How to Make Enamel Pins

Enamel or lapel pins are a great way to engage the audience for a brand or sports team and promote your personality. If you want guidance on making enamel pins that help you achieve your purpose, You are in the right place.

Creating DIY enamel pins could be challenging as it requires a lot of materials and crafting techniques that should be left to professionals like us.

However, you can make enamel pins the way you like, and we will explain the process step-by-step. Make sure to read the blog until the end!

The first step is crucial. Whether you want to create lapel pins for brand promotion, community engagement, or to uplift your style, the design matters the most.

You can start by sketching on paper and then scanning it to convert to PDF. Another way is to create the design using graphic design software

To help you a little when designing, avoid using complex thin lines and shading instead of solid lines and bold colors.

If you need inspiration for designing an enamel pin, check out our custom enamel pins page for some fantastic creations.

Most enamel pin makers, like us, use two types of material: soft and hard.

If you want eye-catching and playful designs, go for soft enamel pins. They are made by soaking the mold in the plating liquid.

After that, extra layers of metal plating options like silver, gold, or metal are added to the base, known as electroplating. It creates raised edges and a three-dimensional texture.

In the next step, colors are added to the mold. Compared to Hard enamel pins, only one round of dye is added. Then liquid enamel is filled in the colors of your design, partially keeping the metal edges of your pin raised.

Once the filling is done, it goes for final baking to harden up the enamel paint and finish it with a quick polish.

They provide design flexibility and intricacy, quick production time, and overall cost-effectiveness compared to hard enamel pins.

Also known as cloisonné pins, Hard Enamel Pins are a popular option for those who want a polished finish and durability.

The first step is similar to soft enamel pins; your design is molded onto the metal, and each cavity of the hard enamel pin is filled with enamel.

The key difference to note is that enamel filling is done before electroplating. Also, hard enamel is baked each time the color enamel is added, so let’s say you want three colors.

Color enamel will be added and baked three times. After that, it is polished and electroplated with your preferred shiny metal.

If you want to promote your business at corporate or prestigious events, hard Enamel pins are the right option due to their professional appearance and durability. A few downsides to hard enamel pins are that their production time is lengthy and expensive.

The next step is to choose the right size. You will have two size options: small and large. A Small Enamel Pin measures .75 or 1.25 inches. On the other hand, a large enamel pin measures 1.25 inches or more.

Choosing the perfect size is crucial as it determines the final price. Choose small enamel pins with a restricted budget if you are going for soft enamel pins.

And if you are going for hard enamel pins and the budget does not limit you, then a large size is ideal for you to showcase intricate details and capture instant attention.

Choose the number of pins you want to order. The standard MOQ for enamel pins is 100 units. I suggest ordering the pins at the MOQ first, and then reorder once you are satisfied. However, many pin manufacturers give discounts only on bulk orders.

The last step is to choose the proper attachment for your enamel pins. The attachment options that you will get are the following:

1. Military Clutch (Ordered frequently)
2. Rubber Clutch
3. Jewelry Clutch
4. Key Chains
5. Magnet Backing
6. Deluxe Clutches
7. Cufflink
8. Hat clip
9. Safety Pin

Start your order today by filling out the form. Enter your design file, email address, product quantity, and other details, and we will contact you with our design depiction and free quote.

Once we finish your design, we will send you a quote according to the size and quantity you order. You can make amendments if necessary, and once you are satisfied, we will process your order.

Production time may vary depending on the quantity and size of your order, but we will discuss this with you on call and set a mutually agreed-upon time frame.

Once you are on board, we will deliver your order free of cost worldwide within the agreed-upon timeframe.

After reading the above article, you know the factors to consider before ordering Enamel pins. To summarize, finalize your design, choose the enamel material, select the size, and finish it by selecting the right attachment option.

If you still have any questions, contact us, and we will guide you. If you are looking for custom patches, click here to see our wide range of patches.