Wednesday, May 28, 2025

Care and Maintenance of Metal Dies

 

Often, A & G Engraving, Inc. gets asked how to care, maintain, and store foil stamping and embossing dies to get the maximum life and printability out of the die.

 

All metal dies will oxidize.

 

Copper dies over time will patina or discolor to a blue or a light green color.  Copper dies will not react with water but will react slowly to the atmospheric oxygen and may look bad, but it will still be printable.

 

Magnesium dies will also oxidize but at a more reactive level.  Water and atmospheric oxygen will pit the die surface and sometimes leave a residue on the die that will destroy the printing surface of the die.

 

To avoid these chemical reactions, it is advisable to make sure all metal dies are cleaned and dried after each use and stored in a room that is dry and not exposed to high humidity.

 

Wrap all your dies in paper or cloth and place them in an airtight sealable plastic bag. 

 

Simple care and proper storage will protect your dies for years.  

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