McClain's Catalog
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Blocks & Plates
All Shina (3/8in thick, shina core)

3/8" Shina Plywood
(previously called "All Shina")

All five plies or layers of 3/8" (9mm) Shina Plywood are Shina, a wood that is very easy to carve in any direction, including across the grain.

A very thin application of glue is used between the five plies, so compared to most plywoods, these blocks will feel more like solid wood as you carve them. Because the glue is thin, your tools will stay sharp longer too.

3/8" Shina Plywood can be safely carved on both sides. Please be aware that if you are printing on an etching press and using high pressure, and you have carved both sides of the block, the areas carved away on the bottom of the block may show up as lighter areas when you print the top side. In other words, pressure from the press may push the wood down so the carved out area shows up lighter on the print. Of course it all depends on how much wood is carved away and how much pressure is applied. We have not heard of anyone having this problem when printing with a baren or on a letterpress.

Comparing 3/8" and 1/4"

  • 3/8" is less apt to warp because it is thicker
  • 3/8" can be carved on both sides
  • If the block will be carved on only one side, 1/4" is more economical
  • 1/4" is easier to print on an etching press because it is thinner

Free Sample

If you have not tried carving Shina before and you live in the U.S., we will be happy to send you one small sample for free. Please call 800-832-4264 or email your name and address to mail@imcclains.com.

If you live outside the U.S., you will need to pay the shipping, which starts at around U.S.$10.00. Please contact us for the exact amount to ship samples to your country.

We gather requests for samples together and send them out every seven to ten days, when we have a break from shipping orders. Thank you for your patience.

VOLUME DISCOUNT

Receive a 5% discount on orders of 12 or more of the same size and same kind of Shina standard size blocks (see list below). This discount is given automatically when you place your order.

There are no discounts on custom orders.

Sizes and Shipping
To maximize the number of blocks from a sheet, reduce waste and keep prices as low as possible, we may lose up to the width of the saw blade (about 1/8") from the dimensions of a block. Exact and custom sizes can be cut for a small additional charge. Please allow two weeks for cutting and shipping custom blocks, blocks larger than 18 x 24, and large orders.

UPS has additional shipping charges for large items. If you wish to know what the actual shipping charge will be, please add a note in the "Special Instructions" box in the shopping cart asking us to contact you with this information.

3/8" Shina Plywood

  Size (in inches) Price per block Enter Quantity
D1240 4 x 6 $3.25

D1241 6 x 8 $6.30

D1242 8 x 10 $10.70

D1243 9 x 12 $14.30

D1244 12 x 16 $25.40

D1245 14 x 18 $33.45

D1246 14 x 20 $37.10

D1247 16 x 20 $42.50

D1248 18 x 24 $57.45

D1250 20 x 30
allow two weeks to ship
$79.85
D1251 22 x 28
allow two weeks to ship
$82.00
D1252 24 x 32
allow two weeks to ship
$102.10
D1253 24 x 36
allow two weeks to ship
$114.95
D1254 30 x 40
allow two weeks to ship
$159.55
D1255 36 x 36
allow two weeks to ship
$172.40
D1256 36 x 48
allow two weeks to ship
$229.85

Special order

We are currently running low on Shina and are unable to supply blocks larger than 18"x24" at this time. Our container of Shina Plywood from Japan is due to arrive in January 2025. Please check back at that time and thank you for your patience and understanding.

  Size Price per block Enter Quantity
D1294 Special order:
per sq. inch

Maximum width: 18"
Maximum length: 24"

There is a minimum charge of $1.00 each for custom cut blocks.

Allow two weeks for custom orders to be shipped.
NO RETURNS OR REFUNDS ON CUSTOM SIZES


Please call our office to place special orders:
1-800-832-4264

Or use the calculator in the right column:
$0.16
per sq. inch

Width of block
(in inches):
Length of block
(in inches):

Calculated price per block:
$

Number of blocks:

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