Anyone Using Crystal Clear Interleaves In Their Stockbooks?

Hi,

I just got myself a Pair of Lighthouse stockbooks with crystal clear interleavings. Problem is, when I opened the stockbooks, it seemed moisture is trapped between the 2 clear interleaves. Did anyone notice this or is it just my case? Or am I wrong? It looks the same if you pour a drop of water on a acrylic and then place another acrylic over it. It will display a rainbow kind of smudge. I thought Lighthouse stockbooks are the best. Anyone had this issue?

Hey indieguy,

I am wondering if what you are seeing in your Lighthouse stockbooks is similar to what is observed in Lindner albums - see the response of Lindner below to a very similar inquiry about their products:

"Dear Mr. xxxxxx,
Thank you for your E-Mail.

Concerning your question about the multicolored "puddles" which appears on the page, we would like to clarify that our film sleeve is 100% acid and softener free. The iridescent spots on the film material of LINDNER pages are residues of lubricants which are used for the fabrication of the film, so that the film paste will not glue to the calender rolls. If the film is statically charged and under pressure, the lubricants appear in iridescent spots on the film. However, this effect does not harm the stamps at all.

Our pages are periodically tested and certified by independent institutions to ensure safety and complete protection of your valuable stamps.

I hope this helps.
If you would like to have a copy of our "Certificate of Analyzation" please let me know.

If you have any further questions please do not hesitate to call us at 1-800-654-0324 or write to us.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Micky Molsen

Manager
LINDNER Publications, Inc.
P.O. Box 5056
E.Syracuse, NY 13220"

Hey Varsia,

Seems like you just made my day. I was getting mad at the thought that, is it moisture creeping in the stockbooks? What is it? Yes it is exactly what mentioned in the Lindner email.

But, out of curiosity, why are they using these transparent films instead of the glassines? Are these better?

I think that, when talking about stockbooks, the use of crystal-clear, acetate interleaves allows better direct viewing of the stamps, compared to glassine inteleaves. Actually, Lighthouse uses both types in its stockbooks. I have been using their stockbooks (with acetate interleaves) and I consider them top-of-the-line. I particularly like the fact that you can open them flat on the table.

Varsia,

As far as I know, the slipcase ones have only clear interleaves and quite costly. I dont know but aesthitically I find the glassine ones better. Also the strips of the stockbooks are curled in many of the pages. Can I use them without a problem, I paid 50 usd each for these!

Indieguy,

I am not clear on what you are saying. Is it the clear, acetate interleavesthat are curling or the strips holding the stamps? The acetate interleaves in my Lighthouse stockbooks never curl!

By the way are your stockbooks the 64-page ones? These are high prices you are paying - is it the postage to India that is adding up?

Varsia,
No not the aceetate interleaves but the strips that hold the stamps. These strips are curled in some of the pages. Is that ok?
I paid for a 32 page one available through Canada Post free shipping. I really wish I got these cheap from somewhere in world.

Well, I have not encountered such a problem with either Lighthouse or any other stockbooks. It might have to do with how they were stored by the merchant selling them, and not with a production problem. Maybe others on this board can let you know about issues of safety in such a case.

You might want to check Kosel-Shop in Austria. They have a very extensive stock of supplies, decent prices and they are very reliable. I use them all the time for my supplies.

I have bought some tweezers from Kossel. Yes they are very very good. By the way by curling I mean the strips are not fully flat end to end. It would be good if I can how a picture probably.

I dislike glassine interleaves because glassine will wrinkle and tear; the clear film will not.

KirkS

I use the Lindner or Lighthouse ones with crystal strips for the stamps but glassine interleaves, but will eventually move to full crystal for the same reasons mentioned by Kirk. Problem is those stockbooks are considerably more expensive. Using crystal strips is already quite a bit more expensive then glassine ones.

I own several Lighthouse stockbooks (both the crystal clear interleavings and the glassine ones) and at first I preferred the glassine ones due to economic reasons; however, I have grown to love the crystal clear interleavings because it makes viewing my stamps that much easier and I find it much more attractive than the glassine interleavings. The only downside for me is the static charge that causes the clear interleaves to stick to one another when I turn the pages. I find this quite annoying. I haven't tried a anti-static wipe or anything yet, but may have to.

That said, I too noticed the same "rainbow-like" smudge from the crystal clear interleaves and was initially concerned about it, but after asking around I found that this is common and harmless.