tobben63
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Stamp eat sleep repeat
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What I collect: I collect to much, world wide!
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Post by tobben63 on Sept 26, 2019 19:55:13 GMT
After reading some treads some time ago I understood that you could to e certain point clean stamps that has been miss coloured by age. Like yellow-brown and so on. What you need is Hydrogen peroxide, but an 10% solution is enough. I bought a litle bottle on a drugstore today. I did find a not to bad stamp but it was yellow on one side and let it bath for ca 2 hour. Then cleaned in water and dry. Here is the result. Before on top. Click on immage to see full resolution.  Read security instruction on bottle before use |
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renden
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What I collect: Canada-USA-France-Lithuania-Austria--Germany-Mauritius-French Colonies in Africa
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Post by renden on Sept 26, 2019 20:03:36 GMT
tobben63 I think 2 hours of Peroxyde Hydrogen is quite long if I am remembering the thread on the subject - Maybe I am wrong as I never put any stamps in a bath  There is a formula on a web site I have to give you from StampSmarter - this is great !! 3% peroxyde used etc www.stampsmarter.com/learning/HowToRemoveOxidation.html
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tobben63
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Stamp eat sleep repeat
Posts: 1,874
What I collect: I collect to much, world wide!
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Post by tobben63 on Sept 26, 2019 20:21:43 GMT
The two hour was because I had to meke dinner, and forgot the stamp, but it look ok?  Will look at stamp smarter. |
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stainlessb
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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
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Post by stainlessb on Sept 26, 2019 20:24:19 GMT
I'll have to give this a try on some of the Penny Reds
see how Miss Vickie looks as a blond!!
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renden
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Posts: 9,162
What I collect: Canada-USA-France-Lithuania-Austria--Germany-Mauritius-French Colonies in Africa
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Post by renden on Sept 26, 2019 20:51:31 GMT
Looks OK tobben63 but Hydrogen Peroxyde at high concentration is a potent oxydative agent and not used anymore medically (except to remove very dry scabs on stitches, not used as an antiseptic - better stuff exists and no skin damage !! Good luck bathing your beauties !! and they will not turn "blond" like stainlessb said ....hahahahah !! René |
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blaamand
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Currently creating custom pages until 1940.
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What I collect: Worldwide - Stamps and Postmarks - not enough time...
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Post by blaamand on Sept 26, 2019 22:10:58 GMT
Very good result Tobben! I've used 10% Hydrogenperoxid for about 2 years now, no issues. Sometimes I have achieved good results already after 10 minutes, other times soaked overnight! Normally a longer time in the bath goes fine for most stamps, however I always pay attention during the first 30mins. I have experienced a few stamps with inks that is more quickly bleached-out than others, so need to stop the cleaning after 5-10 minutes. Obviously this applies to chalky paper, but also ink on normal paper as well, so its seems it has something to do with the quality of the ink itself and not only the paper. French stamps, as in Tobbens example, are great for cleaning. I have had Napoleons and Ceres in bath overnight without any issues. British stamps are more tender, also the ones on normal paper. Penny red was mentioned, I cleaned many of them and they are doing great in peroxid! Victoria starts looking young again Below is an example I tried for 2 days in the bath. I sacrificed the stamp for the better of 'philatelic studies', the left part was cut off prior to soaking. The entire stamp had a deep yellow tone - the part that was soaked for two days emerged with crystal white paper and a fresh color.  The image actually doesn't even reveal how deeply yellow the stamp was originally, it is much more yellow before my eyes than it appears on my screen. My conclusion - 10% hydrogenperoxid works - but be cautious. If you have 'expandable' dups of the stamp you want to clean, try to clean the expandable first!! |
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stainlessb
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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
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Post by stainlessb on Sept 26, 2019 22:22:51 GMT
I've soaked Penny Reds and Blues, and even medallions for 5 - 7 days* (water with a drop of clear detergent... in my mini-bath Petri dish)- rinse for 30 seconds to a minute, blot of and press between paper towels and a thick piece of stainless steel plate. I have not had any bad experiences (yet). Will definitely try the 3% peroxide.Not sure I've seen it labeled as 10% . Used to keep 20 volume ~6% (from the beauty supply store) which was great for cleaning/sterilizing algal culture bottles back when i did that sort of thing.
* first time this happened was because I'd forgotten about them. To my relief they were fine
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renden
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What I collect: Canada-USA-France-Lithuania-Austria--Germany-Mauritius-French Colonies in Africa
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Post by renden on Sept 26, 2019 22:24:38 GMT
Very good result Tobben! I've used 10% Hydrogenperoxid for about 2 years now, no issues. Sometimes I have achieved good results already after 10 minutes, other times soaked overnight! Normally a longer time in the bath goes fine for most stamps, however I always pay attention during the first 30mins. I have experienced a few stamps with inks that is more quickly bleached-out than others, so need to stop the cleaning after 5-10 minutes. Obviously this applies to chalky paper, but also ink on normal paper as well, so its seems it has something to do with the quality of the ink itself and not only the paper. two days emerged with crystal white paper and a fresh color. Jon blaamand - in Canada and US, Hydrogen Peroxide is sold in a 3% solution - In Norway, it must be different - Since I have no experience with it on stamps, I accept your theory/and protocol ( but 10% you cannot buy here)  without a prescription and nobody uses it in medicine anymore.......except dentists !! Thanks |
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blaamand
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Currently creating custom pages until 1940.
