TL;DR
Tiles are fastest, punched plates can’t come loose, engraved or stamped plates are cheapest and permanent. Each fails differently, which is why I keep two different kinds in every box.
| Letter tiles | Punched plate | Engraved / stamped | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Examples | Cryptosteel, Billfodl | Blockplate | Blank steel plate |
| Time for 24 words | About 30 minutes | About an hour | One to two hours |
| Tools needed | None | Centre punch, hammer | Stamps and hammer, or rotary tool |
| Can letters move? | Yes | No | No |
| Easy to read back | Yes | Takes care | Yes, if done neatly |
| Cost | Highest | Middle | Lowest |
Why failure modes matter
A backup that fails in an obvious way, such as melted or unreadable, sends you to your other backups. A backup that fails quietly, with the right words in the wrong order, can cost you hours of confusion at the worst moment. Tiles can fail quietly. Punched and engraved plates don’t.
My setup
A tile backup for speed and readability, plus an engraved plate with the same words as a check. Both in the same box, because they’re the same key. Tools and plates:
- Punched: Buy from Blockplate · Buy on Amazon · centre punch on Amazon
- Engraved or stamped: blank plates · letter stamps · carbide bits
Whatever you pick
- Stainless steel or titanium only, never aluminium or brass.
- First four letters per word is enough.
- Check the plate on the device, not just against paper (step 5).