12-Word Punchplate Compact Starter Pack
Two compact plates. One tool. The smallest complete backup kit you can buy.
This starter pack pairs two 12-Word Punchplate Compacts with an Automatic Center Punch Tool — everything you need to create a redundant seed phrase backup in the most discreet form factor available. No separate purchases, no compatibility guesswork.
Two plates means two locations. Keep one in your safe and one off-site — at a second property, a bank deposit box, or with a trusted family member. If one is lost or destroyed, the other is your recovery path. That's the redundancy that security best practices call for, and this kit gets you there out of the box.
The Compact encodes each word as its BIP39 index number instead of letters, which shrinks the plate down to a fraction of the standard Punchplate's size while storing the exact same information. Fewer punches per word, faster setup, and a plate that's easier to conceal.
Illustrated instructions walk you through the index encoding step by step, and a permanent marker is included for pre-marking before you punch. A BIP39 word list with index numbers is included. Always test-restore from your completed plates.
What's Included
Two 12-word Punchplate Compacts (double-sided), one Automatic Center Punch Tool, one permanent marker, illustrated instructions, and a BIP39 word list reference with index numbers.
Specs
Dimensions (per plate): — approx. 2.75" x 1.5" x 0.071". Material: 304 stainless steel — resists fire, water, corrosion, and crushing. Compatibility: Works with any BIP39 wallet (Ledger, Trezor, Coldcard, and others). Capacity: Two 12-word recovery phrases + 8-character identifiers.
Who It's For
Anyone who wants the smallest possible steel backup with a complete tool kit and built-in redundancy from day one.
How It Works
Index encoding, not letters.
Every BIP-39 word maps to an index number (1–2048). Skip leading zeros, then mark each remaining digit clockwise from the top. Many words need just 1–3 marks. The Bip-39 word list is provided with each Punchplate and is also available online.
Now encoding
Bitcoin Backup Questions, Answered
Everything you stamp into steel matters. Here are the most important things to know before backing up your Bitcoin seed phrase.
What should I put on a Punchplate? +
Only your wallet recovery words, exactly as generated by your wallet.
Do I need a 12-word or 24-word Punchplate? +
Use the format your wallet gave you. If your wallet generated 12 words, use a 12-word plate. If it generated 24, use a 24-word plate.
What about a passphrase? +
If you use a BIP39 passphrase, remember that your seed words alone are not enough. You need a separate secure plan for preserving that passphrase too.
Should I make more than one backup? +
Yes. Many Bitcoin holders keep at least two backups in separate secure locations in case of theft, fire, flood, or loss.
Can I test my backup? +
Yes. The safest approach is to verify that your recovery words can restore the wallet before moving bitcoin or relying on the backup long term.
What if I punch the wrong spot or letter? +
No stress — Punchplate was designed for this. If you hit the wrong spot, simply punch the exact same spot 3–4 times. This creates a dense cluster of dots that is impossible to confuse with a real punch.
Every valid character on the finished plate is always a single clean punch. Canceled marks stand out clearly as overlapping groups, so you (or anyone reading it later) instantly knows to ignore them and move to the next valid letter.