30 Second C1 Peroxide Soak

It's way easier (and a hundred times quicker) to just roll the hydrogen peroxide on with a Q-tip. Zero effect on the gum (or even the paper, if done carefully.) I have no idea why people even try these bowl/plate methods on mint stamps. They're virtually guaranteed to damage the gum.

The problem (conceptually) is pretty simple to understand. If you create an "environment" rich enough in peroxide to do its magic on the ink, it's also (by definition) humid enough to wreak havoc on the gum... Face down will work better than gum down (it will definitely stick to whatever it's touching,) but no matter how you position the stamp, the surrounding "environment" is going to be too humid to avoid disturbing/sweating the gum to some extent.

The other problem is that creating these "peroxide-rich" environments takes forever (usually overnight,) and the quicker you try to make it happen (e.g. enclose the area by putting a plate on top,) the more likely you are to ruin the gum.

So just roll the H2O2 on (or drag it across) the raised ink of the design with a Q-tip. It'll probably take 3-5 applications to complete the restoration (resist the urge to leave the Q-tip a little "wet" and "push" it into the areas showing color change,) and shouldn't require more than 5-10 minutes of time (unless the discoloration is severe.)

That makes sense, srailkb. I may restrict the "environmental bath" method to used stamps.

FWIW, I even recommend the Q-tip method for used stamps. If you "soak" used stamps in H2O2 (or put them in a peroxide-rich environment like bowl/plate setup,) then make sure you soak the stamp thoroughly in water (I'd recommend distilled) when finished before putting it back in your album. Bleaches like H2O2 damage many things, including paper. Without a really good water bath after a peroxide treatment, the bleach will continue to damage the paper fibers. IMO, it's best not to put H2O2 and paper in contact with each other at all, if you can avoid it.

great advice - thanks!

Very interesting topic guys. I have learned lots.

Thanks for sharing your ideas.

Dianne

BTDT (Been There, Done That).

Q/ Has anyone ever had a *good* result from radically over-treating, over-soaking ...?

That would be a 'Man Bites Dog' story, eh?

Cheers,

/s/ ikeyPikey

Color me stupid, but if what we want is easily-reactive oxygen, why not CAREFULLY use an ozone generator?

Hydrogen peroxide comes with water vapor, threatening (G-d Forbid) our Blessed Original Gum; ozone, not so much.

http://www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/ozonegen.html 'Ozone Generators that are Sold as Air Cleaners'

http://www.ct.gov/dph/lib/dph/envir...ct_sheet.pdf The Warning Label

http://www.amazon.com/Enerzen-Comme.../B00JAP733I/ an example, not an endorsement

http://www.odorfreemachines.com/ Just open all of your albums, and leave the room!

http://www.jenesco.com/ozone-genera...afe-use.html same advice

'How To Make a Homemade Ozone Generator (Air Purifier)'


No scolding from people who use UV lights & watermark fluid, okay?

Cheers,

/s/ ikeyPikey

*** Edited by Staff to add YouTube tags. Please use them in the future. We prefer embedded video. ***

Apparently it's hard to get pure hydrogen peroxide, and quite dangerous to try to concentrate the stuff you get at the local drug store.

Ikey, I wondered the same thing about ozone. I also wonder if humidity is necessary for the reaction to take place.

Another common source of ozone is an ozone generator for a pool or hot tub. Ozone is much denser than air at above freezing temperatures, so sticking the outlet tube of the generator into any container with the stamp lying at the bottom would work. Lightly seal the container if there is a breeze and preferably try this outdoors. Results would be seen within minutes.

Oxygen can react violently with many materials; one common exothermal reaction is called 'burning'.

Although the hydrogen peroxide you buy at the drug store is stated herein as 3%, that does not mean that it is diluted from 'pure' hydrogen peroxide, or that such a thing is practical, or commercially available.

I cannot imagine how you would 'concentrate' a hydrogen peroxide 3% solution; pretty much whatever you did to get rid of the water would be more than enough to get rid of the hydrogen peroxide, first.

Cheers,

/s/ ikeyPikey

Concentrating hydrogen peroxide isn't very difficult. The freezing point of H2O2 varies by concentration and your household freezer is all you need.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrogen_peroxide

A google search for "concentrate hydrogen peroxide" leads to many DIY articles and videos.

Your household freezer isn't going to get you past 30% or so. However, at that concentration it is reactive enough to be considered a hazardous material. 12% is strong enough to bleach hair white.

Oh ... that old trick. It was ~1968 that I learned, via my brother, that folks in Maine would make apple jack, and then set it outside (think 'Maine' & ' winter'), and then wait a few days, and then pull-out the slivers of ice, and then bring the jug indoors, and then take a drink ... with remarkable results.

Freezing hydrogen peroxide solution to wring-out the water? Totally Old School. I happily stand corrected.

Meanwhile, as to my question: why not use ozone?

Cheers,

/s/ ikeyPikey

It is amazing what one can learn perusing the threads at SCF. It is like being in school again, except more fun this time.

Guys...Some time peroxide does almost nothing...I soaked 3 over 100 year old stamps to try peroxide (dont worry, I have lots more)..I bathed them for 5 minutes each...Can you even see any difference..??