Cut two pieces of stout strawboard, one exactly the size of one of the boards of the book cover to be blocked, the other somewhat larger each way. With the larger one, set the gauges on the bed of the press, also adjust the bed itself so that the centre of the blocking plate and the centre of the board will coincide. Now put the smaller board centrally over the larger one and draw two pencil lines at right angles to each other. These lines had better be at the left-hand side and the end farther from the operator. Get four small pieces of board A. (Fig. 119)

and attach them as stops to the large board with glue, placing them up to the pencil lines at some distance from each other, two on each line. Press them down and see that they stick well, as the accuracy of the blocking depends upon these little pieces retaining their position. This board and the little pieces glued upon it is called the tray or force.

Put the board that was cut to the size of the book cover on the tray close to the stops, and on it carefully place the block or stamp, adjusting it to the desired margin. Draw the whole from the bench, taking care that neither the board nor the block shifts, and place it on the bed of the press, adjusting the bottom board or tray to the gauges; then draw or pull the lever so as to make a good impression. Release the lever and withdraw the tray, etc., from the press, place the tray on the bench remove the block, take up the board, and examine the impression. If this is satisfactory as to position, replace the board upon the tray and the block upon this, and adjust it to the impression already made. If this is done quickly the block should be heated sufficiently to melt the glue. Glue the back of the block well, especially on the heavier parts, insert it in the press as before and pull the lever again, holding it down for a few minutes to allow the glue to become set. On releasing the lever the block will be found adhering to the blocking plate.

The tray can then be withdrawn. An impression from a block of any kind, especially a. large one, seldom is equally sharp all over. To make it so, padding, packing, or" making ready" has to be resorted to. First take a good impression on a sheet of white paper, placing it in position on the tray while doing so, and with this as a guide paste pieces of paper on the tray where the impression is light. A number of impressions may have to be taken before a satisfactory result is obtained. The work must, however, be done carefully and completely if good blocking is to result.

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