I love your pressings! Do you sell the pattern plates for these pressing? If so, how much?

No, we do not sell the plates for our stock pressing designs, but we can make you a custom pattern plate. Check out the Custom Plates section for more information.

When we bought our laser, we did it to help with Anne’s jewelry production. It’s an amazing piece of technology and after seeing what we could do with it, we decided we wanted to share it with other jewelry artists who needed their designs made into custom pattern plates. It was never our intention to compete with the other companies selling pattern or texture plates on Facebook and Etsy, and we have stated that several times in our posts and comments in our Facebook group.

A few people joined our group specifically because they thought they would be able to buy our stock pattern plates to roll pressings to sell in their Etsy shops. We’re willing to share our designs by selling pressings, but not so others can profit from our hard work. We hope you understand!

If you want pattern plates that are unique and not sold to lots of other metalsmiths, jewelers, or jewelry artists, send your design ideas to us at anne@metal-maven.com, we’re more than happy to help!

I live near you, can I pick up my order?

Not currently. With the current outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have initiated a contactless delivery method and are not allowing for in-store pickup.

I placed an order, but I forgot to add a pressing I want! If I place a second order could you combine the shipping?

If you place your order the same day we can definitely put both orders together and combine shipping if they fit in the same box! If you place a second order the following day, just give us a call to let us know and we will definitely put the orders together if we haven’t mailed the first one yet!

How many days will it take to process my order?

We state on our website that it could take 3 to 7 business days for shipping in the USA, however we try our best to mail orders out the next day after you order!

For International orders, we will get your order in the mail within 3 to 7 business days, but once it has left our facality we have no control on how long it will take for your to receive your shipment.

I have a color photo that I want to have made into a pattern plate – is that something you can do for me?

We usually cannot turn a color photo into a pattern plate, but if you send us the photo we can take a look and let you know if it could be changed to black and white and possibly turned into the type of image that might work.

I have a pencil drawing that I’d like to have made into a pattern plate – can you do that?

The best type of image that works for engraving a pattern plate is a stark black and white image. A pencil drawing is usually too much of a half-tone to work well, but it might be usable. The best way to find out is to scan the pencil drawing and email it to us as a jpeg or pdf so we can try turning it into something usable. This might take a week or so, but we will take a look at it and get back to you as soon as possible

What if I accidentally order the wrong pressing, can I send it back for a refund?

Our policy is not to do refunds because you would have to pay shipping to mail it back to us and then pay for shipping again for a new item. We ask that you check you order carefully before you complete your order to make sure you have everything you need.

I accidentally set my rolling mill too tight and ruined my custom pattern plate – can I get a replacement free of charge?

We keep your custom pattern plate designs on file, so if you ruin or lose yours, we can make a new one for you, but you will need to pay the full price for it.

My custom pattern place has developed a crack – will you replace it free of charge?

We do not provide free replacement for custom pattern plates. If you are using your custom pattern plate correctly it will not form cracks. Stress cracks might develop if you use your pattern plate in your rolling mill and your hydraulic press – for this reason we stress on our website that our pattern plates must only be used in one device to avoid this happening. If you use your plate in a rolling mill the first time you use it, you must continue using it in your rolling mill. Do not switch back and forth between your rolling mill and your hydraulic press. If you do this and need another copy of your custom plate, we are more than happy to engrave a replacement for you. We won’t charge a setup fee or an artwork fee, but there will be a charge for the laser time as well as a shipping fee

I received my custom plate and I love it, but there is an odd dot in the lower left hand corner that wasn’t on my design. What should I do?

No problem! Just contact us and send us a photo of the issue. We will definitely replace a custom plate if we engrave it incorrectly!

My order got lost in the mail – can you help me?

We use the USPS app for mailing and include insurance. After a shipment is mailed you will receive an email with a tracking number. Please use the online USPS tracking system to locate it. If you have trouble locating it, call your local post office for help – we cannot control what happens to packages after we drop them off at the post office.

Why do your plates and pressings have tiny striations in the background?

The striations are due to the manufacturing process of the tool steel.

The striations are the actual grain of the steel and is almost impossible to remove or smooth. We have tried sanding, burnishing, and even acid washing and etching to get a smooth surface, and no matter we’ve tried, the striations still show up in places. Instead of trying to change it, we embraced it as a design element. We love the rustic texture it adds to our designs that is similar to a silk fabric texture which provides an excellent surface for adding patina like Liver of Sulfur or enamels.

How many times can I run your pressings through my rolling mill?

Our pressings aren’t meant to be used as texture plates, they are for jewelry making. If you need a plate for repeated use we can create a custom plate for you or you can buy a texture plate from Roberta at Oregon Trail Silver. She has lots of really nice patterns.

https://oregontrailsilver.com/

Why are there dark areas on your pressings photos?

The metal is highly reflective and the dark areas you see on our photos are the surface reflection of our camera.

How do I add items to a wishlist?

We have made it easy to create a wishlist of your favorites! To create a wishlist, you must first create an account or login in to your account. 1) To create an account, click on the Log In Icon at the top of the Metal Maven pages. A Sign Up page will appear. You can use Facebook, Google, or your email account to create an account on Metal Maven. 2) If you already have an account on Metal Maven, click on the Log In Icon at the top of the Metal Maven pages and then click on the Log In link next to the Already a member question. Next, type in your account member name and password. 3) Once you are logged in, a heart icon will appear on a product when you are using a mobile device and next to the Add to Cart button when you are using a desktop, laptop, and iPad device. 4) Click on the heart icon. This adds this item to your wishlist. To see the items on your wishlist, just click on the red heart at the top of the page. You have to be logged-in to Metal Maven account to see your accumulated wishlist.

Can you explain the gauges... is that for the thickness of your metal or the metal that would go through the mill?

The metal gauges we list as options for the pressings on our website are the gauges of the pieces of sheet copper or sterling silver that we start with before we roll them through the mill with our stock plates.

Thicker gauges like 18 and 16 are used for bracelets and belt buckles, while thinner gauges like 20, 22, or 24 are used for pendants, earrings, or other types of components.

Most people like the thinner gauges for earrings because they weigh less and are more comfortable to wear.

Can I buy scrap copper from a local industrial supplier or roofer to use with my custom pattern plate?

Metal Maven uses Dead Soft Copper and Sterling Silver for all of her pressings.

Sheet metals that are not annealed to dead soft will not give you a good impression and might damage your custom pattern plate.

As long the copper is somewhere between 24-gauge and 16-gauge and it has been properly annealed before you use it, then it should be safe to use in your rolling mill with your custom plate. If you do not know if the copper has been annealed, you will need to anneal it before running it through your rolling mill with your custom plate.