I recently purchased some new gauge pins from NA Graphics in Colorado after smashing the only 3 I was given by my instructor. They are delicate little things, those silly gauge pins! In any case, I was curious about how other people have dealt with the whole gauge pin conundrum when working with boxcar bases (i.e. how do you avoid smashing them into your base).
I found a nice little discussion at Briar Press about this very issue: http://www.briarpress.org/3811
You can see below how Wallflowers Press has dealt with this issue by making their own gauge "pin" set-up using folded paper (photo originally posted on Briar Press by Wallflowers Press):
Another user had suggested saving the tongues from smashed gauges and tape them down to the tympan paper on their own as another method.
So, alternative gauge-pin solutions are worth some thought, especially when a box of new gauges is about $25 + shipping, taxes, and duties (to Canada).
Happy letterpressing!
p.s. I really, really am going to get those business cards done...I will post photos when I get my plates from Boxcar Press...
