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Oceania/Australia : how to soak off Australian self-adhesive stamps

 

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Timauld
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Tim
Collector, Webmaster

11 Dec 2008
10:09:47pm
Hi Everyone,
My mother-in-law over in Australia has been saving stamps for me. She is a lovely lady. She recently sent me over a bunch of them and I have been wondering what to do with them. I haven't tried soaking current day Australian stamps yet. Does anyone know if soaping will destroy them, like the current US stamps that someone was writing about recently.

Regards ... Tim.
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Patches
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Liz

11 Dec 2008
10:21:19pm
re: how to soak off Australian self-adhesive stamps

Hi Tim - soaking the recent Australian self-adhesive stamps will not destroy them but they are difficult to remove from paper.

I have almost mastered soaking these stubborn self-adhesives that want to stay firmly affixed to the paper. (excluding USA stamps that I now leave affixed to paper)

Use fairly hot water and leave undisturbed for about 15 minutes. Do not try to lift from the paper until the paper can be peeled away without any problem. You will probably damaged quite a few before you master the art of soaking these stamps.

Here's step-by-step instructions on soaking Australian stamps.

http://www.stamparena.com/kidszone/washing_stamps/index.php

Liz

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Rhinelander
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Support the Hobby -- Join the American Philatelic Society

11 Dec 2008
10:24:23pm
re: how to soak off Australian self-adhesive stamps

Tim,

You will like this slide show guide on how to soak off Australian self-adhesive stamps:

http://www.stamparena.com/kidszone/washing_stamps/washing_2/washing_stamps_2.php

One other problem with these recent Australian stamps is that the inkjet spray cancels appear to wash off easily. The guide recommends cold water. I have not tried that. Maybe that helps preserving the postmarks.

Arno

Edit: Liz and I should be entering a competition in simultaneous posting of messages. Nevertheless: Slide 2 says cold water and wait for 45 minutes. I have not tried either method. maybe Liz can say what is preferable.

(Message edited by rhinelander on December 11, 2008)

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Timauld
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Tim
Collector, Webmaster

12 Dec 2008
01:24:07pm
re: how to soak off Australian self-adhesive stamps

Liz and Arno,
Thanks very much for the input. I'll give that a try.

Regards ... Tim.

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Boston_bob

12 Dec 2008
03:28:48pm
re: how to soak off Australian self-adhesive stamps

I don't know if the Australian stamps are the same as the U.S., but I have had remarkable luck using lighter fluid (naphtha)to remove self adhesives from envelopes. Face up I dribble a little fluid around the stamp, wait a few minutes and then pick part of the stamp up. Now I follow the pick up while dribbling fluid at the adhesive as I go. When removed you can use more fluid on a clean cloth to remove the remnants of adhesive. If it is still sticky, use a little corn starch. I have also noted no discoloration or damage to the stamps.

May want to try this one.

Bob

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Timauld
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Tim
Collector, Webmaster

12 Dec 2008
03:34:47pm
re: how to soak off Australian self-adhesive stamps

An interesting thought Bob. I think my wife would kill me though if I started using lighter fluid in this way in our apartment.

Regards ... Tim.

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Boston_bob

12 Dec 2008
03:55:50pm
re: how to soak off Australian self-adhesive stamps

Tim,

This actually sounds worse than it is. I know quite a few stamp collectors who have used lighter fluid for years instead of watermarking fluid. My first use started over 30 years ago when I ran out of watermarking fluid. I tried a lot of strange stuff until I hit upon it. It worked so well, I never bought the watermarking stuff again.

Posted for what it's worth.

Regards,
Bob

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Bobstamp
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12 Dec 2008
06:40:26pm
re: how to soak off Australian self-adhesive stamps

IÕve used naptha for years. I expect that it is dangerous Ñ seems to me IÕve read that itÕs a carcinogen, but what isnÕt? ItÕs probably more dangerous just to walk down city sidewalks inhaling second-hand cigarette smoke. I always use it in the kitchen or bathroom with the exhaust fan on.

Funny Ñ and true Ñ story (told here before): I once visited a stamp shop and was chatting with the owner, who was using lighter fluid to check watermarks. He thought he had a very valuable Canada Large Queen, but when the watermark proved it to be a common stamp, in irritation he held it in his tongs and torched it with his Bick. It was still damp with the lighter fluid, and it burned rather quickly! He was a strange man, but generous, and taught me a lot about stamps.

