Letter Embossing Plates - Metal & Plastic

Letter Embossing Plates - metal & plastic

Needing to improve the presentation of my sketch books, documents and my artwork. I thought it would be nice to have a watermark made from an embossing plate.

I made two sizes using different plate material.

· Aluminum plate

· Plastic hotel key card plate

Using some basic tools along with some jewelry tools these plates can be made.

I hope that some of my suggestions will direct someone on the path of making their own.

In the process of this instructable - I made several test plates with different letter sizes, styles and spacing.

What I am presenting is what work the best for me.

Supplies

Stick glue (for adhering paper to the plate)
Plastic - gift cards, key cards (approximately thickness 1 mm --- 2 inch by 3.25 inch)
Please note: I have a friend that travels a lot and provide me with their old plastic
Aluminum - Trim coil used for house siding (thickness - nominal 0.022 or 0.024 inch)
80 pound paper 8.5 by 11 inch

Step 1: TOOLS

TOOLS

Embossing tools - various sizes - I used 1 mm
Drawing tools
Metal ruler - corked backed
pencil
Scissors
Cutting pad
Jewelers saw 2 inch and 4 inch deep
#3 42 TPI saw blade
Saw wax - for helping the cutting action of saw blade
Bench wood V block and C clamp (looks like a fish head)
4 medium spring clamps
clean water and brush
Scissors
Razor craft knife
Isopropyl alcohol - to clean off glue
Deburr tool - yellow
sheet metal shears
small metal flat pliers
Dremel drill in drill press mount
Drills 1/16 inch

Step 2: Lettering Template

Step 3: Make Metal Embossing Plate

Make Metal Embossing Plate

Use computer to size and print out lettering template then cut out lettering in a group
Cut the plate using shears I used 1.5 inch by 5 inch Aluminum - Trim coil used for house siding (thickness - nominal 0.022 or 0.024 inch)
use deburring tool to take off the burrs on the edge
use stick glue to adhere letters to plate
use clamps to hold on till dry
use 1/16 drill bit drill holes in each letter for saw blades
put blades thru letter holes
saw out letters on wood block
remove paper from plate
use cleaner to remove glue residue

Step 4: Use Metal Embossing Plate

The embossing plate is used on the front facing surface and the embossing tools are used on the back of the paper to push the paper in the lettering openings.

This will produce a raised surface

My goal is to have the water mark on the lower right hand corner of the paper

Using 80 pound paper
flipped embossing plate over
put paper over the top of plate upside down plate
using embossing tools lightly push paper thru the holes (gently)
I repeat this step 2 to 3 times to get the desired raised surface

Please note it took me approximately 4 attempts to learn the proper pressure and locating the letters.

also note some one had suggested that you need to wet the paper to help with the raising of paper. I did not have any luck doing this.

Step 5: Make Plastic Embossing Plate

Make Plastic Embossing Plate

Use computer to size and print out lettering template then cut out lettering in a group
Used the plastic cards as found
use stick glue to adhere letters to plate
use clamps to hold on till dry
use 1/16 drill bit drill holes in each letter for saw blades
put blades thru letter holes
saw out letters on wood block
remove paper from plate
use cleaner to remove glue residue

Step 6: Use Plastic Embossing Plate

The embossing plate is used on the front facing surface and the embossing tools are used on the back of the paper to push the paper in the lettering openings.

This will produce a raised surface

My goal is to have the water mark on the lower right hand corner of the paper