Soaking GB Stamp Question.

I know that some of the recent US self adhesives are almost
impossible to soak off.

Are there similar problems with recent GB self adhesives and/or those
with security slits?

Yes, they are dire to depaper - there was a thread about this on SCF about 4-6 weeks ago, but I can't remember where. Stamps affected are the common ones, ie the ones with holograms all over and with little tabs as well, including the "giant" machin label. All part of the fight between post offices and re-users where we stamp collectors get caught in the crossfire.

I seem to remember that people recommended using lighter fuel.

They come off fine but you need to use 'white fuel' e.g. Fuelite or Colemans camping fuel.

Here is a link to a video showing the process.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWMcVYgIZjM

I use an old credit card rather than a metal ruler.
Once dry a little talcum powder eliminates any stickyness.

You guys! Its 8.30 am on Sunday morning, what are you doing up and on SCF already!!
(...Ooops, I am too...)

Early to bed and early to rise and all that
I'm up at 5am during the week and find it difficult to change at weekends so I get up check email etc and make tea for me and Mrs AnthonyUK.

The early bird gets the worm


But the 2nd mouse gets the cheese.

Stampgal, it is 6:12 here in the eastern US, and I am on the internet. It is very satisfying to have peace and quiet except for a couple of cats cavorting about.

On the other hand, the early worm gets eaten by the worm

(good ol' James Thurber: "Early to rise and early to bed makes a man healthy, wealthy and dead")

I actually slept in this morning cause I had to pick hubby up at gastly hour this morning. On my rare days off I like to get up at 6am and surf the forum.
Thanks for the link Anthony. I'm going to try that on some stubborn Australia and US.

Dianne

That's poetic - great mental image

Thanks Anthony regarding link. I had seen that video before but
couldn't recall whether it also applied to UK stamps.
Very informative video but I think I'll leave them on paper,I'm
into Philately not Chemistry.

I realize that Postal Administrations are loosing revenue because
of reuse but I think they are turning collectors off collecting
those stamps by punishing the collector.

I guess they don't realize how much revenue they would loose if
collectors stopped buying their mint stamps to punish them.

At least Canadian self adhesives can still be soaked off but
who knows for how long.

I have often heard that the 10 Pound "Britannia" stamp was supposed to be hard to soak off paper but I have about 4 or 5 examples off paper that seem to have been soaked ok. I bought them off paper, therefore I cannot tell you how much of a problem they were to get off paper myself. This is Scott # 1478. Also heard that the new large super size Machins are hard to soak too but cannot confirm that :( I am keeping mine on piece for the time being.

Chimo

Bujutsu

I haven't had any problems with that stamp as long as I don't soak it too long - the catalogues mention stuff like the stamp coming apart in layers during soaking, but I find you can soak it long enough to remove all of the gum and it still remains in good shape. Don't know what would happen if you left it in the sink for 2 hours, though. They're easy to separate out from the rest of the pile when soaking kiloware, especially since you come across them so rarely.

Ryan

Yes, Bujutsu, the supersize machins are lousy to soak. I ruined one a couple of months ago!

Treat the horizon labels as any other SA type. It does work although they are technically labels and as such the paper is really thin.
Be careful with the security slits though.