Enamel pins are the most popular way to express your ideas and creativity. These pins can be used as personal flair or as a promotional tool for your business or any event, sports, or tournament. The enamel pins are vibrant in color and have intricate details in them. However, the manufacturing process of these pins is not so easy. It takes several steps to make an enamel pin. In this blog, we will shed light on the step-by-step guide to how enamel pins are made. It will also discuss the craftsmanship that goes into creating these small artworks.
How Are Enamel Pins Made?
A pin factory requires a PDF file of the layout you wish to create to begin production. A sketch can be colored and drawn on paper, scanned as a PDF, or sent as a digital file via graphic design software. Use strong colors and lines, steer clear of shading, and reduce the number of lines and details in the design to produce a clear and concise pin design. Since pins are small, faint lines and subdued hues blend in with their surroundings.
Don’t blend colors because they are only separated by lines. The pin design on the left is an illustration of a design that would work well in pin production. It is bold and strong, and it uses lines to define each color.
Create a sampling mold
Generally, the die-struck method of production is used to craft the majority of enamel pins. Using this process, a stamping mold is needed to stamp your pin design onto zinc metal. The average time to finish this process is two to three days.
A special kind of industrial steel is used to make the mold. We engrave your design backward into the steel using CNC manufacturing technology. Most stamping molds take about 10 hours to make, so this is a labor-intensive process. You get this for your money when you pay the setup fee. The cost of producing 25–50pc pin orders is also due to this. The preparation time for a 50-piece order at a pin factory is equal to that of a 5000-piece order.
Create die
Once the sampling mold process is done, we move on to the next step, which is to prepare the die. The die is a mold of metal that can be used in stamping to build the pins’ base shape. Our exceptionally skilled team carves the die and pays minute attention to the overall pin dimension and intricate details of the pins.
Stamping
When the die is prepared, the next step is stamping. Metal sheets, mainly brass or copper, are inserted into a press where the die applies heavy pressure on the metal sheets. It helps to cut and shape the metal into the dimension of the desired pin.
Trimming
Once the stamping is done, the metal sheets are trimmed to remove extra materials and reshape the edges. This step is important for providing the pin with its desired shape and preventing irregularities. Precision in trimming helps in maintaining the overall pin quality.
Electroplating
This process is required to enhance the durability and appearance of the pins. In this process, the pins are immersed in a solution interacting with the metal ions and electric current. After this process, a thin layer of metal coating takes place on the pins. It can be gold, silver, or other premium metal finishes also.
Enamel
The enamel application is the next step, where the pins start to come to life. The recessed portions of the pin are carefully filled with enamel, a powdered glass mixture. After that, the enamel is fused by firing the pins at high temperatures, producing a bright and smooth surface. This step requires precision to avoid spills and attain the desired color intensity.
Buffing
Once the enamel is set, the pins undergo a process named buffing that helps to smoothen the rough edges of the surface and polish it. These steps help to add a final touch of refinement to the pins. Also, this process ensures that the pins have a professional and flawless appearance.
Finishing
Lastly, the pin backing is attached to the pins. Pin backing is something that will help you to wear the pins on clothes or other accessories. The finishing touches are critical in ensuring the pins are aesthetically pleasing but also robust and functional.
Conclusion
The process from a basic concept to a real enamel pin is evidence of the artistry and commitment of pin producers. In Pin Creator, we follow all these steps to offer you a unique and stylish enamel pin. Everything that goes into making these tiny art pieces, from making the mold to finishing it, is crucial. Recall the elaborate procedure that went into creating an enamel pin, demonstrating the artistry and expertise required in the pin manufacturing industry the next time you wear one with pride.
