How To Use Mounts (Edited #2)

Hi

I wrote this on another board and thought that it may be pertinent here also. These tips are from Showgard and myself, having used these mounts for what seems forever.

The folowing tips are specifically for "split-back"mounts but can apply to "open-top" mounts also.

1. DO NOT moisten the mount with the stamp in the mount.

2. DO NOT LICK the mount. Use a damp Q-Tip (Cotton Bud,
or whatever it is called outside the US). Apply a little moisture
ONLY to the top third of the mount. You do not have to wet the entire back.
Also, when using the Q-Tip use 2 or 3 dabs of water or if wetting
the entire width, moisten from the middle to an edge. This will
reduce the chance of moisture creeping into the mount.

3. If moisture does creep in at an edge, take a small piece of
torn paper and use the ragged paper edge as a "blotter".

4. Put the stamp into the mount ONLY after it is fully dried.

5. DO NOT try to "squash" a stamp into a mount. Use the
next size up. There are times that one has to use a
mount with the split vertical to get the "right" size. I
have never had a stamp fall out when using it this way.

6. When cutting a strip to width. Measure the stamp perf
tip to perf tip in millimeters and add 3 to get the final
width. This tends to make the "border" around the stamp
look equal since the 2 mount welds are almost 3 mm.

7. When cutting mounts use a guillotine and NOT scissors.
I have seen someone actually cut the perfs off a stamp.

The above tips, #1 to #5, are direct from the Showgard people.

A useful item for mounts larger than the guillotine can handle is the following Hawid item:
http://www.bedwynstamps.com/hawid-c...ge-102-p.asp

I have been using Showgard mounts since they came onto the market, 20+ years. The ONLY damage I have ever had was when I was lazy and did not follow the rules.

I am partial to Showgard Mounts. Having used other mounts, it seems to me that Showgard mounts are a little heavier than the others.

Jerry B

Thanks for sharing this with us

Cheers

Don't forget the suggestion that was made on another post recently: Try and use a stamp hinge to "mount the mount". The reason is that once a mount is applied to a stamp album page, it is there permanently and cannot be re-used. If you apply the mount with a stamp hinge, it is easily removable and/or repositioned without having to use a new mount.

Probably not the best solution for a permanent album application, but could be a very useful tip in those instances where it becomes necessary to reposition a stamp often.

Hi wt1



When would it be necessary to reposition a stamp often? I use blank quadrille pages exclusively and if I have to reposition a stamp I usually have to re-do the page. I do not see why if using pre-printed pages.

Jerry B

I starting hinging the mounts when I realized how easy it is to damage a stamp while inserting it into, or removing from, a split-back mount glued to a page.

The mounts that open on three side make me nervous, so I've avoided them.

Stamps are repositioned when you create custom pages, exhibits, etc.

It's good to see collectors who use mounts
are still hingeing

Long live the hinge!

I use a Fiskars rolling cutter for cutting my mounts. I got it at the office supply store and really like it. This is a small version of their table top size and gives great control (and I think safer than a guillotine style.

touche Rod

I am sure I am the only one that doesn't follow rule #2. So since I am alone in this licking thing can someone shed some light on why this is not a good thing to do?

I will say that in all my years of collecting and mounting stamps, I have never damaged (to my knowledge) a stamp by licking the mount. I am lazy and don't have a q-tip and glass of water handy at all times. To be honest I'm not sure that I will ever change. That being said I am getting more anal in as I age so never say never.

Great tips.

Shame you had to include


That lowered the tone somewhat but I do have to agree.
I can guess what other forum you mentioned and if correct the NEVER! would have been in THIS size or larger and in RED

Hi,

AnthonyUK:
Yes you are right as to the location of the initial publication. It was an oversight to leave in the source of the quote. I did not mean to. Please forgive me P.S. I edited number 7 and it should now be acceptable.

Big Texx:
When you lick a mount there is a good chance of moisture seeping into the mount from the edges. If the stamp is in the mount you may end up with damage to the stamp. Believe me, even with a Q-Tip I have done this with a stamp in the mount.

Jerry B

wt1 YOU CAN reuse the mounts or reposition them after they have been put in an album.. I use a school supply glue stick and a little dab will do you. It comes in a tube just like chap stick. Works great and is easy to apply. Sometimes the ones I moisten originally fall off so I just use the glue stick to put them back on. Then they don't fall off the page anymore. I will admit I have never tried to remove a mount once it's been glued but why would I anyway? I only put the glue, a dab again, on one half. I've been using the Mystic Mounts and I am real happy with them.

jbcev- I see our point about the spittle seepage onto the stamp if in the mount. Would there be an issue with licking the mount and applying to the page without the stamp in it? Then waiting for it to dry, as described above, and inserting the stamp?

Hi Big Texx

Why lick at all. The gum must taste lousy.

With a Q-tip you have control as to how much moisture is on the gum and where it is being wetted.

Jerry B

It usually comes down to convenience. My tongue is always available.

I will try to have a supply of Q-tips available.

But my question still remains, if there is no stamp in the mount, does licking the mount have any affect on the integrity of the mount, etc?

After the licked mount is dry and the stamp is inserted is it any different than using a Q-tip?