THE VARIOUS TYPES OF PINS

PARTITIONED PINS

This type of pin comes from China and Japan. In the past, often jewellery was made by this method. It's made by taking a piece of copper, which becomes the base of the pin, and welding small strips of metal, following a precise design. The little strips of metal form partitions which separate each color making up the picture. Today, to make this type of pin, we begin with a base usually cut from copper or brass, using a metal punch or poured into a rubber mold, creating the different partitions necessary for the design. After this operation has been completed, the color is added, the color glass enamel ( a powdered enamel which melts at high temperatures ), or a soft enamel ( acrylic liquid ). The enamel is placed in each compartment according to the design with the help of a seringe, a special needle, or a tiny paintbrush. Often the soft enamel is covered by a clear coat of epoxy.

The pin is then baked at very high temperatures after the application of one or more colors. A pin with many colors will be baked many times. After baking, the surface is polished by hand with a powder or a charcool rock. It is then repolished with a special oil. Finally, it can be gold, silver or bronze plated if desired. This type of pin is presently the most common on the market, and offers the best quality of design reproduction.

ENAMELLED PINS ( PLASTIC DOME )

This type of pin the best result for the clearness and the neatness of detail. With the partitioned pins, it's often difficult to obtain precise lines, using an acid on a brass base, but with the enamelled pins, there is generally better success in producing a precise design.

The enamel is then applied between these lines, always by hand. The pin is then plunged into a solution of gold, silver or bronze plating and submitted to the first firing. When it comes out of the kiln, a thick protective coat of acrylic material is applied and the pin is returned to the kiln. When it comes out of kiln the second time, a transparent plastic dome is covering the surface of the pin.

PINS PRODUCED BY SERIGRAPHY

We often see these types of pins which are not quality pins, and which often have a plastic base. They are fabricated following a design which is printed on the base by a system of serigraphy, often with ordinary ink which disappears with tim. They are dried at room temperature or at a low oven temperature.

ENAMEL PINS WITH A MATT FINISH

To fabricate this type of pin, enamel is applied to a piece of punched metal, generally copper, according to the desired, after which the firing and finally the gold, silver or bronze plating is done. This type of pin is vulnerable and fragile, and they are often scratches and peeling.

PHOTO-PIN, PINS

To fabricate this type of pin, a small photo or design is affixed to a metal base ( usually copper ) and then covered with epoxy.

PHOTO-ETCHED PINS

This type of pin is generally made on a thin metal base and engraved with the help of acid. The orifices are then covered with soft enamel in a thin coat and often protected with a coat of epoxy.

THREE-DIMENSIONAL PINS

The fabrication of this type of pin is generally produced in zinc or in alloy of pewter. It is poured before colored, soft enamel is applied.