Hinge Moistening Tool?

Is there a tool available for precisely moistening stamp hinges? I always seem to over-moisten hinges and would like a repeatable way to get just the right amount on the hinge exactly where it needs to be.

If only I had stockpiled those easily peelable hinges from the '70s, I wouldn't need to be asking this...

Thanks!

I don't know about anyone else but I use my tongue. That's as precise as I get, after-all it shouldn't require rocket science. Other than that I'd probably use a q-tip.

I lick my finger, and then gently dab the hinge whilst holding with the tweezers.
It is a real art, once mastered, you won't look back, the hinge is barely tacky.
Proof in the pudding, is the ability to peel off a budget hinge, (I use the German, Prinz) with nary a mark.

It is doable.

Rod222: I never thought of moistening a hinge that way--could be just the ticket. Coincidentally, I have a few thousand Prinz hinges to use up...

While away at work today I was contemplating heading down to the craft store and carefully examining some artists' paint brushes for possible use as a hinge moistener--but I'll try the moist fingertip first.

I have seen little round flat pieces of sponge used in offices for stamps. Should work for hinges to.

Kind regards, Johan

For your reflection.
If you have ever had mint, full gum stamps, together in a glassine on a humid day, and they end up stuck together......just....so you try and separate, and off comes a bit of design, Sheesh !

Well that is all the moisture you need to get the gum of a hinge ready to "re -set" .....barely tacky.
It will take some practice, but eventually as you dab the hinge, you can feel the "tackiness".

The only downside, maybe 1 in 100 will dislodge after many page turns.

The big pay off, is when you need to remove, and they just peel effortlessly like those famous Hinges aforementioned.

That said, they will never be that good.

If you lick your finger, and it slides on the gum of the hinge, you have Waaaay too much moisture.

I just moisten my index finger and use that as my Hinge Moistening Tool.

Jack Kelley

I need to improve my hinge moistening skills. I am surprised no one has made a statement that saliva is probably bad for stamps and need to use deionized water. It is not my big concern though. If I end up in a craft supply store, I will look around for something.

however, cats do it more delicately -- but be caredul of the barbs on their tongues.

Thank you so much for the thoughtful replies--and the good cheer!

So glad I joined this forum. It is going to make collecting so much more fun!

I do not use hinges for my stamps, but it occurs to me that using a small paintbrush and deionized water in a watermark tray would be an effective way to moisten hinges.

A million stamp collectors lick stamp hinges and mounts every day while never questioning what they are licking and what are the long term effects are, if any?

The point is, one should not be "licking"
The objective is, to turn the viscosity of the gum on the hinge, from a solid to something that is barely "tacky" so it grabs the page.

The next point is the humidity of the environment, to which the stamp is subject,
A humid environment is going to create havoc with the gum, and whatever may have been transferred (were you eating a Tim Tam whilst moistening the hinge)

I break down stamp album pages, hinged, that are sometimes 50-60 years old, and well hinged stamps lift off with nary a mark, still.
Others, where low quality stamp hinges, show a rectangle of brown stain, from the hinge leaf, totally ruined.

I also think you have to disturb/slightly scrub the gum surface of the hinge to promote that tackiness. You can wet the surface very lightly, but it won't stay stuck down when dry. So there is still an art to it. The effect is evident on mailing envelopes where a quick light lick of the gum may not seal the envelope.