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. Hard enamel pins are smooth and shiny, more durable, and take longer to make.
Creating your first custom enamel pin is fun. But before you get into color choice, artwork, or backer design, you have an important decision to make: soft enamel or hard enamel.
Soft and hard enamel pins go through different production processes
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). After that, their paths to pin perfection diverge, with different steps required for each pin type.
Soft enamel pin construction
Once the plating is ready, there are three steps to completing a soft enamel pin.
1. Electroplating or dying the plating
Electroplating is the process of adding an outer layer of metal, like gold or silver, to the pin’s base of iron or zinc alloy. The plating can also be dyed with a color at this stage.
2. Enameling
The next step is to put liquefied colored enamel in the cavities of the metal base. In soft enamel pins, each cavity is only partially filled. That’s why you can feel the raised metal edges in soft enamel pins.
In this example, the silver plating is raised, forming both the outer edge of the pin as well as some of the design elements. The colored enamel is recessed.
3. Baking
Finally, the pin gets placed in an oven and baked to set the enamel.
Hard enamel pin construction
Both the number and order of steps it takes to make a hard enamel pin are different.
1. Enamel filling
Unlike in soft enamel pins, each cavity of a hard enamel pin is overfilled with enamel. Also, note that the enamel filling happens before electroplating in this process.
2. Baking
Hard enamel pins are baked after each color of enamel is added. So if a pin has five unique colors, it will be baked five times.
3. Polishing
The enamel that’s been overfilled and baked gets polished down, so it’s level with the plating. You can still see the metal plating; it’s just smooth so there are no raised edges.
4. Electroplating
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. But you’re restricted to only shiny metals like gold or silver.
If you look closely at this funky pin we made, you’ll see the exposed, shiny gold plating. But notice it doesn’t stick out above any of the blue or colored enamel sections.
3. Baking
Finally, the pin gets placed in an oven and baked to set the enamel.
Hard enamel pin construction
Both the number and order of steps it takes to make a hard enamel pin are different.
1. Enamel filling
Unlike in soft enamel pins, each cavity of a hard enamel pin is overfilled with enamel. Also, note that the enamel filling happens before electroplating in this process.
2. Baking
Hard enamel pins are baked after each color of enamel is added. So if a pin has five unique colors, it will be baked five times.
3. Polishing
The enamel that’s been overfilled and baked gets polished down, so it’s level with the plating. You can still see the metal plating; it’s just smooth so there are no raised edges.
4. Electroplating
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. But you’re restricted to only shiny metals like gold or silver.
If you look closely at this funky pin we made, you’ll see the exposed, shiny gold plating. But notice it doesn’t stick out above any of the blue or colored enamel sections.
When to Pick Soft Enamel
Soft enamel is one of the most popular types of pins, having a raised and textured look and feel that many people enjoy.
Enamel pins must be baked in an oven to cure and harden the enamel. Unlike hard enamel pins, the soft enamel metal plating process is done before the enamel is filled in. This means that there are some metal finishes that can only be on soft enamel. If you want your pin to be rainbow plated, painted black, or painted any other custom color, then you'll need to use soft enamel.
When to Pick Hard Enamel
Hard enamel pins are more durable and scratch-resistant compared to soft enamel. Many people choose hard enamel over soft enamel because of the clean, finished look. Many designs can work in both hard and soft enamel, so most of the time it comes down to personal preference. Hard enamel pins are first filled in with color, then the pin's face is ground down to be flat and smooth. The grinding and polishing makes them incompatible with certain metal finishes. If you want a standard gold or silver metal plating, then hard enamel might be a good choice for your design.
Other Key Differences
Soft VS Hard Enamel Pins,which is more durable ?
After getting the finished product, let’s see who is more durable.
Under the same preservation method and conditions, hard enamel pins are more durable than soft enamel pins.
Hard Enamel Pins is preferred by those who want the more durable enamel pins. It has super high quality and resistance from scratching.
In terms of drafting and design, the enamel pin manufacturer does the same colors, details, and visual effects on either. The difference is how the end products feel and how shadowing or reflection alters the appearance of the finished pins.
You can choose one or the other based on aesthetic preference as some craft works better than others with either the manufacturing process.
At Kingtai, we offer both soft and hard custom enamel pins for the lowest factory price. Ultimately, the custom pins come down to your personal preference. You could pick the appearance and process that work best for your design.
If you are still unsure, contact us and let us know. As an enamel pin maker with 20 years of professional experience, Kingtai is able to help you to pick out the most suitable one and the best looking one for your design.
Do you need to design stylish and memorable medals for your teams?
At Kingtai craft products Co., Ltd, we have helped many sports teams create custom medals that deliver excellent results in all use cases.
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Post time: Apr-16-2023