Thickness of paper

I agree, it's very annoying. The terms are all relative. What the catalog publishers mean is that thin paper is thinner than thick paper, and vice versa. And anything in between is "medium thick paper". Nobody provides exact measurements. The expertizers rely on experience and reference stamps, so they can have the actual measurements. This is why reference collections are so useful.

For me, it's often a best guess until I get both varieties. I used to have access to a micrometer back in my research lab days. But even then, still the same problem -- how thick is thick paper?

Once you have both, you realize there is an obvious difference. Very annoying to read that, but that is life.

In general, I can tell you, that thin paper is often very obvious right away when you pick up the stamp with your hand (I know, lash me 30 times with a wet noodle). It's medium paper and thick paper that I find difficult, especially if there is a hinge/paper remnant!

That issue, I just flip the stamp face down and check the paper tint. That's one case where the "thin" paper isn't really that thin, it's just "thinner" than the thick paper. My Norway collection isn't at home right now. I'll see if I can pull it out next time I stop by the office. smiley-face-whistle-2

I actually had to clear that hallway (temporarily) so I could lower the folding ladder to get into the attic space last week! But rest assured, the stacks of bins and boxes of "stuff" are back to taking up 50%+ of the hallway width and 75% of the height. My hallway is sort of a combined walk-in closet and hallway.

My eyes are getting really bad. At first glance, I thought you had brought home a hacksaw from work!

k

Hello Torbjørn - welcome!! 

Every issue is different. On some, the difference in the paper is obvious - generally a completely different type of paper altogether. On others, you would need to measure with your fancy new tool! But you would need to get an extremely specialized catalog, or do some extensive research, to understand the exact measurements of paper thickness. I do not recall seeing it in catalogs - only in research articles. 

And Kim - I realize it was April 1, but if that other guy is bothering you, just holler & we can have him exiled. If you lock him in the closet with your stamps at the office, you'll likely not hear from him for a while?!!