Since soft enamel pins don’t go through the polishing step, every exposed metal edge stays sharp. Some complex pin artwork needs some edges to remain sharp or the design becomes blurred. Polishing rounds out the metal edges of a hard enamel pin. They work well with both simple and complex designs Soft enamel pins have two design advantages since they don’t go through the polishing step in the production process. Soft enamel pins allow more design flexibility But notice it doesn’t stick out above any of the black or colored enamel sections. If you look closely at this funky pin we made, you’ll see the exposed, shiny gold plating. But you’re restricted to only shiny metals like gold or silver. The magic of electroplating still allows you to add a thin veneer of metal over the exposed iron or zinc edges of a hard enamel pin. You can still see the metal plating it’s just smooth so there are no raised edges. The enamel that’s been overfilled and baked gets polished down, so it’s level with the plating. So if a pin has five unique colors, it will be baked five times. Hard enamel pins are baked after each color of enamel is added. Also, note that the enamel filling happens before electroplating in this process. Unlike in soft enamel pins, each cavity of a hard enamel pin is overfilled with enamel. Hard enamel pin constructionīoth the number and order of steps it takes to make a hard enamel pin are different. The colored enamel is recessed.įinally, the pin gets placed in an oven and baked to set the enamel. In this wizardly little example, the silver plating is raised, forming both the outer edge of the pin as well as some of the design elements. That’s why you can feel the raised metal edges in soft enamel pins. In soft enamel pins, each cavity is only partially filled. The next step is to put liquefied colored enamel in the cavities of the metal base. The plating can also be dyed with a color at this stage. Once the plating is ready, there are three steps to completing a soft enamel pin.Įlectroplating is the process of adding an outer layer of metal, like gold or silver, to the pin’s base of iron or zinc alloy. After that, their paths to pin perfection diverge, with different steps required for each pin type. The production process for hard and soft enamel pins starts out the same: create a mold from the pin design, then use the mold to punch or form the pin’s plating (the metal base of the pin). Soft and hard enamel pins go through different production processes If you’re serious about creating a pin people will love, then understanding what makes hard and soft enamel pins unique is the first step. Those characteristics mean that each option is best for certain designs and pin purposes. Hard enamel pins are smooth and shiny, more durable, and take longer to make. What’s the difference between hard and soft enamel? Soft enamel pins have raised metal edges that give them texture, are less expensive, and offer more design flexibility. But before you get into color choice, artwork, or backer design, you have an important decision to make: soft enamel or hard enamel. If you choose to do business with this business, please let the business know that you contacted BBB for a BBB Business Profile.Īs a matter of policy, BBB does not endorse any product, service or business.Creating your first custom enamel pin is fun. BBB Business Profiles are subject to change at any time. When considering complaint information, please take into account the company's size and volume of transactions, and understand that the nature of complaints and a firm's responses to them are often more important than the number of complaints.īBB Business Profiles generally cover a three-year reporting period. However, BBB does not verify the accuracy of information provided by third parties, and does not guarantee the accuracy of any information in Business Profiles. BBB asks third parties who publish complaints, reviews and/or responses on this website to affirm that the information provided is accurate. BBB Business Profiles may not be reproduced for sales or promotional purposes.īBB Business Profiles are provided solely to assist you in exercising your own best judgment.
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