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GB Self-adhesive stamps - advice needed

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    • Created on 5 May 2011 at 06:43
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    • Created on 5 May 2011 at 06:43
    • #334174
    There seems to be two types of self-adhesive stamps on the market - one sort which resist all attempts at soaking and another which separates from the stamp leaving the adhesive membrane on the envelope

    Unfortunately it is impossible to tell in advance what sort you are working with!

    I am experimenting with a large bag of self-adhesives and various solvents; to date I have found the best results with a proprietary solvent called - with great originality - "Sticky-Stuff Remover", designed to remove sticky labels, tar residue and the like

    This is available from a variety of outlets such as craft shops, The Works, Betterware and Lakeland and is available in 250ml bottles
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    • Created on 5 May 2011 at 07:04
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    There seems to be two types of self-adhesive stamps on the market - one sort which resist all attempts at soaking and another which separates from the stamp leaving the adhesive membrane on the envelope

    Unfortunately it is impossible to tell in advance what sort you are working with!

    I am experimenting with a large bag of self-adhesives and various solvents; to date I have found the best results with a proprietary solvent called - with great originality - "Sticky-Stuff Remover", designed to remove sticky labels, tar residue and the like

    This is available from a variety of outlets such as craft shops, The Works, Betterware and Lakeland and is available in 250ml bottles
    • Created on 5 May 2011 at 08:24
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    • Created on 5 May 2011 at 10:50
    • #334205
    Vera Trinder in the Strand, London (you can find her by 'Googling' the name) stocks bottles of 'Stamp Lift' designed to remove these items cleanly from the backing paper.

    I believe there are two types of solvent - one for ordinary gummed issues and one for self adhesive. As I have used neither I cannot state how effective they are but it may be worth a trial investment to find out.
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    • Created on 5 May 2011 at 06:43
    • #334174
    I have tried using Stamp - Lift - it's better than nothing but in my experience still leaves some bits of gum residue so may not be worth your while trying. As has already been said, trim them neatly and leave them on the original paper
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    • Created on 5 May 2011 at 10:50
    • #334205
    I've tried Stick-Stuff Remover on four different stamps (shown below) with the following results:

    1st Class Security: Peeled off easily with no damage to the security tags
    2nd Class Security: Same result
    2nd Class PIP (2006): The trickiest one of the lot, the stamp didn't peel like the others and had to be separated by carefully running a spade tweezer between the stamp and envelope
    2nd Class Christmas (Wallace and Grommit): Peeled off easily

    In each case there was a certain amount of residue on the back which I removed by applying S-SR with a cotton-wool bud; this left a slight tackiness (like a Post-it Note) which might be overcome by dusting with talcum powder

    Not a very scientific test, but it does demonstrate the viability of the technique; I'll test a few foreign self-adhesives next to see what happens, also I'll try and determine which stamps will soak off in water - watch this thread!
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    I've tried Stick-Stuff Remover on four different stamps (shown below) with the following results:

    1st Class Security: Peeled off easily with no damage to the security tags
    2nd Class Security: Same result
    2nd Class PIP (2006): The trickiest one of the lot, the stamp didn't peel like the others and had to be separated by carefully running a spade tweezer between the stamp and envelope
    2nd Class Christmas (Wallace and Grommit): Peeled off easily

    In each case there was a certain amount of residue on the back which I removed by applying S-SR with a cotton-wool bud; this left a slight tackiness (like a Post-it Note) which might be overcome by dusting with talcum powder

    Not a very scientific test, but it does demonstrate the viability of the technique; I'll test a few foreign self-adhesives next to see what happens, also I'll try and determine which stamps will soak off in water - watch this thread!
    • Created on 5 May 2011 at 18:14
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    • Created on 5 May 2011 at 06:43
    • #334174
    Although it comes with some risks (i.e. it is highly flammable), I use heptane to easily remove such self adhesives from envelopes. In the USA, there is a product called Bestine that is available in hobby stores, but I can not speak to it's availability in Europe or elsewhere.

    My steps are as follows:
    1) moisten stamp with heptane from the back side (paper side vs. stamp side). I use a cotton swab for application. While "wet", slowly peel stamp off. May need to reapply heptane if it evaporates to fast. The heptane breaks the polymer chains almost instantly, allowing quite an easy lift from the paper.

    2) Once peeled off, there is still adhesive on the back of the stamp. It is tacky, but no longer a super-strong bond. I lay the stamp face down on a hard, clean, non-porous surface and liberally apply more heptane to the backside of the stamp. I then gently "push" the adhesive off with a plastic straight edge, such as a credit card. Just be sure to apply gentle, but firm/uniform pressure, and push away from you (one direction). I typically do one half of the stamp at a time. Rotate, reapply heptane and then scrape the other half.

    3) Even after this, there will be a very little bit of adhesive left. Reapply heptane (although less this time) to persistent spots, gently wiping with cotton swab in an outward pattern (center of stamp, over, and then away from perfs). Do not rub back and forth. This will prevent accidental damage to perfs, or creasing problems.

