brass title plates

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Randall C Colvin

CGF II, Certified Grumble Framer Level 2
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Feb 23, 2008
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Grab,Ky that's in western Green County ,Greensburg
Can anyone recommend a good source for brass title plates? Also, I have customer requesting that the plate be attached to the mat rather than the frame. I know they are available with self-adhesive backing but can it be trusted and should the plate be inlaid into the mat surface? Thanks.
 
If there is an old fashioned trophy shop in your area they will be easiest to work with. Have them put the adhesive tape on the plate and it will stay stuck in place.
 
Brass plate

Randall C Colvin said:
Can anyone recommend a good source for brass title plates? Also, I have customer requesting that the plate be attached to the mat rather than the frame. I know they are available with self-adhesive backing but can it be trusted and should the plate be inlaid into the mat surface? Thanks.
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If you're using a sued mat i cut the top of the mat away about 1/4 inch from the edges all around and use clear silicone instead of the two sided tape...

I use a company called Norseman awards and Engraving 1-800-671-3470

Good Luck !!
Ted
 
Randall C Colvin said:
I know they are available with self-adhesive backing but can it be trusted and should the plate be inlaid into the mat surface?
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Yes, recessing the plate into a mat opening usually avoids the need for a glass spacer. If you apply the plate to the mat surface, then a spacer would be required, or else the metal plate could scratch the glazing over time - especially optically coated anti-reflection or UV-filtering glass, or acrylic.

The double-sided tape generally used for caption plates is quite aggressive, and would certainly be adequate if you recess the plate and properly activate the pressure-sensitive bond. If the plate comes without tape pre-applied, or if you do not trust it, then you could use your own fillet tape, which usually makes a very good bond.
 
Yep the trophy shop is the best option. ;)

I must admit that I have a bit of a downer on brass plates. Mostly because they restrict the moulding choice. You ideally need one with a nice flat panel. I don't like to see plates perched on a curved bit.

Even worse, stuck to the glass. :icon11:

A nice touch is to drill a couple of holes in the plate and use short pins. 'Brass' colored wall pins cut down to about 1/4" work. More for show, but combined with the sticky backing that plate ain't going to shift. You have to be accurate with the hammer though....
 
I get my engraved brass nameplates at the local trophy shop as well. They put a couple pieces of their double-sided tape on the back, but I also use a few dabs of Frank's Fabric glue (Baer's suggestion) as well for extra hold. I had a frame brought back once (before I started adding the glue) and the nameplate had slipped, so ever since I've used the glue too.

I usually cut a separate opening in the mat to recess the nameplate, leaving ~ 1/4" of space around the nameplate. I mount the nameplate on a matching piece of matboard. I rather make the opening bigger than trying to make it exactly the same size to inlay the nameplate as sometimes the nameplates come slightly off in size (e.g. slightly larger than 3", but not quite 3 1/16")
 

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Our local shop has gone out of business..so last time had to order online.

I would like an antique gold plate..anyone know where to get that????

I usually do the mats like Karen, bigger opening around the plate and same color background.
 
We used to order name plates from a local vendor, but not anymore.

Here is another approach. Now, we use our inkjet printer to make the equivalent of name plates. Print the title, with whatever font your hear desires and create a background to compliment the matting. You can even create a beveled edge look on your image to simulate a silver plate, black plate, gold plate, old gold plate and brass plate. The big advantage is that we have total control over the fonts, color, background texture etc. The tag is printed a little larger than the rectangle we cut out from the mat, and is mounted, to the board behind the mat.

Our customers love it, and we can produce it on demand, instead of having to place an order with a name plate vendor. I think alot of us framers have inkjet printers now, so used them. It is worth a try. If you want to see some samples, send me an email or PM.

ernesto
 
echavez123 said:
We used to order name plates from a local vendor, but not anymore...
Now, we use our inkjet printer to make the equivalent of name plates...
Click to expand...
If you're interested in alternatives, this is a good one. We use our color Laserjet printer the same way, and we can often match or complement the mat colors in the text and/or background.

Also, we are using our CMC's MatStylus to draw letters and borders on mats using pens, pencils, crayons, and markers of various colors. We try to avoid the writing instruments with colors that would fade, such as Sharpie markers. This provides a creative, unique, and cost-effective alternative to a metal or plastic caption plate.
 
I agree that using a colour Laserjet printer is a great alternative. I've used a 'parchment looking' background which I made either a light grey or a light sepia tone, depending on the colour scheme in the frame (good for matching b&w or sepia toned photos). It has especially come in handy when the customer wants a lot of information on the 'nameplate' (one recent example had 6 long lines of text), which can become really costly if you had to get all that information engraved.
 
We switched to using our Epson 9900 for this purpose a few years back also. The results are great and there are so many options! Every now and then only a brass plate will do the trick. I use John @ Brassco Engraving 800-447-7712, I've worked with him for years. He's a true professional!
 
I use my inkjet and/or sandblasting. I like the subtle finish sandblasting/etching gives when combined with picture framing.

It's viable for me because I do sandblasting as well as picture framing.
 
I highly recommend a place called LASTING IMPRESSIONS they are in Florida and will send you a display of options. 1 800-644-9938.
I am in Michigan and I usually get my order withing 3 or 4 days. Very reliable! I found them in the back of a framing magazine years ago.

I to would use a local trophy shop but those are few these days, have not seen one since I worked at place in high school that did silk screen t shirts and trophy for local sports teams.
 
For more upscale work, I use Sally at The Gold Leaf.

http://thegoldleaf.com/

So far this year I've sold over $ 3000.00 in gold leaf plates.
 
My favorite thing of the day Dave. I'm in love with Sally at The Gold Leaf. Those are beautiful name plates. Perfect for a serious collector we frame for. He traditionally uses a brass plate with pin holes attached to the frame but I will have to show him these. Good recommendation.
 
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