Cap badges - non-metal clan badges?

[Piobair]

Does anybody know of anyone making (or who can make) a clan cap badge out of something other than metal - like leather of wood? I want something relatively low key and am not sure if embroidered badges are for me - they're nice, but I want something more organic - I'm going for a daywear piobaireachd vibe (hopefully that makes sense to somebody). Thanks!

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Over the years clan badges have been made from just about everything except silly putty. Generally speaking none of these have been much of a success due to their perishable nature. Probably your best course of action would be to take a metal badge and have it either anodized a different colour, or have it coated with one of the ceramic super-coatings developed for the firearms industry.

[The Wizard of BC]

I've had pretty good luck making cap badges with Fimo clay.

Take a standard metal cap badge and make a mold with dental impression material.
Then press in Fimo clay in the color of your choice.
Bake till rock hard according to the directions.

Fimo is capable of very high detail transfer. Is light weight so won't weigh down your cap. It is very easy to work with at home with a minimum of tools. If you can work with modeling clay you can make about anything with Fimo.

Check with your local hobby or craft store. I get mine at Michael's.

I've seen Fimo clay badges with all sorts of finishes including pretty some convincing wood looks.
I've even seen one that could pass for Malachite stone.
Want an Ivory look? Yep, I have some that even has the growth rings visible.

I made the prototype of the X Marks Cap Badge from Fimo using this exact method. It proved to be strong and light weight. I mailed it to Scotland for the final molding with no damage.

Fasteners of your choice are easy to mount but pressing into the soft clay prior to baking or attaching afterwards with epoxy.

[OC Richard]

I've seen all sorts of homemade or craftsman made clan badges, carved out of ivory, scrimshawed on ivory, carved out of wood, etc at Games but especially at Renaissance Faires.

I've seen tooled leather clan badges on sporrans, and I suppose it would work on a bonnet too.

Some pipe bands used embroided badges on their Glengarries, made like blazer badges, embroidered with heavy gold and silver metallic thread on a stiff felt backing.

[Jon Lilley]

Halo, a Phiobair!,

Sounds like you already know what you want so all you need to do is find the materials. I'd start looking for something at the lumber yard (or Tandy if you want leather) for the general size as a cap badge. Get online and look for a design, or design something yourself and see what you come up with. Keep in mind that a beautiful whorl or knot in a nice piece of wood can be just as beautiful as anything else. (Wabi/Sabi, understated beauty) Nature's already done all the hard work. You just need to figure out how to affix it to your cap.

Meanntachd agad!,

Jon