Posts: 1,459
What I collect: Worldwide - Stamps and Postmarks - not enough time...
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Post by blaamand on Sept 27, 2019 8:29:28 GMT
Great. Probably 3% will do the same thing, just takes longer. Maybe that's also more gentle and easy to control with regards to the experiences I explained in previous post (about some inks getting washed-out by the 10% solution).
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renden
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Posts: 9,162
What I collect: Canada-USA-France-Lithuania-Austria--Germany-Mauritius-French Colonies in Africa
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Post by renden on Sept 27, 2019 12:57:23 GMT
Great. Probably 3% will do the same thing, just takes longer. Maybe that's also more gentle and easy to control with regards to the experiences I explained in previous post (about some inks getting washed-out by the 10% solution). I like your response which is positive, Jon blaamand - however I question the time for a stamp to be in the solution - Have you looked at StampSmarter's protocol - link put a few posts ago for tobben63 ? He is talking seconds with the 3 % - this weekend I will experiment with dups !! René |
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Doe
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Posts: 234 
What I collect: Chicago Baseball & Lou Gehrig covers, Mars Exploration covers, Zeppelins & Manned Stratospheric Balloons , Anti-Fascism, Classic China (thru A31), Hong Kong (thru A25)
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Post by Doe on Sept 27, 2019 13:58:11 GMT
Questions. Does this make stamps whiter than the paper was originally?
Are there stamps one should never do this to? I'm concerned about my early Hong Kong and early China.
That it works on Nappy and Ceres is impressive.
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renden
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What I collect: Canada-USA-France-Lithuania-Austria--Germany-Mauritius-French Colonies in Africa
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Post by renden on Sept 27, 2019 14:19:51 GMT
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stainlessb
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qaStaHvIS yIn 'ej chep
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What I collect: currently focused on most of western Europe, much of which is spent on France, Belgium, Germany and Great Britain Queen Victoria
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Post by stainlessb on Sept 28, 2019 2:01:22 GMT
Tonight I did several 30 minute tests with 3% hydrogen peroxide Results as soon as they dry! I did notice that heavily gummed stamps the 30-minute soak wasn't enough to remove all gum.... and I expect tat stamp to adhere to my blotter (aka paper towel) But I could reduce cleaning time to 30 minutes (or even an hour) versus overnight or several days.... that's a huge plus! And everybody gets a bath!! |
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tobben63
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Stamp eat sleep repeat
Posts: 1,874
What I collect: I collect to much, world wide!
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Post by tobben63 on Sept 28, 2019 2:19:20 GMT
Great. Probably 3% will do the same thing, just takes longer. Maybe that's also more gentle and easy to control with regards to the experiences I explained in previous post (about some inks getting washed-out by the 10% solution). I like your response which is positive, Jon blaamand - however I question the time for a stamp to be in the solution - Have you looked at StampSmarter's protocol - link put a few posts ago for tobben63 ? He is talking seconds with the 3 % - this weekend I will experiment with dups !! René Yep, but he also say: I think this is something we have to experiment with. Do not use your most expencive stamps. |
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blaamand
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Currently creating custom pages until 1940.
Posts: 1,459
What I collect: Worldwide - Stamps and Postmarks - not enough time...
