stainlessb
Member 
qaStaHvIS yIn 'ej chep
Posts: 4,906
What I collect: currently focused on most of western Europe, much of which is spent on France, Belgium, Germany and Great Britain Queen Victoria
|
Post by stainlessb on Aug 19, 2019 21:20:34 GMT
I'm still using the black plastic tray and Clarity
Your comment about the scanner intrigues... Does it work to show all watermarks- I've tried with mixed results to scan watermarks, with those clearly visible a simple task, but others.... but maybe it's my technique?!?
|
|
angore
Member
Posts: 5,699 
What I collect: WW, focus on British Empire
|
Post by angore on Aug 19, 2019 21:43:12 GMT
I use Clarity too but would consider a machine if it was reliable enough - high identification rate -- but see mixed reviews.
|
|
zipper
Member
Posts: 2,649
What I collect: Classic GB, QV, France Ceres/Napoleon, Classic U.S., Cinderella & Poster Stamps
|
Post by zipper on Aug 19, 2019 22:26:49 GMT
I use water -- it works.
|
|
blaamand
Member
Currently creating custom pages until 1940.
Posts: 1,459
What I collect: Worldwide - Stamps and Postmarks - not enough time...
|
Post by blaamand on Aug 19, 2019 23:19:06 GMT
Watermarks...interesting and sometimes frustrating.....in order of preference I prefer - my "deep black" desk-protector - most watermarks gets visible simply by bright light and the black background. - second choice is watermark liquid - kept in a small black rubber box with lid, so can easily be closed to avoid evaporation and fumes. Prefer that before the machine simply because it is quicker. - for the most difficult I use the Signoscope T1. It normally detects any watermark not visible by the "easier" options, including difficult ones on yellow paper etc. I am very please with it, have detected lots of lots of watermarks I wouldn't otherwise see or be able to identify. The only drawback is that it does take a few seconds for each stamp. If checking hundreds of stamps, those seconds quickly adds up... Still it is a tool I wouldn't manage without, recommended for anyone curious to identify the difficult watermarks. zipper made a valid point. Water is easy and it works! Sometimes I soak old 'valueless' definitives to get them off paper with the sole goal of looking for any rare/curious watermarks, inverted wmks etc. Most watermarks can be identified already at this stage - while immersed in water - so if the watermark is any of the ordinary wmk's I do not bother to check them again later by any of the other options. |
|
|
|
Post by stamphinger on Aug 20, 2019 12:20:24 GMT
Identifying watermarks is the bane of my stamp collecting experience! I use a black tray and Ronsonol lighter fluid which works for me most of the time.
Don StampHinger
|
|
tobben63
Member
Stamp eat sleep repeat
Posts: 1,874
What I collect: I collect to much, world wide!
|
Post by tobben63 on Aug 20, 2019 13:34:37 GMT
I use Prince super safe in a black tray. I also have Sherlock watermark detector, but it needs to have complete clean stamps (no remaining hinges). It also take some time to mount/dismount the stamp. I prefer supersafe.  |
|
|
|
Post by carabop on Nov 6, 2019 2:59:27 GMT
Which of these can be used on mint stamps and not damage the gum?
|
|
stainlessb
Member
qaStaHvIS yIn 'ej chep
Posts: 4,906
What I collect: currently focused on most of western Europe, much of which is spent on France, Belgium, Germany and Great Britain Queen Victoria
|
Post by stainlessb on Nov 6, 2019 3:35:37 GMT
I use Clarity.... as to mint stamps... the vast majority of my classics are not mint.... so interesting question! and on the few I have that are mint I can see the watermark without any aid
|
|
|
|
Post by rjan55 on Nov 6, 2019 5:01:01 GMT
I use the old black tray & lighter fluid. Quick and effective. I have a Morley-Bright as a nice portable check on purchases and off-site examinations. Unfortunately I can no longer find replacement parts for the latter.
|
|
gmot
Member
Posts: 205
What I collect: Canada & French Morocco
|
Post by gmot on Nov 6, 2019 21:01:31 GMT
I've used the fluid and black tray method on many mint stamps (German issues especially) without noticing any ill effects.
|
|
