help on hot foil stamping

Of what material is the block? Brass? Steel? It appears to simply be a quad from a Ludlow. It probably was used to lay a patch of foil as background for another strike. It is just a printing piece. Think type without face. In my opinion.

….or it could have been used as base for a poly die.

What you have is a “T-Block” which allows you to mount zinc, magnesium, copper or brass dies to use in hot stamping. Polymer plates have not yet been developed which transfer the heat required for stamping operations (at least to my knowledge).

Many people use these as you don’t have to get the dies mounted type-high to use them, thus saving $$$ on the die costs. Dies can be mounted many ways, but if there are no holes, adhesives were probably used for mounting on this piece.

There are heat-activated adhesives which work for this, and I would suggest you ask your die provider (photo-engraver) for their recommendations. I’ve heard of folks using cyano-acrylate adhesives for this.

The “T” shape allows you to stamp an image larger than you could lock up in the type holder.

Toyo’s photopolymer (KS174?) has been in use since 1989. This material transferred heat reasonably well, particularly if used on the low heat release foils, and was an inexpensive die choice for short, smooth surface runs. Sans adhesive, the metal-backed plate was easily mounted type-high using the better grade of two-sided heat pipe tape. If over-heated though, the die would ‘skate’ thus rendering registration interesting.Brass or steel remains the preferred die choice for long runs, but the poly did the job. But even a common paper clip can provide endless pattern possibilities in the hands of an imaginative foiler. In my experience.

wow! forme and jhenry, Thank you so much for your replies!
It’s great to finally know what that solid chunky block is.

And I’m happy to know that it can stamp an image larger than the type holder! :-)

Thank you again. Really appreciate all of your knowledge.