Watermark Fluid Question

My watermark fluid is about gone and time to order - I think there are non-fluid watermark detectors, right?. My question is do they work well and are they cost effective. I have never looked at other non-fluid options. How do other forum members check for watermarks? I actually like checking for watermarks but the fluid seems to almost evaporate in the bottle.

Since I am just becoming active again, it has been awhile since I looked at watermarks. Years ago, we used lighter fluid. But - I think that I will hear about that from others.

There are those on the forum who advocate Ronsonol (lighter fluid). Others (me, but I don't do a large volume, so the cost isn't a biggie) prefer "Watermark Fluid" which I get from Uni-Safe, but the cost is much higher.

Some stamps you can do by either holding up to a lamp, or just putting it upside down in a black tray and looking at it with a strong lamp. Others I just can't do without a fluid to reveal them. Even then, some are hard to see. But, that may have more to do with my eyes these days .

Dave.

I use this method.

How do you check a MNH stamp for watermark without destroying gum?

Lighter fluid or watermark fluid will not disturb the gum on mint stamps, not even a little. There are also fluid-less methods, which work with to varying degrees.

I use lighter fuel. You can use several surfaces provided they are hard and clean - ceramic tile, metal tin, dinner plate... the lid of the wife's laptop is my favourite! It's a very cheap option and I've never yet seen any damage to a stamp.

"I've never yet seen any damage to a stamp."

US Postage Due stamps J29-50 bleed when soaked in lighter fluid.

Thanks all.

Clarity

"Clarity was developed at the request of the American Philatelic Society for an improved watermarking fluid that is safe to use for philatelic materials. Clarity combines superb optical resolution with a moderate evaporation rate in a solvent free, non-hazardous formulation"

I use the dark glass furniture coasters as watermark trays.
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_odk...ers&_sacat=0
Don

In addition to safe liquid I use this: Signoscope_T1
The T1 is quick and easy to use and will detect almost everything that cannot be seen by using liquid.

Had a stamp dealer her in the US, show me Lighter fluid, in his shop on a stamp--it works! but wow the smell!

I like the smell of it, I wonder more about the health hazard of less smelling stuff like the one sold my Unitrade

Fluid is absolutely necessary to detect watermarks on US stamps, of course, but most of the world's watermarks, at least the ones most common in my collection, are easily visible without fluid. Some German watermarks from the inflation era can be so prominent they're visible even from the front.