning on the lamp and leaving it in my office, and then coming back into the living room. Sure enough we would be just chatting or watching tv and 10 or 15 minutes would go by and she would start to get a headache.
It never bothers me, or anyone else in the family, so I guess she was just sensitive to it. Just something to think about anyhow if you suddenly get a headache for no reason.

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"Stamp collectors don't go crazy, they just become unhinged."
michael78651

26 Sep 2014
01:59:17am
re: U/V Lamp Recommendations

Watching what's on television today will give anyone a headache.

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TuskenRaider
Members Picture


26 Sep 2014
02:38:38am
re: U/V Lamp Recommendations

Hi Everyone;

@ Michael; In the 1970s at engineering school, I studied the manufacturing process for the older style of TVs using cathode ray tubes. And you would be amazed at how much lead is in the glass. That is why the TV sets are so heavy. The glass weighs twice as much as it should because of the lead. Why lead you ask? Because TVs emit x-rays, due to the electrons flying out of the electron gun in the neck of those tubes. Color TVs need much higher speed electrons to make color phosphors glow and give a nice bright picture. X-rays are much more harmful to your vision than is UV. And I know that when Letterman is on the dose is even higher than any other show. Rolling On The Floor Laughing

@ Lars; Here is something about UV from sunlight that most people do not know. Wearing sunglasses that do not block UV completely, are worse than not using anything. Those blu-blockers, I don't think are any good at all. Here is what happens when you wear sunglasses. When the human eye sees less VISIBLE light, the brain thinks it is dark out, and so opens the eyes iris wide to let more light in. The human eye can't see UV from sunlight. And so now the retina is getting a huge dose of UV, that it can't see, but is very harmful.

I think there are some sunglasses that will block UV, I think I read they are made from polycarbonate. I wonder if they would allow someone to see tagged stamps while being worn.

Did you know that people that work with glass in a flame, lampworking beads or glassblowing, gives off an orange glow that is very vision harming. It is particularly strong when using borosilicate glass.

@ Stan; If my earlier post gave you a fright, don't be too concerned. As long as used properly and sensibly you will be okay. Stay away from tanning beds tho.

Keep on stampin
Ken Tall Pines

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StanC
Members Picture


26 Sep 2014
08:36:56am
re: U/V Lamp Recommendations

No fright, and Michael answered my question about which one. I was thinking of getting one that is both longwave and shortwave so that I wouldn't have to buy two devices. And, Lars answer about setting up definitives for checking tagging against examples.

Thanks to everyone for their advice.

Stan

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michael78651

26 Sep 2014
12:40:06pm
re: U/V Lamp Recommendations

Ken, my glasses are transitional and block UV rays, especially when the lenses darken with bright light. Indoors, the lenses are clear and do not prevent me from seeing the tagging.

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philatelia
Members Picture


28 Sep 2014
09:49:47am
re: U/V Lamp Recommendations

I have a very unusual problem when I work with my UV lamp. . .

I only have one room in my house that doesn't have any Florida sunshine streaming through the windows and it is a closet. Unfortunately, it is the closet where we keep the dog's toys, so every time I go in there to check tagging, my schnauzers think it is time to play. I have to grab my stamps and close the door quickly. They are not fond of this particular game! Rolling On The Floor Laughing

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"August 2023 - selling penny start bargain lots on EBay - https://www.ebay.com/str/philatelia"

www.ebay.com/str/philatelia
        

 

Author/Postings
Members Picture
StanC

25 Sep 2014
07:31:22pm

I'm wanting to get a U/V lamp to work with the tagged stamps in my grandfather's collection. I don't need a handheld model, but would like recommendations and tips on using one. Thanks in advance.

Like
Login to Like
this post

stancromlish.com
Members Picture
TuskenRaider

25 Sep 2014
08:23:03pm

re: U/V Lamp Recommendations

Hi Everyone;

I've never used one myself. From a health standpoint here is my recommendations.

1) NEVER look directly at the bulb!

2) Do not buy one that recommends being used in a darkened room. The dark room will cause the iris of your eye to open very wide and allow more reflected UV radiation into your eye.

