About Custom DIE CAST Lapel Pins
Customized Pins

MORE INFORMATION ON CUSTOM DIE CAST LAPEL PINS

How are your Custom Made Pins better than your competitors?
There are many good pin manufacturers out there, however please be aware that most of the time you get what you pay for. When looking at a pin's quality, consider the following:
1. Is the thickness of the pin equal to what was promised, or did the manufacturer decrease the thickness to save on costs? Most pins have thicknesses of at least 1.5mm. Does the pin feel "substantial" and does it have considerable weight relative to its size?
2. Are the letters and images clear, crisp and detailed? (Less Clarity can result from a rubber "spin cast" mold, you may want to insist on a mold or die)
3. Is the buffing and plating consistent across all pins?
4. On antique finishes, are the pins edges buffed, or did the manufacturer cut corners by leaving all the edges blackened.
5. Do the attached pin backings match the pin's plating? For example, antique silver pin attachment should be used on antique silver pin.
6. Is each pin assembled with a pin back, poly-bagged and packaged properly?

How are the custom die cast pins made and what about mold fees?
Custom pins are typically liquid cast in a mold or die. Dies are made by skilled artisans, and high tech 3D CNC's. Pins cast in steel molds/dies show amazing detail and quality. Many manufacturers will use a disposable rubber mold (spin cast) which decreases mold/die charges and overall costs but produces a less detailed pin and sometimes some inconsistencies. Our factory uses a steel die/mold.

What finishes are available on your custom cast pins?
The finish color of your pins is up to you! Common finishes are Antique or Shiny/Polished or Matte in Gold, Silver, and Bronze, or solid White, or solid Black. Antique finishes tend to be lower in cost than Shiny/Polished. There are usually no added charges for mixing finishes.

What is your minimum order and delivery time?
We have a strict minimum quantity requirement of 300 or more pins of the same mold/design. Finishes can vary. Typical production time will run approximately 5-8 weeks minimum.
If you need custom pins sooner you may want to consider one of our EXPRESS printed insert pins.

What about artwork and do I need it?
Vector artwork is required for submittal to the foundry for production. We require you to provide your high quality artwork that you'd like turned into a pin.
We can typically make small design changes like changing colors, adding text, etc. but any major work will incur a design time fee. We normally do NOT create art from scratch. See information on acceptable art files HERE and HERE.

Can I add color?
Yes, pins can be color filled with enamel, glittered enamel, or glow in the dark enamel. Adding color to your pin is often well worth it if you have a logo or design where you want to maintain branding. You will be surprised how much color adds to the overall look of your pin!

What is 2D and 3D?
"2D" or two dimensional custom pins maintain two or more flat plains or levels. Most often, a 2D medal has a low recessed level and a raised higher flat level.
"3D" or three dimensional pins have variations or graduations in levels making images look more realistic. Three Dimensional molds are more expensive to make.




What makes a custom die cast pin look good?
As you might expect, the final appearance of your pin has a lot to do with the art. Not to mention, a pin's beauty really is in the "eye of the beholder." This aside, a medal with an abundance of raised area tends to enhance its appearance. Pins with a large amount of open recessed areas may look bare and empty, and actually reduce the overall weight of your pin. Often, adding a slight texture to the pin's recessed background area can help the overall appearance.

Do you make your custom die cast pin at your facility?
Our die cast products are manufactured overseas by talented artisans with the highest quality, fastest turnaround, and superior prices. Outsourcing overseas is very common in the Awards Industry. We have a great relationship with our foundry overseas.
We are a certified manufacturer's representative for our die cast products. Most American and Foreign die cast manufacturers work through dealers and reps such as us, instead of selling direct. If you're wanting a pin *made "in-house" at our facility in Minnesota, consider one of our EXPRESS printed insert pins.

*These EXPRESS pins are still originally produced overseas and we offer the finishing option of adding custom inserts or printed art, with a quicker turn-around time as they are in US inventory.

What kind of pin attachments do you offer?
For Custom Die Cast Pins, we typically offer a Buttferly Clasp, Safety Pin, or Magnetic style attachment - but may be able to accommodate other types.
What size and thicknesses are your medals?
The standard thickness we offer is 1.5mm, but if you'd like a different thickness please specify this.

Pricing came in too high....what can we do to obtain decrease the cost?

To reduce the price of your medals, you might consider the following:
1. Increase the quantity (bulk quantities = lower unit cost)
2. Decrease the thickness
3. Decrease the size
4. Eliminate color fills
5. Have your art completed "in-house" if possible, to avoid design time fees
6. Change plating from "shiny/polished" to "antique"
7. Change from 3D design to 2D design

What's next?
We would be happy to give you pricing. Please fill out a QUOTE REQUEST.
Thank you for your interest!