Bob

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Martyn

19 Jun 2013
06:03:13am
re: how to soak off Australian self-adhesive stamps

Hi all,
just had a few minutes to myself after working my night-shift (my wife being in New York with her sisters for a couple of weeks) and thought I would tackle a few of the Australian self-adhesives that have built up, after soaking in coldish water for about 10-15 minutes all the 60c values came off very easily Big Grin but the 55c and under values are still very problematic and need very careful handling I Don't Want To See. I guess Australia have improved the gum at about the same time as increasing the postal rates.

martyn

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DSCStamps
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19 Jun 2013
02:18:48pm
re: how to soak off Australian self-adhesive stamps

I agree with Bob, but you still have to determine if the stamps are gummed or self-adhesive. Gummed, use water, Self-adhesive, use lighter fluid. I have done 1000's and have it down to a science. The self-adhesives are certainly gooey, but with a little technique and practice they are a snap. Happy squirting !!!

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Noernberg
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20 Jun 2013
10:37:57pm
re: how to soak off Australian self-adhesive stamps

Have you tried that "Pure Citrus" product?

Here's a link... not sure if you can find it, but people say it works great. And with the citrus smell, your wife will think you dusted the apartment instead of working on your stamps all day!

http://www.afcinternational.com.au/pc_orange207ml2.html



(Modified by Moderator on 2013-06-21 08:01:47)

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Martyn

21 Jun 2013
05:27:04am
re: how to soak off Australian self-adhesive stamps

can only get the pure citrus on the internet from USA and the postage ends up more than the product, but I have soaked about 200 Australian self-adhesives so far and only 4 have damage (2 of which I think were already damaged)so am quite pleased with the results in cold water.

I used to use lighter fuel all the time for watermarks but now can't see it in any of the shops around here.

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"Collect whatever YOU like, not what someone tells you."

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Timauld

Tim
Collector, Webmaster
11 Dec 2008
10:09:47pm

Hi Everyone,
My mother-in-law over in Australia has been saving stamps for me. She is a lovely lady. She recently sent me over a bunch of them and I have been wondering what to do with them. I haven't tried soaking current day Australian stamps yet. Does anyone know if soaping will destroy them, like the current US stamps that someone was writing about recently.

Regards ... Tim.

Like
Login to Like
this post

"Isaac Asimov once said if his doctor told him he was dying, he wouldn’t lament, he would just type a little faster. "

mncancels.org
Members Picture
Patches

Liz
11 Dec 2008
10:21:19pm

re: how to soak off Australian self-adhesive stamps

Hi Tim - soaking the recent Australian self-adhesive stamps will not destroy them but they are difficult to remove from paper.

I have almost mastered soaking these stubborn self-adhesives that want to stay firmly affixed to the paper. (excluding USA stamps that I now leave affixed to paper)

Use fairly hot water and leave undisturbed for about 15 minutes. Do not try to lift from the paper until the paper can be peeled away without any problem. You will probably damaged quite a few before you master the art of soaking these stamps.

Here's step-by-step instructions on soaking Australian stamps.

http://www.stamparena.com/kidszone/washing_stamps/index.php

Liz

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Rhinelander

Support the Hobby -- Join the American Philatelic Society
11 Dec 2008
10:24:23pm

re: how to soak off Australian self-adhesive stamps

Tim,

You will like this slide show guide on how to soak off Australian self-adhesive stamps:

http://www.stamparena.com/kidszone/washing_stamps/washing_2/washing_stamps_2.php

One other problem with these recent Australian stamps is that the inkjet spray cancels appear to wash off easily. The guide recommends cold water. I have not tried that. Maybe that helps preserving the postmarks.

Arno

Edit: Liz and I should be entering a competition in simultaneous posting of messages. Nevertheless: Slide 2 says cold water and wait for 45 minutes. I have not tried either method. maybe Liz can say what is preferable.

(Message edited by rhinelander on December 11, 2008)

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Timauld

Tim
Collector, Webmaster
12 Dec 2008
01:24:07pm

re: how to soak off Australian self-adhesive stamps

Liz and Arno,
Thanks very much for the input. I'll give that a try.

Regards ... Tim.

