Yet Another Soaking Thread (With Pictures)

I confess I'm not a soaker.

As a kid, I soaked, but when I returned to the hobby as an adult, I decided to collect mostly mint stamps, so I've only soaked a few stamps since then. And as I posted here before, they turned out "wavy" and disappointing. That post prompted a lively discussion from several of our experts, including the recipe for Rod's sandwich bag sandwich method.

So, drawing on the things I learned, I've documented my latest attempt for your amusement:

1. First, eat a good breakfast.



You don't have to actually eat 4 pounds of cereal, but you will need a few pieces of cardboard and cereal boxes were recommended.

2. I'm using two pans. While I'm retrieving and processing the front pan, the back one is just soaking.



3. After they float, I place them on a dish towel, as recommended by Rod.



However, I goofed by placing them face UP; don't make the same mistake. When I removed them from the towel, a few of them didn't want to release. So be sure you place them face DOWN unless you want to soak them twice.

4. After they dry on the towel, it's time to make the sandwich. I used a book as a base, then a piece of cardboard. I remembered to place the stamps face DOWN on the cardboard then covered with a sheet of wax paper (substitute for Rod's ziploc storage bags).



Not shown, I placed another piece of cardboard on top and repeated the process. Then another, ...

5. After I had all the stamps placed, separated by wax paper, and stacked, I put them in the bay window with a few books books and my "in-box" of stamp catalogs and publications.



So much for my spotless clean window.

Thanks Rod and everyone for the advice -- I'll let you know the results.

Also, if you look closely, you'll notice these stamps are all Machins. I got a great "starter" packet from McGees_org and I've been wanting to get started on them.

In 3 hours, I processed about 250 stamps.

KirkS

Wow, cool photoguide!

Kirk, thanks for the pictorial demonstration of soaking. I don't do much soaking and have had some problems with having stamps sticking that require re-soaking. If everything works out OK for you, I'll give it a try. I remember reading about Rod's sandwich/freezer bag method but wasn't aware that wax paper is another alternative.
Regards
Mike

When I soak stamps I place them on a paper towel to get the bulk of water off then they go face down on blotting
paper with layers of non stick baking paper on gum side. Stack them up with books on top and when finished let the pages dry out and use them again.
I have never had a stamp stick using this method.

That's essentially what I did, Al... except I made the mistake of not putting them face down on the towel, and I used wax paper rather than "baking paper"

I'm going to let them press a few days, but I'm anxious to see the results.

Yay! nice work Kirk S,
good luck.

Just a few pointers, bearing in mind
we all have our own ways of doing this, that's cool.

You did not goof, I put them face up on the tea towel
if they stick, you havn't got the gum off...your bad

I have perhaps 1 in 400 stick to the tea towel,
but I must admit early Austria with their 'orrible gum
(and Romania) will stick, no way around it.

Wax paper!? eeek! hope that works
I use freezer bags, nothing sticks to those fellas,
and you can use them up to 10 years (my current usage)
without detioration.
I am sending you some freezer bags in the mail

let us know how they turn out.....

PS: Tch! Tch!
Your back tray has a machin on a red envelope soaking....not good :)

Pretty cool. I do the same with the only exception of watercolor/blotter paper in place of waxed paper.

I was wondering if anyone would notice that. I dropped it in by accident, but I watched it closely for a while -- the water was warm and it didn't fade, so I left it in. Otherwise I tried to pull out the colors -- although I generally don't separate white from manila.

KS

By the way, Rod.

How many days to I leave them in the press sandwich before I can remove and sort them?

I have some one-gallon ziplock bags, I'll slice a few open for my next batch, but wax paper is very similar -- I'm not worried about that part.

Be sure to save the "Box Tops for Education" from your cereal boxes.

Hi Kirk,
no just wait for my freezer bags to arrive,
the never crease
and will never transfer marks to the stamps.

I think 5 days minimum for pressing,
you can take them out earlier
(impatience strikes us all) but sometimes they
will still curl if moisture content is high.

If you use second hand books, and place the sandwiches
amongst the pages, when you take out one sandwich
you can leave the rest in to still press whilst you
catalogue the newbies.
But the more you soak you'll find some will
stay pressed for week before you get to them.

Kirk, thanks for the photo, step-by-step guide. Very helpful! And Rod's comments were helpful in enhancing/clarifying the process.

Kirk,
I soaked a couple of hundred today,
mostly stuck downs from Romania
(some of Daniel's auction)

I know where you may be having a hiccup.

I place on the tea towel, and pat dry,
then straight in the sandwich.
you may be leaving them on the towel too long
and they are adhering.
Cheers

I must admit, that I leave most of my stamps on paper these days.
However, I did try Rod's method a couple of weeks ago and the results were outstanding. The stamps came out beautifully flat.
I used a couple of sheets of A4 paper and the freezer bag. I changed the paper after the first day and the lot was dry in 2 days.

Steve

Yes, I must vote Steve, Sandwich maker of the week,

I just received a gift of a set of 4 from Sweden
soaked by Steve employing the sandwich method,
flatter than a pikelet, and just in pristine condition.
You would hardly know they were used.