How It Works: Oxidizing Engraved Brass Plates

One of our most commonly chosen modifications to engraved brass plates is the choice to oxidize your engravings.

A standard engraved brass plate has a shiny, reflective finish that is quite stylish and sleek. However, from a distance, the engraving can be harder to read. This is where oxidation comes in handy.

So how does oxidizing your custom brass plate help you?

Oxidizing engraved brass plates gives your sign a unique and elegant look while also preventing your engraving from further oxidization. This allows your sign to last longer without corrosion or signs of tarnishing.

Here’s how it works:

Every brass plate is engraved using a diamond-tip rotary with whatever custom text you choose.

An Engraved Brass Plate Saying Restroom for Customers Only

After being engraved, a solution is carefully brushed over the brass plate.

An Oxidization Solution Being Applied to the Engraved Areas of the Brass Plate

After the solution is applied, the brass quickly oxidizes, only taking about 30 seconds to react to the solution, giving it a matte black finish.

The Engraved Brass Plate With Its Letters Completely Oxidized

Although the solution is applied all over the plate, it only oxidizes the engraved letters due to a protective film that is carved away during the engraving process.

The excess solution is then washed away.

The Brass Plate is Being Run Under Water to Take Off Excess Oxidizing Solution

Leaving a perfectly oxidized brass plate, ready to dry off and get shipped out!

An Oxidized Custom Engraved Brass Plate Saying Restroom for Customers Only

These brass plates make for beautiful appreciation or memorial plaques. They are also often used as signage in restaurants or offices, like the one shown above. The classic color gives a more elegant feel to many custom signs, leading businesses to choose brass for more official signage needs.

Get everything you need to create the perfect custom signs for your business at Custom Signs! Our wide selection of metal signs, including custom brass and aluminum, will help you create any signage you need, whether you run a business, restaurant, or simply looking for some home decorations.

Custom Signs to Honor People, Causes & Celebrations

For more than 45 years, Helen Mitchell has remained a loyal employee of what recently has evolved into TIAA Bank in Jacksonville, Florida. After experiencing several acquisitions over the years, Helen continues to work every day at what now is officially named the Helen Mitchell Mail Center, dedicated in her honor. Many companies choose to honor employees for their years of work, for going above and beyond for a coworker or customer, or for producing consistently stellar work.

"Helen Mitchell Mail Center" Sign at TIAA Bank, Jacksonville, Florida

Getting Creative with Custom Signage

Creating your own custom signs and other unique plaques, plates, and products offers many benefits; the only limit is your creativity! Custom designed signs and donation plates, for example, make wonderful personalized tokens of appreciation for all to see. We offer a variety of custom signs, including custom engraved brass signs, brass wall plaques and name plates.

Here are just a few of our top-selling custom product ideas:

  • Donation plates representing donor names of honorees and amounts (or gift levels, i.e. gold level donors)
  • Donation plates recognizing charitable/philanthropic contributions, including donor name and date
  • Memorial plates to honor the life and memory of a loved one for years to come; for an extra special touch, add a meaningful quote and/or notable dates
  • Custom engraved plates to honor or highlight the special achievements of valued employees, celebrating company milestones, donors, patrons, teammates, graduates, or anyone deserving of extraordinary recognition
  • Choose from names, dates, numbers, logos, and more!


Brass Engraved Horizontal Signs

Our Custom Signs Specifications

  • Our custom engraved brass signs are available in a variety of specialized shapes and sizes to best fit your needs, including horizontal, square, and vertical sign shapes
  • We have engraved plates fully customizable for the number of lines of text you need
  • Your choice of engraving: etched (natural) or oxidized (black) lettering
  • We offer several mounting options, allowing your plates to be easily affixed to awards, benches, tables, or other durable surfaces
  • Optional extended UV coating provides longer life for your signs, especially recommended for outdoor usage

Mounting Options Include, among others:

  • Adhesive tape
  • Magnetic tape
  • Velcro
  • Holes/screws
  • Metal foil
  • Adhesive backing

Our Commitment to You, Our Valued Customer

If you do not see what you are looking for, or if you just need help navigating the options, our Customer Focus Team is here to help you every step of the way, before and after the sale. All our products are produced right here in the USA in our state-of-the-art facilities by our product and engraving experts!