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Post by blaamand on Sept 28, 2019 10:55:07 GMT
Absolutely agree with Tobben, This still needs experimentimg. I've already done this for two years, and my conclusion is that different stamps behave differently, cannot find a recipe that is valid for all stamps. Some stamps can soak for many hours, others not As I said before, use your dups if you have any, or alternatively other stamps from the same series/time age of that country. René, even if stuff is written on stampsmarter it doesn't necessarily make it universal truths. My own repeated experience doesn't always match what it says on stampsmarter. Need to be open-minded and try ourselves with different stamps. Doe, I don't know about getting whiter than the original. I guess it can happen for some stamps. In general miscoloured stamps never get as clean as a well preserved stamp, normally the paper of well preserved stamps remain more white than cleaned stamps. I have cleaned lots of stamps on coloured/tinted papers, and the colours/tinting of the papers haven't been affected as far as I've experienced so far. Obviously this can be different for other stamps. You need to try yourself, try with some 'leftover' stamps first. 😊 About cleaning gum etc - I normally clean stamps on clean water first, to remove hinges, old gum etc - then clean in hydrogen peroxide after of needed. Sometimes even only water is sufficient to clean old stamps 😊 |
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stainlessb
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What I collect: currently focused on most of western Europe, much of which is spent on France, Belgium, Germany and Great Britain Queen Victoria
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Post by stainlessb on Sept 29, 2019 23:52:41 GMT
60 minutes- new bottle of 3% Hydrogen peroxide. Stamps scanned at same settings. stamps had been previously soaked to remove hinges or paper and you can see in the "Before" where all the gum did not come off (Belgie stamp was on paper, but the cancellation missed it) In retrospect, it might have been more useful to have scanned individually Before  After- Belgisch Congo brighter, South Wales- stains on border gone, but it looks a bit "paler", France 1 c - slightly brighter, but not significantly, Penny Reds- both brighter, 40c Belgie borders whiter, but coloring slightly paler I will experiment some more on other dupes , but this seems that it is a useful option to have!  |
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darkormex
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Post by darkormex on Sept 30, 2019 0:04:05 GMT
I am reminded that I have that very same 40c Belgie stamp and, similarly, I was cleaning it and a companion and made the mistake of leaving it soak in plain water too long and it is now a faded pale orange...I would almost say it has fugitive ink.
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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
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Post by stainlessb on Sept 30, 2019 1:12:24 GMT
I am now setting aside any "stained/yellowed/soiled (?) stamps , especially of different colors/ink. Penny Reds, French Ceres and Napoleon all seem pretty stable= I have many early Belgium dupes and I will even guinea pig a couple of medallions. Peroxide is obviously not for all stamps, and water with a drop of clear dishwashing soap my be a better coice for some.... and there may be some just just leave "as it"
Othere's using peroxide i hope will report successes and failures- it's all a learning process
as to the slight fading- the remaining peroxide looked just as clear as when I started (to the naked eye... well my naked eye!)
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tobben63
Member
Stamp eat sleep repeat
Posts: 1,874
What I collect: I collect to much, world wide!
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Post by tobben63 on Sept 30, 2019 16:50:12 GMT
stainlessbI think that for stamps that has oxidation damage peroxide will work. I the stamp has 'dirt' on some sort of dish washing liquid will be better. Try and learn (and fail)
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Post by feebletodix on Sept 30, 2019 20:06:25 GMT
A number of recent acquisitions have had an aroma I cannot shift with plain water, washing up liquid or scrubbing so I intend to try hydrogen peroxide as a quick rinse/scrub then rinse in clean water to find out if they will loose their smell. I will advise if succesful and/or failures.
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blaamand
Member
Currently creating custom pages until 1940.
Posts: 1,459
What I collect: Worldwide - Stamps and Postmarks - not enough time...
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Post by blaamand on Nov 13, 2019 13:27:40 GMT
Agreed tobben63 - we should try and fail - and hopefully share some of the results in this forum  I found a Large Queen in such a badly toned state, I had nothing to loose even if the Hydrogen Peroxide would fail. The picture below at left was taken after a long soak in hot water, which obviously did not improve the situation much. The stamp was literally ready for the trash-bin... So, Victoria had another bath in Hydrogen Peroxide, 10%. First she had an initial bath of 5 minutes, with little or no effect at all. Then I let her soak for one hour, and she was starting to look more cheerful. The original color seemed to remain as it was, so I tried for another 3 hours - and I finally let her soak overnight. In total the stamp as pictured on the right has had about 12 hours in peroxide, and the color still look like as a fresher version of the original, just more fresh. However the ugly toning of the paper is significantly reduced.  Maybe I could have given her yet another bath to get all toning away completely? The ink used for this stamp seems to have proven to be strong and not weakened/paled by the peroxide, but I did not risk any more as I think the result was satisfactory, at least for my use anyway. The stamp still doesn't look perfect, but certainly it doesn't look like ready for the trash-bin as she did before. The experience I wanted to share is that this particular stamp is safe for serious deep-cleaning, so any heavily toned 15c stamps out there may be rescued. (Edit) - Now - wouldn't it have been great if the peroxide repaired blunt perforations as well !  |
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Post by ponso1 on Jul 25, 2024 21:58:10 GMT
Here is my contribution - before and after - a 60 second bath in 3% hydrogen peroxide followed by a water rinse.   |
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hdm1950
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Posts: 1,889
What I collect: I collect world wide up to 1965 with several specialty albums added due to volume of material I have acquired. At this point I am focused on Canada and British America. I am always on the lookout for stamps and covers with postmarks from communities in Queens County, Nova Scotia. I do list various goods including stamps occasionally on eBay as hdm50
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Post by hdm1950 on Jul 25, 2024 23:56:49 GMT
ponso1 I would not be afraid of soaking your Canada Registration stamp for another few minutes. I had cleaned the same stamp a while back with great success and shared it in this link. This was an early test for me and have since cleaned many more, even some high value stamps.
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