Jerry B

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Marietta, Georgia USA

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The following Mount tips apply to any of the stamp mounts that are available, both

“split-back” (Showgard, Scott, etc.) and “Open Top” (Hawid) mounts.



1. Cutting A Mount to Size

a. Mount Height

• When selecting the mount height select a height that does not “squash” the item

in the mount. If need be select the next higher size. However, there are times

that one has to use a mount with the split vertical to get the right size. I

have never had an item fall out when using it this way. Below is shown the

Showgard Philatelic Gauge for measuring mount height (right image):



• If the gauge cannot be found, measure the height of the item in mm. If a

stamp measure perf tip to perf tip. This should be the height required but

again one may have to select the next higher size.



b. Mount Width

• To cut a mount strip to length use a guillotine. Many styles and sizes are

available and do an excellent job. For those guillotines that have a “ruler bar”,

such as Showgard EXCAL guillotines, place the bar at the bottom of the

“cutting board”. The guillotine directions show the bar at the top but I

have found it more convenient to put it at the bottom. These cutters give

the mount a nice clean look rather than raggedy edges that one may get

using scissors. The cutters are a little expensive but they last for

years.



• For mounts that are larger than the capacity of the guillotine try to

find the following HAWID item. It still exists and will help cutting larger

mounts neatly:



• To determine the width of the mount measure the stamp perf tip to perf tip

in millimeters and add 3 mm to get the final width. The extra 3 mm tends

to make the border around the item look equal since the 2 mount welds are

almost 3 mm.



• Never cut a mount with the stamp in the mount. An exception may be cutting

larger mounts with the ruler cutter shown above as the ruler has a guideline.



2. Attaching the Mount To a Page

• The most important “rule” of ALL:

DO NOT moisten the mount with the stamp in the mount.



• DO NOT LICK the mount. Moisture may creep in at the mount edges. Use a

damp cotton swab like Q-Tip (may be called Cotton Bud outside the US).

• Dip the swab in water and roll the swab in your fingers, or use some other

method, to remove most of the water. The swab should only be damp. If using

your fingers you may want a towel nearby to dry your fingers.



• Apply a little moisture ONLY to the top third of the mount. You do not have

to wet the entire back.



• When applying moisture, use 2 or 3 dabs of the swab. If wetting the entire

width, moisten from the middle of the mount to the left or right edge. This

will reduce the chance of moisture creeping into the mount.



• If moisture does creep in at an edge, take a small piece of torn paper and

use the ragged paper edge as a "blotter".



• Attach the mount to the page.



• Put the item into the mount ONLY after it is fully dried.



• To insert the item place the item into the mount at the top and gently roll

the mount bottom over the item bottom.



• With large items you may want to put a dab of moisture at the bottom of the

mount and press to the page. This prevents large mounts from “flapping in

the breeze”.



Jerry B

tomiseksj

Moderator







Woodbridge, Virginia, USA



What I collect: Worldwide stamps/covers, Cinderellas, Ohio Prepaid Sales Tax Receipts, U.S. WWII Ration ephemera Posts: 5,302

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Link to Post Back to Top Post by tomiseksj on I used to cut my mounts with stamps in them, using cardboard templates that I had made to kind of keep my cuts straight.



When I decided to change albums, I purchased a guillotine and I now have parallel edges on all of the mounts in my album.



To mount a stamp I measure the width of the stamp's box on the album page, set the guide to that width, and make the cut.



Next I center the stamp in the mount and align the mount in its box on the album page.



While holding the mount in place, I carefully raise the upper portion of the mount with the tongs.



Then I lick the tip of my index finger, lightly rub it on the glue of the upper portion of the mount, and then press the mount against the page for a few seconds to allow the mount to adhere.

Andy Pastuszak

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I need to find at least 30 minutes a day to mount stamps...

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Link to Post Back to Top Post by Andy Pastuszak on



First:



Paper cutters do a great job of cutting stamp mounts, and you can get them pretty cheap.



I use this one from Amazon:



It's less than $10.00.



