Collectors Buying With Confidence – How do I clean toning from stamps?
Part XVIII
Collectors Buying With Confidence – How do I clean toning from stamps?
Hello, in the previous
article I mentioned about cleaning stamps that have a light toning, cleaning to
remove the brownish spots, by using a very light chorine solution. Well the
first sheet of stamps in that article is
not worth it, just wont have any success and the second example I used would
see you remove, or at best partially remove, the gum and since the value is
pennies don’t even bother, just buy a new stamp or set of the stamps.
But there may be times
when you might want to try the chorine cleaning solution. A used stamp that is
very cheap and is not worth buying, or something with a bit more value? As collectors buying with confidence we can
decide what is best for a given situation.
Let me take the cleaning
topic a step further and discuss two aspects of cleaning. This article will
address the first, cleaning toning. A second article will address another
aspect – cleaning dirty stamps. You can read more on these from many websites
which offer similar advice but this is my attempt at a shorter text to cover
the basics.
So, the removal of toning
first. As I say you can soak the stamp in a very light or should I say weak chlorine
solution. Only one stamp at a time and
only for say 20 to 30 seconds, moving the stamp around in the solution. Then, remove the stamp and soak again for about
a say a minute in clean water. It is also worth testing this out on a stamp you
really can throw away. Get to know the
reaction on the stamp to the solution you have made up. This is a very simplified view and if you ask
a chemist you will get a 1000 word or more discussion. But the principle is
right as best I have read and tried.
Now if you do some
research you may see some articles saying use an ammonia solution. Not necessarily wrong as this will remove the
stain, and by all accounts gives you a good result if the solution is not too
strong, but – and I am again being as basic
as I can be here – ammonia is not a disinfectant so will not kill the bacteria –
the rust mold, whereas chlorine is a disinfectant and will kill the bacteria as well as whiten the paper of the stamp.
One last point, the stamp
itself plays a very important part in the outcome of the cleaning process, depending
on what solution you use. The type of ink, the ink colour or pigments, the type
of paper, the engraving method I believe
can even affect outcomes and no doubt more.
Too much detail to even begin to comment further. I mention this in case someone thinks I have missed something. Yes I know
there is far far more to all this but I am trying to be brief and cover the
basics.
One tip - for a test case get a stamp, cut it in half,
try one half in one solution, one in another and learn the results. Useful idea?
And finally, if in doubt,
perhaps buy a product like the Lindner stain remover, or another I believe
called a mildew remover for stamps which I believe are meant to be good.
So, be careful out
there. Collectors buying with confidence
can also be collectors cleaning with confidence 😊
Michael cddstamps.com …. Please visit my online store
https://www.hipstamp.com/store/cddstamps
where I think you will see quality and appropriately described stamps.
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