Identifying Grill Types On On-Cover Stamps

Can anyone help with this topic? I have all the measurements of each grill variety for each issue, and I also try to use the specialized guide that is clear plastic you can use to superimpose the grill size over the stamp, but they are most often too hard to see. how do you cover collectors out there differentiate the various grills? Gets important on the blackjacks or the #65 set... any methods you can share?

Take a thin foil piece (type you get from Rollo chocolates) and smooth it out. Lightly rub it on top of the stamp and the grill impressions will appear on the foil. I learned this trick from Richard Drews, who taught an APS class on the classic grills.

Warning: Should not use this method if you are a diabetic. If you are, have the neighbor's child in the same room, not yours. Rollo's are very good and you can't eat just one.

Art

Do you have to lick the foil clean prior to applying it to the stamp?

See warning above. Do so at your own risk. But, I don't think stamps like chocolate.

Nice idea. What do you use to rub the foil with? Finger or other object?

I use regular, quality, aluminum foil and rub with a soft pencil eraser.

Ive tried this having read it in Brookman (i think) but did not get much result. perhaps I didnt do it right, I will the candy foil idea, a finer grade of foil than my kitchen stuff might well be better, thanks

most recommendations in the literature refer to loose stamps, usually on the back- no good to a cover collector

Once while on a camping trip, I needed some aluminum foil, and made the trip into the nearest town to get a box, found some on sale, and returned to camp. When I went to use the sale foil, it had to be the thinest aluninum foil I've ever seen. So instaed of licking the Rollo's foil maybe some economy foil would be the answer.