Second:



To secure the mounts to the pages, I use a glue stick rather than moisten the mount in any way. The reasons why I use a glue stick:



1. Glue sticks are moisture free. So they won't warp the paper you're gluing the mount to.



2. Glue sticks are moisture free. So, if you accidentally get some in the mount they WILL NOT activate the glue on the back of a stamp. You can usually wipe the stamp and/or mount clean and move on.



3. Glue sticks will not acidify over time. Glue sticks are naturally basic, since they have sodium hydroxide in them.



4. You have a chance to re-position a mount for a few seconds if you notice it's crooked. Two things to add to the discussion:First:Paper cutters do a great job of cutting stamp mounts, and you can get them pretty cheap.I use this one from Amazon: www.amazon.com/Fiskars-Paper-Trimmer-12-Grey/dp/B0001NXDJG/ref=sr_1_16?ie=UTF8&qid=1376709082&sr=8-16&keywords=fiskars+cutter It's less than $10.00.Second:To secure the mounts to the pages, I use a glue stick rather than moisten the mount in any way. The reasons why I use a glue stick:1. Glue sticks are moisture free. So they won't warp the paper you're gluing the mount to.2. Glue sticks are moisture free. So, if you accidentally get some in the mount they WILL NOT activate the glue on the back of a stamp. You can usually wipe the stamp and/or mount clean and move on.3. Glue sticks will not acidify over time. Glue sticks are naturally basic, since they have sodium hydroxide in them.4. You have a chance to re-position a mount for a few seconds if you notice it's crooked.

Jerry B

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Marietta, Georgia USA

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Link to Post Back to Top Post by Jerry B on Hi



I looked at the Fiskar cutter. The one thing I do not like is that it seems not to have horizontal support for the mount as you move it up the base to get the correct length. With the dedicated mount cutters available there is a stable horizontal base.



As far as glue sticks are concerned I am a little wary about using them. Are there different types and are there some that are acid free? I do like the idea about using Scotch acid-free double-sided tape.



I use fairly heavy paper so warping the page is not a problem. I can see where it might happen on the thin paper used in some albums.



All in all some great ideas.



Jerry B

antoniusra

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Actively pursuing every stamp I do not have and continuing to expand my site.

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Link to Post Back to Top Post by antoniusra on I much prefer top loader (open top) mounts as opposed to split backs. They are much easier to remove the stamp from and to adjust centering of stamp. It is not all that difficult to damage a stamp while trying to remove or insert a stamp into a split back especially when they are bunched together in sets.



My big tip, one which will save you money is to make two top loaders strips out of one split back strip.

There is a price hike at a particular point that determines the quantity of mounts in a pack based on size.

That break is usually around 61mm. I buy 61mm mounts and cut them lengthwise along the center split of the mount using my medium size shear. This yields you 2 top loader mounts of approx 30mm which is about the right height for most definitives and horizontal commemoratives. These of course can be trimmed down to any size smaller and keeps you from having to buy several different sizes of split backs to get the job done.



I also never use the adhesive provided on the mount but use glue sticks. The adhesive on the mounts is to aggressive and usually does not permit removal from the page without tearing the page up. Also the mount does not need 100% of its area to be stuck down especially if it is a split back. Just use whatever adhesive you choose at the top of the mount. Someday when your collection goes up for sale the dealer is going to have to remove the better stamps from the mounts to check for faults. I have seen some collections especially ones using Buxton mounts that were just not worth the time of trying to remove stamps from the mounts making the collection not worth looking at or trying to resell.



I see no reason to even consider using tape which for one thing is more difficult to use than glue sticks.



Under no circumstances ever use Crystal or Buxton mounts. If you have any, throw them out before you do something stupid, like using them

PostmasterGS

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Link to Post Back to Top Post by PostmasterGS on I see no reason to even consider using tape which for one thing is more difficult to use than glue sticks.



