Whether it's personalized gifts, corporate logos, or organizational pins, choosing the right type of pin is crucial. In this blog post, we will delve into three common pin types: soft enamel pins, hard enamel pins, and embossed pins. WNM Crafts, with its wealth of experience, will be your reliable partner in customizing pins.
Soft Enamel Pins
When creating soft enamel pins, the design's shape is stamped and cut from a metal sheet, followed by plating. This process creates raised and recessed areas, with the recesses filled with enamel paint for coloring. Soft enamel pins have a distinctive "bumpy" surface with a rich texture. Compared to hard enamel pins, soft enamel pins are more cost-effective and can have a free epoxy resin coating added for surface protection. The textured feel of soft enamel allows for more line detail, making it suitable for designs with intricate features.
Hard Enamel Pins
Among the hard enamel pins offered by WNM Crafts is a type called cloisonné pins. The production process is similar to soft enamel pins, but with the additional step of filling each recess with colored resin. After the resin fill, each color is individually baked at a high temperature to harden and cure the enamel, followed by polishing for a smooth and almost flat surface. Hard enamel pins have a smooth, jewelry-grade surface, and the enamel is more durable. While the metal lines in a design may become slightly less detailed, the colors appear sharper and more vibrant than soft enamel pins.
Die-struck Pins
Die-Struck Pins
For those who appreciate simplicity, die-struck pins offer a classic metal appearance without the addition of enamel paint. Stamped in metal like soft enamel pins, die-struck pins maintain a natural look with the option for sandblasting recesses to create visual contrast. Popular for their elegant and refined aesthetic, die-struck pins are often chosen by those seeking a timeless design without vibrant colors.
How to Choose?
The decision-making process might prove challenging, but consider this: if the surface has a textured feel with definite recesses filled with enamel paint, it's a soft enamel pin. Conversely, if it boasts an almost smooth texture with painted enamel, it's a hard enamel pin. Should it have a textured surface but an unpainted metal surface, then you're holding a die-struck pin.
Which Pin Type to Choose?
The choice between soft enamel, hard enamel, or die-struck pins is likely to be influenced by your personal aesthetics and the specific requirements of your design. Soft enamel pins, slightly more economical, are prevalent in gift shops, Etsy stores, and corporations. Hard enamel pins, with their smooth finish and vibrant colors, are gaining popularity in fashion trends and are historically associated with high-grade lapel, military, and corporate pins. Die-struck pins, with their classic metal appearance, appeal to those desiring a more elegant and refined look.
WNM Crafts: Your Trusted Manufacturer
Still unsure? Let WNM Crafts guide you through the decision-making process. With over a decade of experience, we collaborate with artists, businesses, government agencies, and national organizations to explore different options for your pin designs. Request a free quote, and we'll provide a free art proof of your design with unlimited free revisions. Have a favorite pin? Share it with us on our Facebook page!