How To Use Mounts (Edited #2)

I must also reiterate the use of a glue stick. Glue sticks are moisture free, so they won't damage the stamp the way water or saliva will.

I have also reused a ton of mounts glued on with glue sticks. Sometimes, some paper comes off. I have used three different stamp stores in my life and they have all recommended glue sticks. For years I thought everyone just used glue sticks.

I use a q-tip and put a strip of moisture 1/3 of the way from the top and bottom of the mount. This allows for fairly easy removal if needed without damaging the page and the mount, so it can be re-used if needed. I use the open top type, and have never had a stamp fall out or even move in them. I don't plan on removing too many of them though, unless I get a better stamp that perhaps has some selvage which would require a larger mount, so perhaps I over-glue them a bit thinking that they will never be coming out. The stamps I am removing from the split-back type in my grandfather's albums are almost always damaged in some way due to the stiffness of the mount not allowing the stamp to "curve" with the page, which results in a creased stamp.

When it comes to cutters, I have found the Fiskars roller blade type to be the best. After using numerous very expensive (and cheap) guillotine type cutters, I have come to realize that there is no way to stop the arm from becoming loose, which results in a cut that is not 100% straight.

Hi Big Texx


Probably not. The only thing different is that with a lot of moisture the mount is hard to remove if need be.

Jerry B

Hi mystic226


I guess they made the guillotines better 20 years ago. Mine has not
come loose in that time or has it become dull.

However, there is a tip made by Showgard in the use of the guillotine. In all the pictures showing how to "assemble" the cutter the ruler bar is always at the top. Someone at Showgard suggested that it might be better to place it at the bottom of the guillotine. That is where mine has been in all the years.
Maybe that is why I have had such good luck with it.

Jerry B

Thanks jbcev. As far as removal I haven't had much of a problem. The quip method would seem to be the best route in my mind when convenient. That's is just my preference of course.

Great advice here, when I go through collections, it is rare to find mounts that were used right and very often I find that previously hinged stamps were put into mounts!

I use vario stock pages, I believe they are the most versatile. But, I think mounts can really enhance the appearance of the stamp and are arguably the most aesthetically pleasing.