3) Do not use on a reflective or brightly colored surface. Place the stamp on a large sheet of black paper, to absorb the UV and not reflect back at your eyes.

4) Cut a square hole in a sheet of black paper and place over a stamp in an album, so the album page is not reflecting UV back at your eyes. When used on stamps in an album, the album page will turn a deep blue color. That is UV being reflected back at you.

5) Try not to use for more than 15 minutes at a time. Scan the stamps quickly and save some for later on, or the next day.

Sorry if I'm scaring you. I think they are perfectly safe to use if used properly.

Most companies that make those things won't tell you everything I have, or you may not want to use their product. I never trust corporations to do the right thing. Capitalism, only works when driven by greed, not doing the right thing.

there are people on here will swear they have used for years with no ill effects. Sight and hearing loss is something that happens so slowly, that those same people will not even notice that they are doing damage.

OHSA doesn't make rules without good reason. That is why all welders must place a black screen around their work areas, to protect us from UV from their arc.

Happy stamp sorting
Ken Tall Pines

Like 
1 Member
likes this post.
Login to Like.

www.webstore.com/sto ...
Members Picture
StanC

25 Sep 2014
08:45:26pm

re: U/V Lamp Recommendations

As always Ken, you've given me great information and I'll definitely heed your advice. I'm wanting to study some of the stamps for tagging and also make sure that some of the stamps in the albums are not affected by mold or mildew. Thanks again for the quality information.

Stan

Like
Login to Like
this post

stancromlish.com
Members Picture
larsdog

APS #220693 ATA#57179
25 Sep 2014
11:28:36pm

re: U/V Lamp Recommendations

Stan,

Ken is right about not looking directly looking into the lamp and to avoid reflected light. I like to take the stamps out of the album to check with a UV lamp if they are in mounts. (If they are hinged, just leave them in the album). However, the most common source of UV radiation is the sun. Tanning beds also emit a lot of UV light. UV lamps for philatelic use, by comparison, emit a very low level that isn't a major concern if you don't look directly into them and avoid reflected light. I wouldn't worry too much, but common sense is in order, and moderate use is wise.

What I found out when first trying to check for tagging is two things:

1) You don't have to make the room as dark as you might think
2) You have to get the lamp a LOT closer to the stamp than you might expect (because it is a rather weak lamp).

I was holding the lamp 6 to 12 inches above the stamp and kept making the room darker and darker. Even so I could barely make out the tagging. Then I held the lamp an inch or two above the stamp and viola! No problem seeing the tagging and I could turn the lights back up, which made the whole process much easier.

One final issue is wavelength. I have two UV lamps (shortwave and longwave). It's important to know which to use. (US stamps, for example, are typically shortwave).

I also found it handy to get an inexpensive, definitive version of each type of tagging. The "Great Americans" Series is good for that. I have a grid (kinda like a tic-tac-toe board) with a blank spot in the middle and 7 of the 8 perimeter spots with a stamp affixed (one each for untagged, small block tagging, large block tagging, overall tagging, solid tagging, mottled tagging, and grainy solid tagging). Lick-and-stick the stamps or use hinges (not mounts). I used 2170a, 1862, 2171, 2187, 2187a, 1862d, and 2187b, verifying them by buying plate blocks. I can place the stamp to be checked in the middle and compare to known tagging types. Big time saver. I did the same thing with gum on Transportation coils: Shiny Gum, Low Gloss Gum, Dull Gum. I just glued the examples to the page upside down.

Happy hunting!

Lars

Like 
1 Member
likes this post.
Login to Like.

"Expanding your knowledge faster than your collection can save you a few bucks."

stamps.colp.info
Members Picture
StanC

25 Sep 2014
11:47:08pm

re: U/V Lamp Recommendations

Thanks Lars. I am getting the education I need for tagging, and I've not even thought about determining watermarks yet. All of this, at times, seems daunting, but I am having a great time learning some of the nuances. This forum has been a great help in keeping from straying into the minefields. Thanks again.

