Several common crafts for making lapel pins

10. April 2023

Lapel pin manufacturing processes are generally divided into die-struck, die-casting, hydraulic, corrosion, etc., among which die-struck and die-casting are more common. Color treatment the coloring process is divided into enamel (cloisonné), imitation hard enamel, soft enamel, glue dropping, printing and so on. Lapel pin materials are generally divided into zinc alloy, copper, stainless steel, iron, sterling silver, pure gold and other alloy materials.

Die-struck Lapel pins: Generally, the materials used for die-struck lapel pins are copper, iron, aluminum, etc., so they are also called metal lapel pins. The most common ones are copper lapel pins, because copper is softer, and the pressed lines are the clearest, followed by iron lapel pins. Correspondingly, the price of copper is also relatively expensive.

Die-cast lapel pins: Zinc alloy materials are usually used for die-cast Lapel pins. Because of the low melting point of zinc alloy materials, they can be injected into molds after heating to produce complex and difficult embossed hollow Lapel pins.

How to distinguish zinc alloy and copper Lapel pins：

Zinc alloy: light weight, beveled and smooth

Copper: There are punch marks on the cutting edge, and it is heavier than zinc alloy in the same volume

Generally, the accessories of zinc alloy are riveted, and the accessories of copper are soldered and silver

Enamel lapel pins: Enamel Lapel pins, also known as cloisonné Lapel pins, belong to the most high-end Lapel pin craft. The material is mainly copper, colored with enamel powder. The characteristics of making enamel Lapel pins are to be painted first and then grindstone polished and electroplated, so it feels smooth and flat to the touch. The colors are all dark and single, and can be preserved forever, but the enamel is fragile and cannot be knocked or dropped by gravity. Enamel Lapel pins are commonly found in military medals, medals, medals, license plate logos, etc.

Imitation enamel Lapel pins: The production process is basically the same as that of enamel Lapel pins, except that resin paint, also called color paste pigments, is used instead of enamel powder for coloring. The color is brighter and more lustrous than enamel. The surface of the product is flat to the touch, and the substrate can be copper, iron, zinc alloy, etc.

How to distinguish enamel from imitation enamel: Real enamel has a ceramic texture, less color selection, and a hard surface. Pricking the surface with a needle will not leave marks, but it will break easily. The imitation enamel is soft and can be pierced into the false enamel layer with a needle. The color is bright, but it cannot be preserved for a long time. After three to five years, the color will turn yellow when exposed to high temperature or ultraviolet rays.

Soft enamel process Lapel pin: obvious concave and convex, bright color, clear metal lines. The concave part is filled with baking paint, and the protruding part of the metal line needs to be electroplated. The materials generally include copper, zinc alloy, iron, etc. Among them, the price of iron and zinc alloy is cheap, so there are more common paint Lapel pins. The production process is electroplating first, then coloring, baking, and the production process of enamel is opposite.

Soft enamel lapel pins in order to keep them for a long time and protect the surface from being scratched. There can be a layer of transparent protective resin on its surface, that is, Polly, which we often call "Epoxy". After the resin is applied, the Lapel pin does not have the texture of metal bumps. But Bolero is also easy to be scratched, and after a long time of ultraviolet radiation, Bolero will also turn yellow.

Printing Lapel pins: usually two ways: screen printing and flat printing. Generally, it is also called glue Lapel pin, because the final process of the Lapel pin is to add a layer of transparent protective resin (Poly) on the surface of the Lapel pin. The materials used are mainly stainless steel and bronze, and the thickness is generally 0.8mm. The surface is not electroplated, but is treated with natural color or wire drawing.

Screen printing Lapel pins are mainly aimed at simple graphics and less color. Lithographic printing is aimed at complex patterns and more colors, especially graphics with gradient colors.