Tape allows me to move the mounts around as needed. If I need to redesign a page, I don't even have to remove the stamps from their mounts. If I miss in aligning a mount, I can just pull it off the page and re-stick it. Tape allows me to move the mounts around as needed. If I need to redesign a page, I don't even have to remove the stamps from their mounts. If I miss in aligning a mount, I can just pull it off the page and re-stick it.

antoniusra

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Link to Post Back to Top Post by antoniusra on PostmasterGS said: I see no reason to even consider using tape which for one thing is more difficult to use than glue sticks. Tape allows me to move the mounts around as needed. If I need to redesign a page, I don't even have to remove the stamps from their mounts. If I miss in aligning a mount, I can just pull it off the page and re-stick it.

With the glue stick they are easily removable but of course another dab is needed to remount.

To each his own, but after mounting 1 or 2 stamps this way works best for me.

Doesn't seem that you could do that more than a couple times without loosing adhesion and having to double up on the tape.With the glue stick they are easily removable but of course another dab is needed to remount.To each his own, but after mounting 1 or 2 stamps this way works best for me.

antoniusra

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Link to Post Back to Top Post by antoniusra on PostmasterGS I took a look at your site and have to say I really like your new addition of the elite storm trooper sheet.

That pair has always been one of my favorite German items.

You can just see in their eyes that the end is coming and it's not good.

I looked around hoping to view your collection but did not have any luck. Am I missing something or is it not shown?

Ryan

Member







Calgary, Alberta, Canada



What I collect: If I have a catalogue for it, I collect it. And I have many, many catalogues .... Posts: 2,309

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Link to Post Back to Top Post by Ryan on antoniusra said: Under no circumstances ever use Crystal or Buxton mounts. If you have any, throw them out before you do something stupid, like using them



I have often been surprised by the high prices you sometimes see on eBay for old stock Crystal mounts. I can understand high prices for the good quality old-style hinges - they were good products. But Crystal mounts? I've never understood why somebody would pay so much for something so bad. Here's an example, a screen snip from a recent eBay auction - $46 for 4 packages!







Ryan



ha ha haI have often been surprised by the high prices you sometimes see on eBay for old stock Crystal mounts. I can understand high prices for the good quality old-style hinges - they were good products. But Crystal mounts? I've never understood why somebody would pay so much for something so bad. Here's an example, a screen snip from a recent eBay auction - $46 for 4 packages!Ryan

Ryan

Member







Calgary, Alberta, Canada



What I collect: If I have a catalogue for it, I collect it. And I have many, many catalogues .... Posts: 2,309

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Link to Post Back to Top Post by Ryan on antoniusra said: PostmasterGS

....

I looked around hoping to view your collection but did not have any luck. Am I missing something or is it not shown? ....I looked around hoping to view your collection but did not have any luck. Am I missing something or is it not shown?







Ryan



It's an excellent site, but only part of his collection has been scanned and posted so far. You can expand the tree by clicking on the little plus signs, and the portions he's posted are listed in a darker font.Ryan

Andy Pastuszak

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Link to Post Back to Top Post by Andy Pastuszak on



www.amazon.com/3M-Dispenser-Permanent-Double-Sided-MMM6051/dp/B005P3FBPQ/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&qid=1376868023&sr=8-12&keywords=scotch+tape+runner







It's acid free, but it will adhere to the page permanently over time. The scrapbooking tape is removable, at least.





With the glue stick they are easily removable but of course another dab is needed to remount.



I have been using glue sticks for years, and after a few years, you ALWAYS damage the page when taking the mount off. About 10% of the time, I damage the mount also. So, I found Scotch's acid free tape runner:It's acid free, but it will adhere to the page permanently over time. The scrapbooking tape is removable, at least.I have been using glue sticks for years, and after a few years, you ALWAYS damage the page when taking the mount off. About 10% of the time, I damage the mount also.

Philatarium

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Los Angeles, CA



What I collect: Primarily focused on Japan, but lots of other material catches my eye as well ... Posts: 831

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tombowusa.com/craft/detail/62108







I haven't had occasion to use it yet, but am glad to know I have it in the ready!



-- Dave







Someone on another stamp board a couple of months ago recommended this product. They make both a permanent and a removable type. It's, of course, the removable one that he recommended. (Wish I could remember who it was and/or which board.) I bought it at Michael's crafts.