Stan

Like
Login to Like
this post

stancromlish.com
Members Picture
doodles69ca

Suzanne
26 Sep 2014
01:14:23am

re: U/V Lamp Recommendations

Also if you get headaches easily don't use the lamps often. I would be in my office which is beside the living room, and my mother could tell I was using the lamp. About 10 minutes after I started using it, she would get a horrible headache. I'd stop using it and about a half hour later her headache was gone. If I started using it again, she would get another headache.
And just to be sure that it wasn't just her imagination causing her headache, because she THOUGHT that it could, I tried a couple of times just turning on the lamp and leaving it in my office, and then coming back into the living room. Sure enough we would be just chatting or watching tv and 10 or 15 minutes would go by and she would start to get a headache.
It never bothers me, or anyone else in the family, so I guess she was just sensitive to it. Just something to think about anyhow if you suddenly get a headache for no reason.

Like
Login to Like
this post

"Stamp collectors don't go crazy, they just become unhinged."
michael78651

26 Sep 2014
01:59:17am

re: U/V Lamp Recommendations

Watching what's on television today will give anyone a headache.

Like 
3 Members
like this post.
Login to Like.
Members Picture
TuskenRaider

26 Sep 2014
02:38:38am

re: U/V Lamp Recommendations

Hi Everyone;

@ Michael; In the 1970s at engineering school, I studied the manufacturing process for the older style of TVs using cathode ray tubes. And you would be amazed at how much lead is in the glass. That is why the TV sets are so heavy. The glass weighs twice as much as it should because of the lead. Why lead you ask? Because TVs emit x-rays, due to the electrons flying out of the electron gun in the neck of those tubes. Color TVs need much higher speed electrons to make color phosphors glow and give a nice bright picture. X-rays are much more harmful to your vision than is UV. And I know that when Letterman is on the dose is even higher than any other show. Rolling On The Floor Laughing

@ Lars; Here is something about UV from sunlight that most people do not know. Wearing sunglasses that do not block UV completely, are worse than not using anything. Those blu-blockers, I don't think are any good at all. Here is what happens when you wear sunglasses. When the human eye sees less VISIBLE light, the brain thinks it is dark out, and so opens the eyes iris wide to let more light in. The human eye can't see UV from sunlight. And so now the retina is getting a huge dose of UV, that it can't see, but is very harmful.

I think there are some sunglasses that will block UV, I think I read they are made from polycarbonate. I wonder if they would allow someone to see tagged stamps while being worn.

Did you know that people that work with glass in a flame, lampworking beads or glassblowing, gives off an orange glow that is very vision harming. It is particularly strong when using borosilicate glass.

@ Stan; If my earlier post gave you a fright, don't be too concerned. As long as used properly and sensibly you will be okay. Stay away from tanning beds tho.

Keep on stampin
Ken Tall Pines

Like 
1 Member
likes this post.
Login to Like.

www.webstore.com/sto ...
Members Picture
StanC

26 Sep 2014
08:36:56am

re: U/V Lamp Recommendations

No fright, and Michael answered my question about which one. I was thinking of getting one that is both longwave and shortwave so that I wouldn't have to buy two devices. And, Lars answer about setting up definitives for checking tagging against examples.

Thanks to everyone for their advice.

Stan

Like
Login to Like
this post

stancromlish.com
michael78651

26 Sep 2014
12:40:06pm

re: U/V Lamp Recommendations

Ken, my glasses are transitional and block UV rays, especially when the lenses darken with bright light. Indoors, the lenses are clear and do not prevent me from seeing the tagging.

Like
Login to Like
this post
Members Picture
philatelia

28 Sep 2014
09:49:47am

re: U/V Lamp Recommendations

I have a very unusual problem when I work with my UV lamp. . .

I only have one room in my house that doesn't have any Florida sunshine streaming through the windows and it is a closet. Unfortunately, it is the closet where we keep the dog's toys, so every time I go in there to check tagging, my schnauzers think it is time to play. I have to grab my stamps and close the door quickly. They are not fond of this particular game! Rolling On The Floor Laughing

Like 
4 Members
like this post.
Login to Like.

"August 2023 - selling penny start bargain lots on EBay - https://www.ebay.com/str/philatelia"

www.ebay.com/str/phi ...
        

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