How To Detect Watermark Without The Special Fluid

I was wondering if there was any way to detect watermarks only using household items (I literally spent all my money on stamps, I cant afford watermark fluid).

Old watermark fluid is literally toxic lol. Use lighter fluid in a small black dish. Just be sure to have proper ventilation

Agreed. A couple of dollars at Walmart. CBGB

A bit of an exaggeration. Although as Paracelsus noted, the poison is in the dose. Even water is poisonous in the right quantity. All substances have a Safety Data Sheet detailing the various chronic, long-, and short-term exposure consequences. Every brand of lighter fluid has one too. The important thing is good ventilation which ever one you choose. That said, I would *not* willingly choose carbon tetrachloride or benzene, but if I had to, I would use it sparingly and outside. Chemicals should be repected and not feared. And yes, I have a degree in chemistry!

Ronsonol lighter fluid. $2.79 at Ace hardware for example.

All substances have a Safety Data Sheet detailing the various chronic, long-, and short-term exposure consequences.
Aah yes, those good ole' safety sheets:

I highly doubt that Benzene is any more hazardous than Naptha in the amounts we would use with stamps.

For used stamps the cheapest method of all is to soak the stamps in water. As well as showing the watermark, you can clean any dirt that has accumulated over the years, remove old hinge remnants, align any perforation teeth that have got bent over and if you then dry them carefully they will come out flat.

Even nice looking stamps often look even nicer after a very gentle wash. And if you keep the stamps separated you can group the different watermarks together.

I think there are several threads here giving tips on how to do this

I was actually daunted by watermarks and when I started "detecting" them it was with needless trepidation. You have been warned about toxicity, ventillation, various chemicals and so on. What a lot of fuss about nothing.

Do what I do and what this guy does. You don't even need a special tray - any hard, dark surface will do - laptop lid, book cover, dinner plate. Just do this (with or without safety equipment). Start watching at three and a half minutes:

channel=SMCollectibles

Putting a stamp at an angle against a black background with a well-lit forefront can help to see a watermark.

I've been using Ronsonol lighter fuel for many, many years and I'am still here.