    Some have recommended using a small amount of talc to take the tackiness away, but I do not recommend it, as the adhesive will eventually (over time) creep around the talc and result in the stamps adhering to the album pages again.

    Again, I must emphasize caution in that the heptane is highly flammable stuff, and I wouldn't sit around sniffing it all day, either. It evaporates quick, too, so don't leave the bottle open.

    I also find this system works well with etiquettes, meter labels, and other items. It's not for everyone, but it works for me.
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    Although it comes with some risks (i.e. it is highly flammable), I use heptane to easily remove such self adhesives from envelopes. In the USA, there is a product called Bestine that is available in hobby stores, but I can not speak to it's availability in Europe or elsewhere.

    My steps are as follows:
    1) moisten stamp with heptane from the back side (paper side vs. stamp side). I use a cotton swab for application. While "wet", slowly peel stamp off. May need to reapply heptane if it evaporates to fast. The heptane breaks the polymer chains almost instantly, allowing quite an easy lift from the paper.

    2) Once peeled off, there is still adhesive on the back of the stamp. It is tacky, but no longer a super-strong bond. I lay the stamp face down on a hard, clean, non-porous surface and liberally apply more heptane to the backside of the stamp. I then gently "push" the adhesive off with a plastic straight edge, such as a credit card. Just be sure to apply gentle, but firm/uniform pressure, and push away from you (one direction). I typically do one half of the stamp at a time. Rotate, reapply heptane and then scrape the other half.

    3) Even after this, there will be a very little bit of adhesive left. Reapply heptane (although less this time) to persistent spots, gently wiping with cotton swab in an outward pattern (center of stamp, over, and then away from perfs). Do not rub back and forth. This will prevent accidental damage to perfs, or creasing problems.

    Some have recommended using a small amount of talc to take the tackiness away, but I do not recommend it, as the adhesive will eventually (over time) creep around the talc and result in the stamps adhering to the album pages again.

    Again, I must emphasize caution in that the heptane is highly flammable stuff, and I wouldn't sit around sniffing it all day, either. It evaporates quick, too, so don't leave the bottle open.

    I also find this system works well with etiquettes, meter labels, and other items. It's not for everyone, but it works for me.
    • Created on 5 May 2011 at 19:59
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    • Created on 6 May 2011 at 04:35
    • #334304
    It was some earlier stamps that I had tried Stamp Lift on, so undoubtedly you are correct about the more recent issues as I do recall reading something in one of the stamp magazines in the UK about a change in formula in the gum
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    I've tried Stick-Stuff Remover on four different stamps (shown below) with the following results:

    1st Class Security: Peeled off easily with no damage to the security tags
    2nd Class Security: Same result
    2nd Class PIP (2006): The trickiest one of the lot, the stamp didn't peel like the others and had to be separated by carefully running a spade tweezer between the stamp and envelope
    2nd Class Christmas (Wallace and Grommit): Peeled off easily

    In each case there was a certain amount of residue on the back which I removed by applying S-SR with a cotton-wool bud; this left a slight tackiness (like a Post-it Note) which might be overcome by dusting with talcum powder

    Not a very scientific test, but it does demonstrate the viability of the technique; I'll test a few foreign self-adhesives next to see what happens, also I'll try and determine which stamps will soak off in water - watch this thread!
    • Created on 5 May 2011 at 18:14
    • #334273
    Update from last night: The stamps used for testing retained a slight tackiness so I left them face-down on the desk and can report that the tackiness has reduced quite significantly although it is still there; again I think talcum powder may be the answer to that one

    Any discolouration caused by the solvent soaking into the stamp (especially noticeable on the 1st Class gold) has completely disappeared as the solvent evaporated out

    Latest test results show that the 1998 2nd Class comes away easily but the 2nd Class Large Letter doesn't. The Netherlands and Ireland stamps I tried both came freely away, as did the Australia although they seem to soak off easily in water, leaving the adhesive layer on the envelope
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    Update from last night: The stamps used for testing retained a slight tackiness so I left them face-down on the desk and can report that the tackiness has reduced quite significantly although it is still there; again I think talcum powder may be the answer to that one

    Any discolouration caused by the solvent soaking into the stamp (especially noticeable on the 1st Class gold) has completely disappeared as the solvent evaporated out

    Latest test results show that the 1998 2nd Class comes away easily but the 2nd Class Large Letter doesn't. The Netherlands and Ireland stamps I tried both came freely away, as did the Australia although they seem to soak off easily in water, leaving the adhesive layer on the envelope
    • Created on 6 May 2011 at 15:47
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    • Created on 5 May 2011 at 06:43
    • #334174
    The easiest, quickest and cheapest way of removing GB self adhesives I have found is by using Surgical Spirit (WITH WARNINGS - SEE BELOW). This is available from most Chemists - ie Boots. I paid around £3.00 for a 500ml bottle.

