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My grandpa told me to use a butter knife for stamp hinges and I thought he was nuts
He said, 'Kid, a real silver butter knife warms up just right from your hand, won't tear the paper.' I tried it on my 1930s airmail collection and it actually worked perfectly, no gum residue at all. Now I feel silly for almost buying that $40 hinge roller from the catalog. Anyone else have a weird old tool trick for philately that actually works?
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lucasschmidt6mo ago
Ever wonder how many other old tricks we ignore because they sound too simple? Your grandpa was onto something with that heat transfer from your hand to the silver. Makes you question all the fancy gear they sell us now, doesn't it? I've used a plastic ruler to help line up stamps on a page, but that butter knife method is a new level of clever. What else did he show you, or was that the only stamp hack he had up his sleeve?
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matthewmartin6mo ago
Yeah, @lucasschmidt, he had a few. He'd use a damp sponge in a shallow dish instead of a pricey stamp pad. Worked just as well for his collection. Makes you wonder what else we're overcomplicating.
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elizabeths516mo ago
But what if that sponge trick actually ruined some of his stamps over time? Cheap fixes can cost more later. Maybe those pricey stamp pads have special ink that doesn't dry out the rubber or cause mold. Sometimes gear is fancy for a real reason, not just to sell stuff. His butter knife method sounds messy compared to a simple ruler made for the job. Why risk a collection with a shortcut when the right tool exists?
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