Get Good Paperless Stamps From Unsoakable Stamps

OK! This is important for all And it doesn't matter about a prize.
RECIPE FOR GETTING A GOOD PAPERLESS STAMP FROM AN UNSOAKABLE STAMP (this is not shouting it's a title)
1. Put Stamp In Watermark Tray.
2. Squirt Some Lighter Fluid On It.
3. Let It Soak About 30 Seconds.
4. Peel Off Stamp.
5. Put Stamp On A Kleenex Or Paper Towel With Glue Side Up.
6. Put Baby Powder On It.
7. Spread The Baby Powder Over The Back Thus Neutralizing The Glue.

And Voila! You have a nice clean paperless stamp!
P.S. Works 99.9 % of the time.
(Big bottle Of Ronsonol at Walmart- $1.57)

the_stampaholic asked me to split this technique off as a new topic

Can I smoke a good Cuban Cigar, while doing this soaking
method ?

Bobgggg:

You're an American. You're not allowed to have a Cuban cigar. I'll smuggle one down to you next time I visit Phil & Jopie.

David

I will give one warning about this method. You must be careful. After separating the stamp from the paper the glue will be very sticky. You must be careful not to get this on the front of the stamp.

I have had stamps ruined after this sticky what I will call goo found its way to the front of the stamp. A second strong warning is to have some type of ventilation during the winter if you plan to do more than a few stamps. The lighter fluid can over power the house since you will use more than what would be needed for watermarking.

In addition we found out after my daughter got sick that not everyone can handle these fumes.

However this method will separate stamps from paper pretty fast. I have found though you will have to give it a good soaking. Be careful not to get the goo on the front of the stamp.

Important make sure your hands are very clean.

After the stamps dry the baby powder will take care of the goo. You may have some problems getting the residue cleaned from the front of the stamp though. This methods works very well on the Star War Stamps.

I have not used this method long enough to give an opinion on long term storage.

You shouldn't use lighter fluid for this! They contain oils, that will sooner or later ruin the stamps!

At least if I understand the term "lighter fluid" correctly.

You can buy rubbing alcohol ("United States Pharmacopeia standards define rubbing alcohol as a mixture of ethanol and water of fixed proportions." - Wikipedia) in pharmacies, you should use these. They vaporize without leaving remains in the stamp.

The United States Pharmacopeia might say that, but while in the U.S. rubbing alcohol used to contain ethanol, now everything you see sold as rubbing alcohol is isopropyl alcohol. That's why Vodka has been suggested, since it's ethyl alcohol or ethanol.

Hi All
I Have Some "Hoover" And "Rushmore" Stamps Coming.
I Will Test The "Vodka" Method And Post The results.
DJD

Please use cheap vodka..not Stoli's

I tried to test the Vodka method. Alas, the tonic and lime juice ruined the whole experiment and I had to drink it to dispose of it in an enviromentally friendly way.

I question the statement that.....baby powder will "neutralize" stamp gum.

I agree that it will cover and stick to any gum residue....but neutralize ?

I don't think so.

I also wonder if the powder will prevent the gum from working it's way toward your album page after the motion of turning pages....also, baby powder is often scented......how will stamp paper react over time to these products ?


I personally prefer any questionable soakers be left on cover.

Since the glue becomes a very soft goo the baby powder turns it back into a non sticky solid. Of course the stamp smells like baby powder. I do not know what the long tern effect will be. In the short run it does very well with no signs of glue/goo problems.

Again our thanks to the USPS for taking away a simple joy in order to what save a dime?
It is too bad we who collect stamps and face it we buy more and expect less (I refer to the millions of Mint stamps we buy and never require delivery service)than any other stamp consumers cannot petition for an end to this lousy glue crap they are using.

Been using lighter fluid off and on for 50 years as watermark fluid.
never had a problem. The president of the FSDA personally told me to use lighter fluid to watermark stamps. 10-18 bucks for watermark fluid is robbery.
NR-I'm not a chemist, sorry: but according to my Webster's dictionary of synonyms "neutralize" pretty well covers it.
(i.e.: counteract, offset,etc.).
Peg: you nailed it.
MK: please accept my apologies for not warning about fumes.
I assumed everyone would be older and know about them.
Also, your other points are quite right.
I would certainly hope baby powder is safe.
More on this after I do some checking in my albums.

BG4: Good idea: the smoke will "neutralize" the scent of the baby powder. Do you keep your will in a safe deposit box?
Sorry, got sidetracked by the philster.

Sounds like pretty drastic action to me to remove the self-adhesives. Who knows the long term effects of the procedure? Seems to me like the safest course of action is to do nothing except trim the stamp closely on piece and live with it.