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Cast Metal Plaques

  • Prices include natural color of metal with satin finish and a brushed surface on all raised areas against standard a color background and texture with protective coating.
  • Proof will be supplied for approval before casting. Approximate lead time 4-5 weeks after final approval, please allow at least one week for shipping.
  • High polished finishes on cast bronze plaques are only available by quotation. Non-standard plaques require a quotation.

Materials

  • Cast Bronze - Equivalent to Copper Development Association Alloy C92200; 88% Copper, 6% tin, 4% zinc, 2% lead.
  • Cast Aluminum - Alloy Designation C443.2. Aluminum is approximately 1/3 the weight of cast bronze.

Raised vs. Recessed Graphics

The casting process creates plaques with two levels of graphics: raised & recessed. Graphic images are raised .100" from the background texture.

Letters can be recessed on a cast plaque if the stroke of the letters is at least 1/8" at all points or serifs. (extra cost)

Sizes

Please refer to our standard sizes section. Special sizes, special shapes or depths are available.

Maximum Sizes - The largest size cast plaque is 96" x 96" with capabilities to cast up to 120" in one dimension. Large sizes can be cast in sections and fabricated together by welding or mechanical fasterners.

Exact Sizes - The back side of cast plaques will measure larger than the front dimensions due to the casting process. Advise if plaque must fit into a recessed opening.

Border Styles

Strait Edge Single Line Border Bevel Border Single Bevel Border Double Line Border
Straight Edge Single Line Bevel Edge* Single Line/
Bevel Edge*
Double Line*

 

* Additional charges may apply depending on size.

Note - Ornamental Borders & Flat Decorative Borders are available at an additional cost on most standard sizes.

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Background Texture & Color

Background Texture

Leatherette Pebbled
Leatherette Pebbled (up to 30x40" size)
Sculptured Travertine
Sculptured Travertine

Background Color

The background of most cast metal plaques are painted with one standard color. Click here for other standard colors.

Background Finish
Light Brown Dark Brown Metallic Gray Black

*Additional colors are available for an additional price.

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Protective Coating

Semi-gloss Lacquer - Providing a low gloss appearance, this clear coating was developed by Matthews to inhibit oxidizing. Use when matching older plaques or when a lower gloss look is desired, particularly for interior applications.

Diamond Shield Coating - Exclusively available from Matthews, this patented clear coat is factory-applied only. It has a higher gloss than our clear protective lacquer. Provides maximum durability in harsh, exterior environments, where plaques are exposed to salt, pollution and weather.

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Mounting Methods

Mounting Methods

  • Concealed Studs Bosses (extra pads) are cast onto the back of the plaque. These are drilled and tapped to accept a threaded stud. Flat-backed plates (generally, smaller sizes) are drilled & tapped for studs without bosses on the back.
    Recommended Uses - for concealed, permanent mounting to Brick walls, Stone walls, & Masonry surfaces.
  • Toggle BoltsHoles are drilled through the face of the plaque for toggle bolts. They are threaded machine screws 4" to 6" long with spring-loaded butterflies that fold up and pass though holes in the wall. Rosettes are optional.
    Recommended Uses - for semi-permanent mounting to: Hollow tile, Cement block, Drywall.
  • Machine Screws & Expansion Sleeves Holes are drilled through the face of the plaque for machine screws. Each metal expansion sleeve (or lead anchor) has a threaded interior to house a machine screw.The lead anchor will expand when a screw is inserted and tightened. Rosettes are optional.
    Recommended Uses - for semi-permanent mounting to: Brick walls, Stone walls, & Masonry surfaces.
  • Wood Screws Holes are drilled through the plaque and countersunk to accept a flat head wood screw. Larger sized wood screws, #14 or #16, have the heads drilled and tapped to accept a rosette cover.
    Recommended Uses - For semi-permanent mounting to: Wood walls, & Plaster walls (small plates only)
  • Rosettes (optional) - are decorative elements used to cover the screw heads of at least 1/4" diameter on a plaque installation. All rosettes (except R77) are available in cast bronze, brass or aluminum. Rosettes included in the plaque price are styles R2, R4, R5, R16, R32, R74, and R77. Other styles are availabe at an additional cost.

