Stamp Tongs, Yes Or No?

Forgive me, but since I'm just getting back into this hobby, I'm going to have a lot of questions that I didn't even consider when I was a 7 year old collector. This particular question centers on stamp tongs. How many of you use them? Maybe it's because I'm just used to using my hands and fingers to handle stamps, and therefore find it easier than tongs, but what are the advantages? I can certainly understand using them for very high value MOG stamps, but for a, let's say MH stamp, is it really necessary? As an example, a mint Columbian that has been hinged with original gum...are the oils, etc., from your fingers going to do any additional damage to the stamp in the long run? I know not to use my wet/sweaty/oily fingers when handling a MOG, so I keep my fingers dry as possible, so that the gum is not disturbed. Trying to properly place these stamps into mounts with tweezers and keep them centered is not an easy task. Is this normal for most of you, or do I just need more practice?

I would say yes you need tongs. Oils and such in the long run will damage a stamp. I'd say you need more practice.

Practice, practice, practice!

I like you have restarted my addiction that I put on hold as a kid, though I am a few years in this time around. I also had trouble getting used to tongs, but after a while you will find you are twice as fast with tongs. I keep several around, 5 -10, due to constantly misplacing them.

I use: C – Bent Spade or Shovel, D – Round Tip, E – Professional Point. I like the Bent Spade or Shovel the best as I can get stamps off a flat surface easier. But that is just my opinion. Get a few and try them out.

We had a thread about tongs here on SCF a while back.

See here:

https://goscf.com/t/29862&SearchTer...,or,tweezers

I'd say close to 100% of collectors use tongs, they are probably the most basic required item in philately. They're not hard to learn to use at all.

OK...thanks for the input again! I have one set that I purchased from Mystic that are 6" "professional" tongs, made in Germany. Not sure of the tip, but they are "sort of" pointed, but slightly rounded on the end. I agree with the comments above...I probably just need more practice. I was thinking originally, that I would mostly use them when soaking "on paper" stamps, but I see I need to rethink this and just get used to them. I do a lot of cooking, and thus need different style knives. I guess the same holds true for tongs as well. Thank you all for the advice and guidance! Larry

Hi,
I too just got back into the hobby last year. I do believe that tongs are the only way to go. With a bit of practice, it soon becomes the norm, and using your fingers will seem just "wrong". Now having said that, I have certainly touched stamps with my bare fingers, but not very often and very, very carefully.

The reasons are pretty straight forward.......... Our hands have dirt and oil on them, which will affect a paper "anything" to one degree or another. Also, our hands were not meant to pick up something the size of a stamp off of a flat surface. Sooner or later, doing this will cause bends or tears. Gee, I sound like I'm so smart........... Ha, I just learned the hard way.

in short -YES! use tong to avoid getting dirt, debris, grease etc.. on your stamps.

I have only one set. The rounded flat. I guess you might call it spade type. I got them when I was 13 years old and first started collecting. I'm almost 68 and still using the same tongs. Yea they do get lost in the shuffle once in a while but I have sort of a tray for supplies and have gotten in the habit of putting them back in the tray when finished using so I don't have much trouble keeping track of them. Welcome to SCF

Tray? Hmmmmmmmmmmm! Darn good idea! Tongs, magnifying glass, perf gage, mount strips, straight-edge with etched mm and cm markings, single edge razor blades (for cutting mounts because I'm too cheap to buy a guillotine)...right now, my stuff is scattered all over the darn desk! I wonder if a big "silverware tray" will work? (Gee...the wife will be upset when she reaches in the silverware drawer, LOL!!)

Looking at "barhata"s, link that was posted, another question occurred to me...HUMIDITY! I know I'm not the only one on here from Florida. We have a very bad humidity problem, and mine is complicated by living in a condo directly on the beach! Obviously, this is not good for OG stamps. I am protecting as many as I can in mounts, but what about overstock, etc.? I have a dehumidifier that I run, but it still doesn't do the job. I have started saving the little packets that come in my medication that all of us old f*rts seem to have to take and tossing them in the cabinet with my albums, but that really isn't enough either. Anyone know of an "industrial size" silica gel packet that would last for any length of time. The problem in Florida with the humidity also translates to"MOLD", which none of us want as far as our stamps are concerned.

Bread Loaf Pan works great!

This is a pretty good article from barhata. It explains why there are different tip shapes and why. This is important.

But I would feel funny using a stamp tong with the name "6 lethal tip". There are alot of posts here and I didn't read everything, but if no-one has said it yet...don't get plastic tongs. A good pair will last you forever. Plastic is not often "better" than metal. Unless you are doing something with real weird chemicals that a particular plastic tong is resistant to.


-IBFS

I use a Showgard #904. I even use them for handling used. I just remember getting lectured as a kid to always use them.

Hi sprtsracer, I live in the Seattle area and we have humidity problems too. I use a product called damprid that I get at the hardware store. I keep 2 - 3 in the room I have my stamp stuff in and it seems to work. Check it out. yakboomer