subject: How Badges Are Made [print this page] If you ever watched "MrIf you ever watched "Mr. Roger"s Neighborhood" on TV when you or your child was younger, you probably remember the segments where he would visit a factory and see how something we use every day was built. You may still find yourself wondering this about objects you use today. Just in case you"ve ever wondered, here is a description of the process they use to build badges.
1. The basic outline of the badge is cut out of sheet metal. It is then placed in a stamper so that the raised patterns in the front appear.
2. The badge building process continues as the badge is engraved with the rank, unit, location, or any other specifications requested.
3. The pin mechanism is soldered onto the back of the badge so that the officer can pin it to his uniform.
4. The badge is placed under a press, which exerts pressure on the center of the badge, giving it the standard curved shape.
5. The badge is wet blasted with a mixture of water and glass beads.
6. Now that the main "body" of the badge has been built, the decorative stage of the building process begins. Colored enamel is brushed into the engraved words on the front of the badge, and then hardened at a very high heat.
7. The badge is then polished so that the excess enamel is removed from around the letters and the entire badge appears clean and shiny. The building of the badge is almost complete!
8. The badges are then coated in a protective layer of gold or nickel, depending on the desires of the customer.
9. Finally, to finish building the badge, they glue any special medallions or seals to the front of the badge using heavy-duty glue so they won"t fall off.
Although the process to build a badge may seem relatively straightforward and simple, it can take several weeks from start to finish. When custom badges are being made, the stamps and engravers must be reset to fit the desired specifications, and different colored enamels and coatings must be used for different badges. In order to ensure that they only build high-quality badges, many quality assurance checks are performed throughout the process. Make sure that if you decide to order your own custom-built badges, to order them through a company that takes pride in their building process. You want badges that will last a lifetime, and look great too!
