Yes, you can certainly lock up two Boxcar Bases into one chase and print, and in most situations print a letterpress plate that spans the two bases. We inspect our Boxcar Bases and verify they are within plus/minus 0.001” in thickness, parallel and flatness. Still, we’d like your bases to be even closer in height than +/- 0.001″ if possible. Here’s how to do this depending on your situation.
- You purchase one base and have it cut into two pieces: use each piece individually or lock them both back up together for a larger base surface. Your two cut sides should match up perfectly. Slide them together and using quoins, furniture and leading, fill the chase on all sides around the two bases to support the pieces and have a good strong lock-up.
- You already have two different bases in your shop: These should be fine to print. There may be slight variation within the +/- 0.001″ tolerance, so find the two sides most similar in thickness and slide them together.
- You have a base. You want to purchase another base to print with at the same time: We keep detailed specs on each base we sell. When you order your second base, let us know your original base’s serial number—we’ll make sure the bases we ship to you are identical heights so you can butt them together and have a very even printing surface. Where do you find your serial number – on the bottom edge under the Boxcar text.
- You are going to purchase two bases to print with at the same time: Just let us know that you’re planning to print with them at the same time, and we’ll choose the two closest in height from our inventory.
Posted in: Base and Plate 1, General Printing with the Boxcar Base