Microwaving Stamps?

Back in the generation before self adhesive stamps, most people took to the traditional way of soaking stamps in lukewarm water in order to separate the stamp(s) from their paper backing.

I recently came across this 1983 "Hints from Heloise" article suggesting that you could also place the stamps in a wet dish cloth and microwave them for a few seconds and they would separate with most of the gum still on the stamp.

Although this process may have been directed at those who wanted to re-use uncancelled stamps, I never heard of the method before. Has anyone ever tried it?

I've never heard of it. I wonder what it might do to the ink of some stamps.

I just tried it and first try the stamp didn't get wet enough, so I put it under the tap in the kitchen sink and got it all wet, wrapped it and 30 sec on microwave, set for about a min and yes it did peel off but the back of the stamp while a bit tacky wasn't with glue as unused but a rather dull slightly sticky surface. It was quick but soaking in water is only about 15min and you can do a large number in a pan. So I guess for a small amount in microwave yep it worked.

Many stamps will come off after being soaked in water only a few seconds. This sounds to me like a great solution for a non-existent problem.

Agreed. After microwaving, the stamp still would have to be soaked to remove the gum completely.

1983 did most people have microwaves? I think I recall a corner store having one to nuke a burrito but I don't recall having one. Heloise a stamp collector? Cool...

Same method works great with day-old bread'n'rolls, but I'd avoid using it with stamps.

Cheers,

/s/ ikeyPikey

LarryBruce,
I serviced microwaves in the early 80's. A lot of people owned them but they were expensive and the majority of the units out there were made in the USA from companies like Amana, Tappan, Magic Chef, Litton, etc. How many of those brands do you see these days? I would say the imports became more common in about 1987. I got out of the business in 1988. The early imported microwaves were full of electronic problems and the parts were very slow to get.
Pat

I had a Tappan Microwave in 1978! Tin foil made pretty lights! much better than the ovens of today!

I'll stick to soaking.

I think this is a classic example of the euphoria of new technology creating a surge in desire to simply use it. I remember getting our microwave in the early 80's and we sat around all evening cooking hot dogs in it and being repeatedly amazed that it only took 50 seconds. I think we ate 2 dozen hot dogs.

Someone was excited that you could "microwave" stamps off paper, and it sounded like a cool high-tech way of doing it, until they realized it was less efficient.

It might create steam. Can't steam open a sealed envelope? if so, then I think it is possible. I will try it next time.


-IBFS

I just retried this and might not be doing it right, it got the hot glue from unused stamps stuck together all over the stamps after pulling apart and that glue isn't drying very fast so is still tacky and sticking to everything which kinda defeats the point.You have to do the separating quick or the glue gets cold and will not pull apart. I stuck them all in a bowl of water to soak since I destroyed a half dozen or so, (i have a lot of stamps stuck together from box lots I bought) no fuss no muss, While at first keeping an open mind I am in the nay crowd at the moment. They didn't peel apart as cleanly as I wanted either damaging some of the front of stamps. If I soak the stamps, press and dry them I may still be able to reuse them with glue stick (they are all unused),if they look good, but the microwave method I need a little more training before It works for me. On another note I put plastic wrap over the bowel I was using and the steam was contained and when I took the bowel out of the microwave the plastic got nice and tight as the air condensed and made a bit of a vacuum seal on the bowel- might be a neat trick to seal up leftover casseroles or other stuff you don't finish and put in the fridge lol- learn a new trick every day all due to the great hobby of stamp collecting ha...

Just keep in mind that this method has a chance of: Causing the stamp to fall to pieces, leach ink from the stamp, leach ink from the colored envelope and cause it to color the stamp, change the color of the stamp, damage the stamp in other ways to horrible to mention.

I thought this sounded like a goofy idea at first, but I am going to give it a try on the newer self adhesives. I will post my results.

I apologize for being in one of my moods but, actually, the steam was not contained; it was only because some steam escaped that, when the remaining steam cooled, the air pressure dropped.

Cheers,

/s/ ikeyPikey

Speking of colored paper, any good ideas on avoiding color transfer?