Which Stamp Mounts Do You Prefer?

Hawid clear toploaders, but this calls for having page protectors that the album pages can be inserted in. This does a good job holding the mounts in place while flipping pages so no stamps come out.

How fast to you flip pages? I've never had this problem while turning pages, and I use "toploaders" exclusively.

I don't like to push stamps down into the bottom of the mounts, just enough to get them in place. I've found without the page protectors that they get crooked in the mounts more often. For modern unused self-adhesive stamps with backing, I've had problems with them falling out of the mounts with no page protectors.

Just a personal preference, plus the protectors keep the pages from getting soiled or damaged. Certificates can be placed on the back side of the page also.

I'm currently using Prinz mounts. Okay, mostly I'm just using hinges, but when I want a mount, Prinz is what I have. I'm quickly noticing one issue though. If I ever want to move a mounted stamp, it's hard on my album. The mounts are sticky enough that they tear up some of the page. Are all the brands like that?

They are if you dampen them, especially all over. Using a dab of glue stick makes them much easier to remove, although you're still likely to have some paper damage.

When I end up having to move something I just leave the mount and make a new one for the new spot.

I like the Showgard split-back mounts. I haven't had any issue with moisture leaking onto the stamp. I just moisten a tiny bit at the top of the mount and that is sufficient to hold it.

Poor planning, or change in design idea/philosophy?

I use Showgard exclusively, for a few reasons. Mostly economics. Out of the main mount manufacturers, Showgards are the only ones I have found where I can buy bulk "seconds". I buy clear, split back strips, and slice them lengthwise, like Rod, to create strips of top loading mounts. then just slice off the width I need. I haven't really had any unmanageable problems with them being "seconds" either. Maybe I'm just not as picky. I just don't see the "flaws" in them that others describe. Buying in bulk packs drives the price per mount down to mere pennies, which is very helpful when collecting the entire world.

Can happen, my route (care of PostmasterGS)
I use a tiny strip (2-3mm) of "archival" double sided tape (Scotch)

You can move a mount (my record) up to a month, without damage

After a year strip is left either on the page or on the mount.
damage may be forthcoming

I really don't have an opinion on Showgard/Scott/Prinz, use them interchangeably for my US Mystic Heirloom. Precut if they work, strips if they don't.

Hawid clear topload for Scott international and Ireland White Ace.

So I really can check all 3 boxes.

Oh, I'm no doubt guilty of some poor planning. I've been busy populating my Citation album with stamps from kiloware and transfers from my old album. I'm still working out exactly how I'll build on that in the long term. Wanting to move some stamps in the future is bound to happen.

Just wondered if a different mount brand would be easier to move. It doesn't sound like, but I see I got a couple tips for minimizing the damage. Much appreciated.

I use clear Showguards for my more expensive stamp mounts and Crystal for my cheaper stamp mounts.

You might want to rethink using the Crystal Stamp Mounts. They are terrible and there is a good chance they will ruin whatever they come into contact with. They belong in the trash can.

All in my humble opinion, of course.

John

I never heard of some brands that you mention, I guess they don't get here.
The brands that I use, without distinction, are Leuchtturm, Prinz, Hawid, Filober and Edifil, although I have been told that Hawid makes them and they put the inside cardboard with the Edifil brand.
When I finish my stock I just wait for a good offer and I buy a lot.
If I have an emergency, I only buy the ones I need to assemble at that moment and I prefer Filobert because its strips are 23 cm. u not 21 like the others.

Here's the thing with the crystal mounts and there may be many people in the same boat. Stamp collecting since I was 9 years old, never heard a word that crystal mounts were bad until finding this forum, maybe two years ago. So at this point, like many people, I have 40+ years worth of work in 30 different albums/binders with a lot of it in crystal mounts. In many situations it's not economically feasible for some to go back and buy mounts and remount possibly tens of thousands of stamps. I've checked on some things and haven't seen too many problems. The one good thing is that much of what I have in crystal mounts is either used or modern material which will one day be someone's discount postage. So I don't exactly have the mortgage on the line. At this point my biggest issue with the old crystal mounts is stamps falling out of them, especially foreign definitives, any that consistently do get replaced with a newer mount.