Like
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this post

"Isaac Asimov once said if his doctor told him he was dying, he wouldn’t lament, he would just type a little faster. "

mncancels.org
Boston_bob

12 Dec 2008
03:28:48pm

re: how to soak off Australian self-adhesive stamps

I don't know if the Australian stamps are the same as the U.S., but I have had remarkable luck using lighter fluid (naphtha)to remove self adhesives from envelopes. Face up I dribble a little fluid around the stamp, wait a few minutes and then pick part of the stamp up. Now I follow the pick up while dribbling fluid at the adhesive as I go. When removed you can use more fluid on a clean cloth to remove the remnants of adhesive. If it is still sticky, use a little corn starch. I have also noted no discoloration or damage to the stamps.

May want to try this one.

Bob

Like
Login to Like
this post
Members Picture
Timauld

Tim
Collector, Webmaster
12 Dec 2008
03:34:47pm

re: how to soak off Australian self-adhesive stamps

An interesting thought Bob. I think my wife would kill me though if I started using lighter fluid in this way in our apartment.

Regards ... Tim.

Like
Login to Like
this post

"Isaac Asimov once said if his doctor told him he was dying, he wouldn’t lament, he would just type a little faster. "

mncancels.org
Boston_bob

12 Dec 2008
03:55:50pm

re: how to soak off Australian self-adhesive stamps

Tim,

This actually sounds worse than it is. I know quite a few stamp collectors who have used lighter fluid for years instead of watermarking fluid. My first use started over 30 years ago when I ran out of watermarking fluid. I tried a lot of strange stuff until I hit upon it. It worked so well, I never bought the watermarking stuff again.

Posted for what it's worth.

Regards,
Bob

Like
Login to Like
this post
Members Picture
Bobstamp

12 Dec 2008
06:40:26pm

re: how to soak off Australian self-adhesive stamps

IÕve used naptha for years. I expect that it is dangerous Ñ seems to me IÕve read that itÕs a carcinogen, but what isnÕt? ItÕs probably more dangerous just to walk down city sidewalks inhaling second-hand cigarette smoke. I always use it in the kitchen or bathroom with the exhaust fan on.

Funny Ñ and true Ñ story (told here before): I once visited a stamp shop and was chatting with the owner, who was using lighter fluid to check watermarks. He thought he had a very valuable Canada Large Queen, but when the watermark proved it to be a common stamp, in irritation he held it in his tongs and torched it with his Bick. It was still damp with the lighter fluid, and it burned rather quickly! He was a strange man, but generous, and taught me a lot about stamps.

Bob

Like
Login to Like
this post

www.ephemeraltreasur ...
Martyn

19 Jun 2013
06:03:13am

re: how to soak off Australian self-adhesive stamps

Hi all,
just had a few minutes to myself after working my night-shift (my wife being in New York with her sisters for a couple of weeks) and thought I would tackle a few of the Australian self-adhesives that have built up, after soaking in coldish water for about 10-15 minutes all the 60c values came off very easily Big Grin but the 55c and under values are still very problematic and need very careful handling I Don't Want To See. I guess Australia have improved the gum at about the same time as increasing the postal rates.

martyn

Like
Login to Like
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"Collect whatever YOU like, not what someone tells you."

www.facebook.com/gro ...
Members Picture
DSCStamps

19 Jun 2013
02:18:48pm

re: how to soak off Australian self-adhesive stamps

I agree with Bob, but you still have to determine if the stamps are gummed or self-adhesive. Gummed, use water, Self-adhesive, use lighter fluid. I have done 1000's and have it down to a science. The self-adhesives are certainly gooey, but with a little technique and practice they are a snap. Happy squirting !!!

Like
Login to Like
this post
Members Picture
Noernberg

20 Jun 2013
10:37:57pm

re: how to soak off Australian self-adhesive stamps

Have you tried that "Pure Citrus" product?

Here's a link... not sure if you can find it, but people say it works great. And with the citrus smell, your wife will think you dusted the apartment instead of working on your stamps all day!

http://www.afcinternational.com.au/pc_orange207ml2.html



(Modified by Moderator on 2013-06-21 08:01:47)

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www.noernbergstamps. ...
Martyn

21 Jun 2013
05:27:04am

re: how to soak off Australian self-adhesive stamps

can only get the pure citrus on the internet from USA and the postage ends up more than the product, but I have soaked about 200 Australian self-adhesives so far and only 4 have damage (2 of which I think were already damaged)so am quite pleased with the results in cold water.

I used to use lighter fuel all the time for watermarks but now can't see it in any of the shops around here.

Like
Login to Like
this post

"Collect whatever YOU like, not what someone tells you."

www.facebook.com/gro ...
        

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