When you have searched for information about the process and budget required to design a customized enamel pin, it is certain that you might have gone through the terms ‘soft enamel’ and ‘hard enamel’. A question might pop into your mind, ‘what is the difference?’
One of the biggest differences is the finished texture of both enamels. Hard enamel pins are more flat and smooth, while soft enamel pins have raised metal edges. Although the method used by both the enamel is the same, both have bright and vibrant colors. But some special options are exclusive in soft enamel.
What is enamel?
The enamel used in the pin is different from the enamel used in the teeth. It is made from powdered and colored glass. Later, the powder is mixed in a liquid solution. This liquid solution comes in almost any color one can think of and will end up hardening and creating the pin’s colored surfaces.
Difference between hard enamel and soft enamel
| Hard Enamel | Soft Enamel |
| Finish types: Pins designed using this enamel have a glossy, reflective, and highly polished finish in debossed areas that are filled with the enamel colors, and flushed with the surrounding metal. This enhances the vibrancy. | Finish types: These enamel pins have a textured and debossed finish in which the associated areas are filled with enamel colors and are recessed from the surrounding metal. This enhances the texture. |
| Durability: These enamel pins are fired at a high temperature maximizing the hardness of the enamel. This makes it to be more durable and scratch-resistant. | Durability: These enamel pins are fired at a lower temperature than forgoes, maximizing their hardness. This makes them less durable and more prone to scratching. |
| Cost: Hard enamel pins need to pass through multiple firings to get their enamel hardened. This can be said as one firing the application of each color. | Cost: No matter how many colors are being used in pins, it requires only one firing to harden the enamel once all colors are applied. |
| Metal plating/ coloring options: These pins have only their base metal electroplated, not painted. This is because of the hard enamel that requires grinding after firing. | Metal plating/ coloring options: These pins have their base metal electroplated or painted with any color that the client wishes. This is because of the lack of grinding that soft enamel requires. The paint is applied before the firing. |
Soft enamel and its uses
These enamel plating are used for complex artwork due to their ability to have complex engravings cast upon it. Moreover, it is a cost-efficient option compared with hard enamel. In the past, it is been used widely in various accessories and engravings. Some of its uses are:
Personalized pins
Pins that are designed by services like custom pin badges UK or others can be used as accessories or crests, helping you to mold your preferred artwork or typefaces. Apart from being used as accessories for self-expression, soft enamel also serves as tokens for brand awareness or to show duty to any organization.
Customized medals
Medals designed with complex details and shine allow the users to define prestige and pleasingly celebrate achievements. These medals are common in the realm of sports and at graduation ceremonies.
Crafted coins
Soft enamel coins with an enamel surface add appeal to the personalized engravings and designs. They are most commonly used as promotional items, for instance as giveaways in an event, memorial decorations, like in the defense sector, and collectibles. Additionally, they can also be used as awards in various sectors and as fundraising souvenirs.
Ball markers
Customized ball markers have badges or logos embossed onto them, reflecting the significance of the organization while owning them as archives or collectibles. These customized balls are in-demand collectibles and accessories that allow their users to have personalized labels and designs of their choice.
Customized badges
You can have more visually appealing badges or collectibles when using custom soft enamel badges. It produces a shine and an aesthetic framework. These badges are often used as accessories for self-expression and brand awareness.
Guide to the production of soft enamel
Have you wondered about the process of enamel creation that takes on accessories and relics? The process includes these:
Enamel creation
The method includes creating the enamel by mixing shards of glass and metal oxide and later immersing it in other solvents like water or oil. This mixture is applied to the base of the metal, making the enamel more applicable.
Techniques
There are different ways of producing soft enamel mouldings or engravings. These include die-striking, photosensitive etching, and CNC machining.
Method of producing soft enamel
Later, the enamel mixture is poured onto the patterned dye on its recessed areas. It is heated to fuse it well with the metal base.
Heating session
This process is carried out in a kiln, producing any collection of colors.
Finishing session
The only exception is that its polishing is done in a way that creates a much smoother and glossier surface with raised edges. This is because of the enamel setting above the metal base.
The merits and demerits of using soft enamel
As mentioned above, soft enamel is less expensive than hard enamel, so it is a solid choice for pin shoppers who want to stay within their budget. This is advantageous for those who are buying in bulk. Moreover, if you wish to have rainbow plating, colored metal plating like black metal, or antique plating, go for soft enamel. Unfortunately, the polishing process that is used to create hard enamel pins can ruin these platings.
Another reason to choose a soft enamel is when you wish to personalize a high level of detail in a shorter time. As soft enamel pins are not polished like hard enamel pins, the metal lines are slightly thinner resulting in sharper detailing.
Additionally, soft enamel is an ideal choice if you are in a rush and are looking for some pins that can be delivered quickly. This is because they are colored once and don’t need to be polished. The reduced labor time and cost are always among the reasons that soft enamel is cheaper than both options.
The final thoughts
After reading through the blog, it might be easy to distinguish the use of soft enamel and the difference between both options.
No doubt, both enamels have their pros and cons, keeping their distinct visual differences. You came to know the procedure of producing soft enamel.
As the editor of the blog, She curate insightful content that sparks curiosity and fosters learning. With a passion for storytelling and a keen eye for detail, she strive to bring diverse perspectives and engaging narratives to readers, ensuring every piece informs, inspires, and enriches.
