Is there ANYONE who enjoy this part of our hobby?

Hi, Will:

Thanks for starting this thread on an interesting subject!

I have come to terms with soaking and drying stamps again.  Once upon a time, when I was a kid, I used to soak stamps off paper from mail received at our family home for my collection.  All these years later, when I decided to stop collecting modern material and focus on classic era, I imagined that my soaking days were over, but boy, was I wrong!

I probably do more soaking now than I ever did, because, just as you mentioned, I often find myself needing to remove hinges from stamps that have been previously mounted or I have stamps that are stuck together.  I think if you are willing to pay a premium for material that does not need soaking, you can get it, but it will cost.  As I am often looking for bargains by buying mixtures and old mounted collections, it seems that I perpetually have a pile of material to be soaked.

To avoid tediousness, I often will listen to an audio book while doing the activity.  I would say that I do not love soaking and drying stamps, but I find it quite tolerable.  In the end, what I like most about it is the results.  If I do a careful job, which I generally do, the results are quite good.  The stamps look a lot better when I am done, as I am able to clean them up in appearance, flatten creased/wrinkled stamps, and remove old hinge remnants.

If you told your story to a Frenchman, he would probably tell you: "Bon courage!"

-Chris

Interesting to know other perspectives on this. Thanks!

My process is very similar to a mix of what berylliumguy and tomiseksj described above. Background music included (Bach is a common partner-in-crime here!) I don't do a two-pass step like tomiseksj does though.

But still... I always need to totally exhaust my procrastination level to a shameful low before I get enough courage to start removing hinges




Nice... Merci! J'en aurai besoin!

I equate it with weeding in the garden. i love to garden, its just part of the process. Same with Stamps (and unlike weeding, i don't have to get down on my knees and crawl around!)

I have to admit, I haven't done it much since I got back into the hobby a couple years ago. But it isn't that much of a chore. I fill my baking sheet with warm water, dump the stamps in, and pretty much carry on like tomiseksj!

I have stacks of incoming mail to soak one of these days. Probably when winter comes. Same with the CTO Albanians I have. It helps me along as I must have ADHD or something like that. So I do a bunch of different things. This one though is finished before most other chores!

Remember as a kid I had purchased a 4 kg bag of US 13c liberty bell....I cleaned every single one of them! Bundled them together in bundles of 100's - more than 50 bundles... It took forever, but I actually liked it. 

However not so anymore.... The only thing I like about it now is to see how old "junk" from old albums seems to get a new life - like being re-born! For some of them a good bath can really make a huge difference, which makes it feel quite rewarding and satisfying. Sometimes the bath makes little difference, so if crucial to save the stamp, the next is to try Chlorhexidine 

renden - Chlorhexidine works very well - it does wonders on some stamps

I must admit that I loathe soaking stamps and have about 5-6 quart size bags with stamps from incoming mail that I need to do. And that’s not counting the stamps from accumulations I’ve received that have hinges or paper remnants that need to be removed or are stuck together. I actually liked soaking stamps when I was younger but, anymore, I think that I’d almost rather go to the dentist. I can’t figure out why I hate it so much, though, because it’s not like it’s hard or exhausting work.

Ryan
Do not like "cleaning" but appreciate your "fun" 
René

It is my least favourite part of the hobby.  As others have mentioned, it part of what is involved in collecting. I do small batches at a time. I do it rather frequently so it never seems I have an overwhelming amount to do.  I never want to feel like it is a «  chore » that must be done.  There is music or audible book playing. A favourite beverage is usually close at had as well. Only time i have liquid anywhere near stamps.

david

No, unfortunately Chlorhexidine doesn't remove foxing / fungus / humidity damages. However it brightens up generally yellowed/dull stamps, brightens the paper and enhance the original colors. Search for this in forums and you'll find it's been written lot about it previously, even good experiments to show the transformation. Quite remarkable!

Yup the soaking is tedious, but taking them out of the drying books is so rewarding! Soaking is our “sweat equity” in our collections. 

FYI adding a padded cushion to stand on really helped me. I prop up my iPad on the high counter in front of the sink and stream a show or an opera or whatever while I soak. 

Take pride in your skills! Not everyone knows how to soak properly or how to handle all the varieties of stamp papers and adhesives. Pulling a flat, smooth, undamaged stamp with no color stains from colored papers, and no glue residue and no thins or tears and no faults from oversoaking is the sign of a job well done by a philatelist who knows their stuff. Atta Boy or Girl to ya! 

You have help!

Does it change the fluorescence of the paper?

blaamand: I have seen some products turn a classic into a vibrant vibrate version of itself, much like bleach would do. Have you looked at stamps post-Chlorhexidine treatment under a UV lamp?