Category: Letterpress for beginners
Later topic: List of whats needed to get started?
Earlier topic: second printing session.

Mounting a 5mm Woodcut

Hey BP folks,

I’m commissioning a woodcut from an artist/printmaker, and he cuts into a 5mm-thick block. The final size of the block will be 2” x 3”.

So, my question is, what affordable wood can I buy and find at a Home Depot to mount the block onto? Is double-sided tape sufficient to hold the cut on the block, or should I go for something more permanent like wood glue?

If 5mm = 0.19685 of an inch, getting something cut that’s 3/4” will be too high (0.19685 + 0.75 = 0.94685). So I could mount it on something 1/2”, and work up the height by underpacking the block?

Any advice is appreciated!

Bald Gopher Press

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If you have access to a thickness planer, you can mill lumber to any desired thickness. If not, buy some 1/2” thick hardwood and build it up with paper & board until it’s type height. You’ll find a micrometer and plate gauge quite helpful in this.

If you have access to a thickness planer, you can mill lumber to any desired thickness. If not, buy some 1/2” thick hardwood and build it up with paper & board until it’s type height. You’ll find a micrometer and plate gauge quite helpful in this.

Sometimes 3/4 planed timber is undersize so that might be worth checking out. In the uk we have 18mm mdf which is a good stable base.

11/16 mdf + 1 sheet chipboard + 2 sheets 24 lb paper

Will get you about there