Stake Post Back Mount

Garden stake and threaded rod freestanding mounts are available for $66/plaque. Maximum size of plaque for either mounting method no to exceed 12" x 8".

Square Post Back Mount

Black enamel-coated steel squar posts attach to the back of a cast plaque with machine screws.

3/4"x48" long (plaques up to 100 sq.in)..................$96

1"x60" long (plaques 80 - 250 sq.in.)......................$108

1-1/2"x80" long (plaques 200 - 450 sq.in.)..............$122

2"x80" long (plaques over 450 sq.in.)......................$166

Integral Post Cap Mount

A decorative flange is cast integral at the base of a plaque to mount onto a round post. Minimum plaque width 12".

$290 + 3.96/square inch bronze plaque price

$290 + 2.80/square inch aluminum plaque price

*Optional mounting methods priced at additional cost.

 

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Cast Plaque Requirements

Almost any typeface or logo can be cast as long as they meet the requirements below. You may choose from any of our different letterstyles or you can provide us your own file. Please refer to the artwork requirements.

  • Minimum castable letter height is 1/4" all capitals or 3/8" caps and lower case.
  • Typesetting must allow at least 1/16" white space between each letter
  • Line stroke in letters and artwork can be no smaller than 1/16" or 4 pts thick.
  • To allow for plaque margins and borders, add 2 inches to the "longest line" width requirement for medium size plaques or up to 4 inches to large size plaques.

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Standard Size Plaques (inches)

SMALL-MEDIUM SIZE PLAQUES LARGE PLAQUES SIZES
5" x 3" 10 x ½ 14 x 12 22 x 10
5 x 5 10 x ¾ 14 x 14 22 x 12
6 x ½ 10 x 1 15 x 10 24 x 4
6 x ¾ 10 x 1¼ 15 x 12 24 x 6
6 x 1 10 x 1½ 15 x 15 24 x 8
6 x 2 10 x 2 16 x 2 24 x 10
6 x 3 10 x 2½ 16 x 4 24 x 12
6 x 4 10 x 3 16 x 6 24 x 14
6 x 5 10 x 4 16 x 8 24 x 16
6 x 6 10 x 5 16 x 10 24 x 18
7 x ½ 10 x 6 16 x 12 24 x 20
7 x ¾ 10 x 8 16 x 14 24 x 24
7 x 1 10 x 10 16 x 16 28 x 18
7 x 3 10¼ x 2½ 18 x 2 30 x 4
7 x 4 12 x ¾ 18 x 4 30 x 6
7 x 5 12 x 1 18 x 6 30 x 8
8 x ½ 12 x 1¼ 18 x 8 30 x 10
8 x ¾ 12 x 1½ 18 x 10 30 x 12
8 x 1 12 x 2 18 x 14 30 x 18
8 x 1¼ 12 x 2½ 18 x 15 30 x 20
8 x 1½ 12 x 3 18 x 16 30 x 30
8 x 2 12 x 4 18 x 18 30 x 24
8 x 3 12 x 5 20 x 2 30 x 30
8 x 4 12 x 6 20 x 4 34 x 26
8 x 5 12 x 8 20 x 5 36 x 4
8 x 6 12 x 9 20 x 6 36 x 6
8 x 8 12 x 10 20 x 8 36 x 8
9 x ½ 12 x 12 20 x 10 36 x 12
9 x ¾ 14 x 2 20 x 12 36 x 18
9 x 1 14 x 4 20 x 14 36 x 20
9 x 1½ 14 x 6 20 x 16 36 x 24
9 x 2 14 x 8 20 x 18 36 x 30
9 x 3 14 x 10 20 x 20 36 x 36
9 x 4     40 x 28
9 x 5     40 x 30
9 x 6     42 x 36
9 x 7     48 x 24
9 x 8     48 x 36
9 x 9      
9½ x 2      

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