How Paper Boxes Are Made / A practical and instructive book telling how the beginner may manufacture all kinds of paper boxes, with special chapters on the printing department for paper box plants, embossing, gold-leafing, label work, etc.

by Robert F. Salade

Fourth, the next step in making a counter-die for embossing is inking the face of the female die with black printing ink, applying the ink with a hand roller, and then printing an impression of the female die on the sheet of straw-board or newsboard. This impression will show where the embossing composition is to be placed.

EMBOSSING COMPOUND

There are several good, “home-made” embossing compounds in use which will give first class results.

One compound is made of sodium silicate, Alabastine, and a small quantity of LePage glue, all mixed together to form a body like soft putty.

Another compound is made of sodium silicate, carbonated magnesia, and a small portion of LePage Glue, mixed to the consistency of soft putty.

An ordinary compound for a small counter die and a short run of embossing can be made of LePage glue, a small portion of sodium silicate, and plaster of Paris.

The first-mentioned compound is the best for heavy counter dies and long runs.

Fifth, after the compound has been mixed with the aid of a printers’ pallet knife, a thick layer of the composition is spread over the printed subject on the straw-board or news-board. Roughly, this layer of composition should be about one-eighth of an inch thick. Over this lay a sheet of French folio paper. Work rapidly so that the composition will not harden before an impression of the female die is taken on it.

Sixth, take a second sheet of French folio—a full size sheet—and lay this over the first sheet, holding an end of the second sheet of French folio in the right hand as an impression is taken. Now run the press slowly and pull half-a-dozen more impressions on the large, loose sheet of French folio, moving the sheet slightly as each impression is taken. The raised detail of the counter die should by this time stand up sharply.

Seventh, with a sharp make-ready knife cut away all parts of the embossing composition which have nothing to do with the detail of the subject. In other words, scrape away all composition which forms the blank edges of the counter die, working close to the raised detail of the subject.