Hello Nick, welcome!
Sounds like fun sorting through all those stamps.
Perf gauges can be OK to use, don't worry. Depends on if you are collecting USA and use a Scott's catalogue or worldwide like Canada or British Commonwealth countries where a different measurement gauge is better. Having both is perfect!
I've been at stamp collecting for years and eons and have aperf gauge but hardly use it really. Just once in a while. But when you need it , you really need it. Good to have one and practice up.
Acatars can be whatever image you like as long as the forum dad says OK.
Go to All Forums or Forum Home and the scroll down to the bottom topics to Stamp Community Support. Go in there are read up and then start a new topic of your own and add in you image. To change it do the same thing again if you want.
You supply the image, let the Admins crop it and sort it out for you as they suggest to do.
Posted 10/25/2011 6:28 pm
It has stamps from around the world, three albums all partially full and bunches of odds and ends envelopes full of stamps, mostly still on cut off covers. My biggest problem identifying them is the perforations! Staring at those tiny holes makes my eyes cross 
