Question About Hinges

I know many people prefer the old packs of hinges like Dennison over the newer ones like Prinz or Supersafe. My question is, is it a big issue using the newer inexpensive (and much less peelable) hinges to mount inexpensive used stamps? Basically any stamp with a catalog value of $1 or less. I usually mount my cheap used stamps with these kind of hinges, and anything of higher value or unused and MNH goes into Scott Mounts. Just curious as to what other people think. Thanks!

No, it isn't a big issue. Most stamps are worth very little, and don't deserve more than a Prinz hinge. And, used with care, they won't kill the stamp!

Dave,

If you are only concerned with your collection and chose to use hinges, it doesn't matter. As someone who has spent a lot of time removing modern hinges by collectors whose St. Bernard apparently licked them, modern hinge users get quietly cursed......

Dan

And as long as you understand that modern hinges could negatively impact future value (as Dan posted above, buying collections with modern hinges required a LOT of work to remove and remount them and also deprecate the album pages).
I do use modern hinges on things like cut squares or corner pieces with stamps/postmarks; they hold very well for these heavier pieces. I only also use them only when the album pages do not matter since they often thin them too if the hinges are removed. I try to stick to vintage hinges and have sometimes cut them into two hinges when I mount smaller stamps like definitives.
Don

Presently, I only use them on top of already attached vintage hinges and on stamps on piece.

My last real usage for them was for mounting used stamps in circuit books, but being a buyer of such stamps made me decide to stop using them.

My conclusion is that generally, they are not worth the bother.

I have no issue with Prinz, (Just ordered my next 5,000 )
Depends if you are adept at applying "tacky" and not "wet"
Mine just "pop" off, when I lift.

If your Prinz "grab" then you are just doing it wrong.

They are never going to feel like Dennison, those magical things that feel like lifting the skin off a rice pudding.

I often feel that a properly hinged stamp on an album page,
have a better life expectancy, than those bundled randomly in glassines or envelopes.
They often stick, lift the face of other stamps, the teeth get
rounded.

I have used Prinz hinges following the instructions on reverse of the packet.
i carried out a trial removing some of the hinges (on low value stamps) and the results were positive, the hinges came off easily with little or no residue.

Nothing wrong with using modern stamp hinges, but I'd definitely do some practicing first. Just apply a few dozen of them to an old album page, let them dry, and then remove them. Try to develop the best technique for not over-wetting the hinge. It does take a little practice. A lot of collectors really do slobber over their hinges, welding them permanently to the stamp and the album page. You can use a sharp knife to cut them off, but you'll just be slicing the hinge while that hinge is going nowhere. It's all in your ability to limit the amount of moisture you apply.

Also never lick the entire hinge. Just a tiny bit of the hinge needs to be moistened to do the job.

I also think it's best not to apply a hinge to stamp or album page right away, but to wait a bit for the moisture to partly evaporate. I wave mine in the air to facilitate that. When I apply various types of glues to wood and so on, the directions always remind me to apply the glue to both objects and then to wait a minute or so for it to "tack up". That's a long time, and you might not wait quite that long with stamp hinges (they'll dry long before that) but letting the adhesive on the hinge "tack up" might not be a bad idea if you want to be able to remove the hinge later someday.

"A lot of collectors really do slobber over their hinges, welding them permanently to the stamp and the album page.'

And their slobber oozes out past the hinge and if it is a mint stamp the stamp gets stuck directly to the album page. I see it way too often.

That's the secret!




That was my mistake during my first pages 20 years ago.
Replacing "space fillers" soon had me changing the habit.

Thanks for all the advice. I have learned about not over moistening the hinges, and have had good results that way. Thanks again!

Another subtlety, after moistening, and attaching to the page,
do not press hard on the stamp, just a light touch is all that is needed.

Just purchased another 6,000
Prinz
£2.49 / 1000 GBP
$3.27 / 1000 USD

Good advice here; thanks. My only complaint about hinges is when they're curled up in the package. It takes so long to separate them and try to flatten them that they're almost not worth it. Many Amazon buyers of Prinz hinges and other major brands complain about this, too (20% of users in one case). Careful handling reduces damage to stamps and pages, but there seems to be no solution to the curling problem.

You will be happy to hear that is not the case.
see my other post.

Routine with the Long Pointies.
(It is my belief, if you purchase and master the use of long pointy tongs, your Philately experience will never look back)

Random Prinz opened yesterday (sadly they are in lower blocks (separated) I like them in larger blocks
NOTE the smaller top leaf, that attaches to the stamp.

Picking a block of 3 creased

Bending over the (one leg) as held by the tongs (gum outwards)

Lay on the desk, gum down, pick up one at a time with a tacky finger