    Whilst this does easily remove the stamp in around 5-10 seconds, it does leave the adhesive virtually intact but with this, the stamp can be mounted onto paper which can be of any size or colour that you want. With them mounted on uniform sizes and colour of paper, it certainly looks better than all the different coloured scrappy bits of envelope that they were removed from.

    Alternatively, as mentioned in a previous post, the back of the stamp could be lightly dusted with talcum powder if you don't want to mount them although I find that by doing this, the stamps do still remain a little tacky and hard to flatten completely.

    Method: Place stamp face down on a sheet of paper & apply Surgical Spirit to the backing paper with a small paintbrush, just overlapping the size of the stamp. Wait around 5-10 seconds and then peel the paper from the stamp. Stick stamp onto previously prepared paper/mount.

    This method works with S/A comemoratives, security Machins and Post & Go/Faststamps.

    WARNING - DO NOT GET ANY ON THE FACE OF THE STAMP OR YOU MAY FIND THAT THE DESIGN WILL DISAPPEAR! USE CLEAN PAPER AND CLEAN HANDS!

    For this reason, I've not tried to completely remove the adhesive with Surgical Spirit for fear of getting it on the front of the stamp.

    Experiment with common, low value stamps - you'll be amazed at how easy it is to remove them, leaving the "security" tags intact. (I just wish Royal Mail would spend more money on ensuring stamps are franked in the first place rather than coming up with ways of trying to stop re-use of unfranked stamps which I find is on a very high percentage of the mail I receive.)

    As a rule, I water soak all self adhesive commemorative issues prior to the 2009 NAFAS booklet issue although the 2008 Christmas 1st & 2nd (including Large) can be a bit stubborn.

    Hope that helps.
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    The easiest, quickest and cheapest way of removing GB self adhesives I have found is by using Surgical Spirit (WITH WARNINGS - SEE BELOW). This is available from most Chemists - ie Boots. I paid around £3.00 for a 500ml bottle.

    Whilst this does easily remove the stamp in around 5-10 seconds, it does leave the adhesive virtually intact but with this, the stamp can be mounted onto paper which can be of any size or colour that you want. With them mounted on uniform sizes and colour of paper, it certainly looks better than all the different coloured scrappy bits of envelope that they were removed from.

    Alternatively, as mentioned in a previous post, the back of the stamp could be lightly dusted with talcum powder if you don't want to mount them although I find that by doing this, the stamps do still remain a little tacky and hard to flatten completely.

    Method: Place stamp face down on a sheet of paper & apply Surgical Spirit to the backing paper with a small paintbrush, just overlapping the size of the stamp. Wait around 5-10 seconds and then peel the paper from the stamp. Stick stamp onto previously prepared paper/mount.

    This method works with S/A comemoratives, security Machins and Post & Go/Faststamps.

    WARNING - DO NOT GET ANY ON THE FACE OF THE STAMP OR YOU MAY FIND THAT THE DESIGN WILL DISAPPEAR! USE CLEAN PAPER AND CLEAN HANDS!

    For this reason, I've not tried to completely remove the adhesive with Surgical Spirit for fear of getting it on the front of the stamp.

    Experiment with common, low value stamps - you'll be amazed at how easy it is to remove them, leaving the "security" tags intact. (I just wish Royal Mail would spend more money on ensuring stamps are franked in the first place rather than coming up with ways of trying to stop re-use of unfranked stamps which I find is on a very high percentage of the mail I receive.)

    As a rule, I water soak all self adhesive commemorative issues prior to the 2009 NAFAS booklet issue although the 2008 Christmas 1st & 2nd (including Large) can be a bit stubborn.

    Hope that helps.
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    • Created on 5 May 2011 at 06:43
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  • tracy_barber
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    • Created on 5 May 2011 at 06:43
    • #334174
    Hi -

    I was going to post this before but never got around to it.

    It the USA, we have an air freshener - yes indeed! - that can maybe do the job. I just lifted 2 very tough US stamps from paper, left them to dry a little and applied talc (baby powder) to the back. Perfect!

    Well, at least 1 was perfect and the other acceptable WITHOUT any stickiness.

    The stuff is called Pure Citrus. It is not dangerous to the air, smells nice and orangey and you shouldn't blow up using it.

    I just bought 2 cans of it a few days ago along with a BIG bottle of baby powder.

    I do have a few of the latest Machins, but they are on plastic. I will try it to see if that works. Paper - shouldn't be a problem.

    Lessee... The plastic is from the Belgian Study Circle mailers. It almost lifted from plastic!

    Lessee about paper if I have any... no paper copies.

    BUT! I did pull off a complete 22p tan from plastic using Pure Citrus. Talc on the back, no sticky. No harm to the tagging. Paper would be a breeze then.

    As you may have expected, the ovals separated from the stamp on 2 attempts and me making a small mess.

    I'd have to have a few to test on and a good set up instead of spraying tacling all over my desk!

    Tracy
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    • Created on 5 May 2011 at 07:04
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