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Thread: Trophy Plates

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Location
    Morrisonville, NY
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    183

    Trophy Plates

    I have a customer who has some damage to a plaque. I need to replace 5 plates that appear to be black high gloss lacquer coated brass .020"x1"x2" with .125" clipped corners.
    I don't see any individual blank plates this size listed in JDS or anywhere else that I've looked. I don't do many award so I don't really want to invest $200 in a corner cutter.
    Does anyone know where I can buy them, or if someone has the material and tools I would be happy to buy them?
    Last edited by bob pfohler; 11-02-2008 at 1:15 PM. Reason: info

  2. #2
    Bob - try and find out which company made the perpetual plaque in the first place. Tropar and JDS have very similar looking plaques but have varyioug sizes of plates that work with them. If that's not bad enought AT Designs, CAT and PDU also have very similar plates, but by some cosmic stroke of luck, each seem to have had a differently calibrated calipars for measuring sizes and hole alignment.

    Two options - identify where the original came from and get some replacements from them.

    Buy all new set of similar size and redrill/re-etch to make it all the same. Althought the most painful, now you have a exact match for all of them. IF you're looking at a 92 plate (or 24) for that matter - I'd do my best to go with option one.

    One other note - I always put a sticker on the back with font and size for future engravings to match. It may not be you that has to do the next one, but it might! I might be OCD, but I can't stand when a perpetual plaque is brought to me and it has three different fonts and sizes on it... I've even has some come in that had pantograph plates versus lasered plates. I charge a nominal fee ($1-2 each) to replace them all so they're the same...
    Steve Beckham

    Epilog Mini 24 with 45 Watt, Ricoh GX 7000 Sublimation, Corel X3, Corel X4 and PhotoGrav, Recently replaced the two 'used' SWF machines with brand new Barudans.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Location
    Maple, Ontario, Canada
    Posts
    1,010
    Bob,

    Trophy shops usually would cut their own plates and shape them as needed with corner cutting tools and hole punchers. If this is an odd size of plates most likelly plates are cut in house.

  4. #4
    Can you show us a picture of the plates. Clipped corners is not a term commonly used to describe the plates. They may be rounded with a 1/8" radius or notched or scalloped or chamfered.
    Mike Null

    St. Louis Laser, Inc.

    Trotec Speedy 300, 80 watt
    Gravograph IS400
    Woodworking shop CLTT and Laser Sublimation
    Dye Sublimation
    CorelDraw X5, X7

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Location
    Morrisonville, NY
    Posts
    183
    Ok, they're notched.

  6. #6
    Maybe there is an engraver near you who will make them for you. I do not have the corner notching die or I would offer.
    Mike Null

    St. Louis Laser, Inc.

    Trotec Speedy 300, 80 watt
    Gravograph IS400
    Woodworking shop CLTT and Laser Sublimation
    Dye Sublimation
    CorelDraw X5, X7

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Location
    Corvallis, Oregon
    Posts
    443
    If you are going to be in the business, you need a notcher. They are expensive ($400), but essential. Another indispensable item is a hand punch. (An old engraver's trick... tape the new plate to the old plate, and punch through the holes... slow, but perfect alignment and spacing every time!) Our notcher is used every day. Does corner rounding, scalloping, and hole punching all in one unit.

    Mark
    ULS X-2 660, Corel X3, Haas VF4, Graphtec vinyl cutter, Xenetech rotaries (3), Dahlgren Tables, Gorton P2-3, New Hermes pantographs (2), and recently, 24" x 36" chinese router. Also do sublimation, sand blasting, & metal photo. Engraver since 1975.

  8. #8
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    Nov 2006
    Location
    Maple, Ontario, Canada
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    Mark,

    That would be Main Trophy's 3-in-1 tool, right?
    I have one and it is handy tool to have if one is working with metal plates.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Location
    Springville, Pennsylvania
    Posts
    216

    try JDS

    JDS does custom cutting. The only thing I have ever custom ordered though is business card size (about there) black coated brass (so when you laser through the black, the brass shows through) with rounded corners. The price was great. Maybe call them and ask what they charge to put the notches in (have your measurements ready).

    Lisa

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Location
    Corvallis, Oregon
    Posts
    443
    Quote Originally Posted by Tony Lenkic View Post
    Mark,

    That would be Main Trophy's 3-in-1 tool, right?
    I have one and it is handy tool to have if one is working with metal plates.
    Yes, that's the one.

    Mark
    ULS X-2 660, Corel X3, Haas VF4, Graphtec vinyl cutter, Xenetech rotaries (3), Dahlgren Tables, Gorton P2-3, New Hermes pantographs (2), and recently, 24" x 36" chinese router. Also do sublimation, sand blasting, & metal photo. Engraver since 1975.

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    Rolla, MO
    Posts
    94
    I have to agree about JDS they have a good price on special cut plates, if you don't have the tools to do it. I recently needed some special plates made and I sent a drawing (CorelX3) to the art and sales department at JDS and they got them to me quickly and at a very good price.
    Universal Laser PLS6.75 CorelDraw X5 & X8
    Sublimation Ricoh GX7000

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Location
    Morrisonville, NY
    Posts
    183
    Well I called JDS and the plates were only $0.89 ea. That's pretty reasonable to me considering the alternative. I would have to buy a $400 tool to create 5 small plates.
    Thanks for all the help.

  13. #13
    Bob

    The all in one tool is made by Main Trophy and will become a very useful and necessary tool for as long as you're in the business.

    http://www.maintrophysupply.com/presses.htm
    Mike Null

    St. Louis Laser, Inc.

    Trotec Speedy 300, 80 watt
    Gravograph IS400
    Woodworking shop CLTT and Laser Sublimation
    Dye Sublimation
    CorelDraw X5, X7

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