Tweezers

I need some stamp tweezers (I'm ashamed to say that I've been collecting for several years now without using them ) and was wondering whether the ones below are adequate?



Please note that I'm only a poor student and only an amateur collector so can't afford a top-of-the-range set. All I wondered was whether this set seems reasonable for what I want. I'm sure the experts here will be able to advise .

Thanks!

Yes they are James,the spade nose or the one on the far left are very handy,I use this type the most and the needle point next to it for the stamps I drop on the tile floor (easy to get between the cracks of the tiles).
I have two of each as they tend to be miss-placed in my little corner of the world that way I always will have a set on the stamp table so I think this lot is a good choice mate.

Always make sure they have rounded tips, and also no serrated gripping surfaces.

If you are not purchasing philatelic grade tongs, I strongly recommend that you test your purchase by cutting up some thin paper (no thicker than 20lb paper stock), inserting and removing them from your stockbook/album with the stamp tongs, and then checking to see if you made any dents or creases in the paper.

I've examined more than a few collections in which the stamps were meticulously placed in stockbooks or mounts, but upon examination, all had little dents/creases due to heavy stamp tong pressure or use of serrated tweezers.

Good point Kim sorry James as this is an oversight on my behalf I should have added more to this thread as mine are philatelic tweezers

Yes, I'd have to echo khj,
the tongs illustrated are not suitable.
From my experience, the best tongs are the long pointy
ones, expensive grade, for feel and dexterity.

The best ones should cost about AUD $14.
You'll soon know what we mean when you start to pick up,
or at least try to, with blunt tongs.

khj makes very good points, as do you all. My own thoughts are that for a beginner, on a limited budget, I would only caution against these if they have any teeth. If the jaws are totally smooth and well aligned they serve well at the level this collector is apt to be working.

I actually used layman's tweezers (stub tips and serrated gripping surface) for the first 2 decades of my collecting. But because I have a "light" touch, I never damaged any stamps.

Technique is everything. You can have the best philatelic tongs, and still crimp every stamp you pick up if you have a strong squeeze or high angle grab.

This is why I suggested cutting up some stamp-sized bits of paper and insert/pickup and then examine, to practice your technique and check to see if you might be damaging the paper/stamp.

I agree with cgrotha, it is not necessary to fork out big bucks for stamp tongs, especially some of the highly specialized ones. Each person will have his/her own favorite style, and that is the one you should purchase. It may be the most expensive, it may be the cheapest one. I find that the spooned tips work the best for me. The Showgard and even higher-priced Lighthouse ones, have always cost me less than US$4 each.

I've discovered over the years that I get a much better price on stamp tongs, perforation gauges... when I purchase them with stamps from a dealer. Most dealers rely on stamps sales, not supply sales. I'm guessing that they are shaving off their margin on the supplies so that they can keep me spending on stamps. This may depend on location, but that's what I have observed in my neck of the woods.

I agree that technique is an important part of whatever you do. I have noticed that the pointy rounded-tip stamp tongs I prefer to use for more precise delicate work (?) are dangerous to use when I am somewhat distracted or tired. Then the bent-nosed spade-tipped ones come in handy, or for prolonged stamping.

Postal carriers like to use the felt-tipped black ones.

On reflection, a good way to judge a good pair of
tweezers is the "scanner test"

Try picking up stamps from your scanner platten
with anything but fine sharp tweezers.

I don't bother. I just wet my fingertips and dab. That'll pick up anything, even the largest mint S/S's.

k

Just snag em from the scanner with the glue part of a Post-it note!

Well thanks to you all guys, as ever there's some great advice out there . I probably should have added that this set is marketed as being ideal for stamp collecting, jewellery, crafts etc. Don't know if that helps in your verdicts or not

These statements are notoriously unreliable simply because they are guesses and not expert testaments. They are simply there to reach the largest market for their product and while they are probably not intentionally deceptive they are also probably not accurate when tested by actual collectors or craftsmen to their criteria.

I recently purchased a pair of Premier T-10s, the best tweezers I have owned, They were $AUD15 at a local shop.

I got some from Arrowfile.com, a UK website, for £4.95. They are listed under Stamp Tongs. I got the spade style. I didn't shop around, as I was ordering quite a bit of other stuff from there anyway. There are probably cheaper available.
You might as well hold out for "proper" ones. Christmas is coming!!