Brass tags

[ErnieD]

Hi,

I recently bought ( through a friend who has a machine shop ) some brass tags from McMaster Carr. I bought them because they were advertised as engraving tags. When i got them they were not flat. They were approx. .031 convex on one side and the same concave on the other side. When I engrave, I usually go .004-.006 deep.

So I e-mailed McMaster Carr and complained. They replied and stated that I should turn them over and engrave on the convex side. And if I was not satisfied to return them for credit. I replied that for the same reason I could not engrave on the concave side I could not engrave on the convex side.I also told them that I would keep the tags as it would cost more to return them than they are worth. No reply to that.

My next fix is to flatten them. I tried one by putting it in my vise. It would take the tag flat but when released the tag would spring back to its original shape. I have convinced myself that in order to flatten them I am going to have to move some metal, such as in coining. They are .040 thick now and I have no idea of how much to move them or how much force is required. They are 1.500in diameter.

Anyone out there with experience along these lines have any idea as how to get them flat.

Thanks,

ErnieD

ps: Moderator, if I have posted in the wrong place, please move to the proper place.

[thkoutsidthebox]

I don't have any idea about this .... but

... off the top of my head, apart from just stretching them past flat so that they spring back flat, you could perhaps try heating them before flattening in the vice as you already tried, then let them cool in the flattened position.....someone more experienced in this feel free to trash my suggestion and tell how the experts actually do this!

[Runner4404spd]

why not make a small fixture with a window in it that will hold the tag flat while engraving it?

[307startup]

Runner4404spd has a good idea...

why not just make a fixture out of steel plate that you can clamp or bolt together that will keep the tags from coining?

[ErnieD]

Hey Guys,

I did as thkoutsidthebox suggested and it worked great. I held the tag in the flame of my propane torch with a piece of clothes hanger wire until it was red, put in the vise as quickly as I could, tightened the vise, waited a few seconds, opened the vise and voila, a flat tag. The tags were, of course, discolored but that is easy to take care of with one of the brass cleaning compounds on the market.

Thanks to all who replied,


ErnieD