12-Word Punchplate
12-Word Punchplate
Back up your Bitcoin seed phrase on steel that outlasts paper, electronics, and time.
The 12-Word Punchplate is a double-sided 304 stainless steel plate built for one job: permanently storing your 12-word BIP39 recovery phrase. Each side features a precision-etched grid — one word per column — plus an 8-character label field so you can identify your backup at a glance. Mark it with the Automatic Center Punch Tool (sold separately), and you've got a fireproof, waterproof, corrosion-resistant backup that doesn't need batteries, software, or an internet connection.
Setup takes minutes, not hours. Illustrated instructions walk you through the process step by step, and a permanent marker is included for pre-marking positions before you punch — so you get it right the first time. Always test-restore from your completed plate to confirm accuracy.
What's Included
One 12-word Punchplate (double-sided), one permanent marker, illustrated instructions, and a BIP39 word list reference.
Specs
Dimensions: 4.25" x 2.25" x 0.070" — fits in a standard safe or deposit box. Material: 304 stainless steel — resists fire, water, corrosion, and crushing. Compatibility: Works with any BIP39 wallet (Ledger, Trezor, Coldcard, and others). Requires Automatic Center Punch Tool, sold separately. Capacity: One 12-word recovery phrase + 8-character identifier.
Why Steel?
Paper burns. Hard drives fail. A Punchplate survives house fires, floods, and decades of storage. No moving parts. Nothing to break. Your backup is as durable as the metal it's punched into.
How It Works
First four letters,
punched into steel.
Each BIP-39 word is uniquely identified by its first 4 letters. Each word gets its own column. Each letter tells you which row (A–Z) to go to. Mark the quadrants clockwise: 1st letter = top, 2nd = right, 3rd = bottom, 4th = left.
Now encoding
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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.