Push pins....help on how to make them. - Page 7

jaci · #**181** 2011-03-19, 7:37pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by lindacw

I did two boxes of 300 pins in a relatively short time smashing the clear plastic tops off. I also just bought some thumb tacks and was able to heat them up and apply the glass to the entire top of the tack. Worked like a dream and NO smashing plastic !!!

Just cut the top off a "T" pin. N smashing.. no fuss, you can make it the length you want. You can either glue them in, or hold them in a pin vise and make them right on the end. The great part is they are cheep, and available anywhere you can get office supplies. No ordering, no shipping, no smashing, filing, grinding. No flat top to cover, cheep enough to play around with them. I have said it before, personally I glue them, (no polishing) I do not know if they are stainless or of you can get them in stainless, but if you are getting regular push pins, or some kind of victoria needles that are not stainless and have had success, you should have the same similar success. I know there has also been cometary about fumes on non-stainless and coated metals in this thread a long time ago, again I will revert back to why I make them on 1/16th mandrels and glue them.

I have made hundreds this way. Happy Push Pin making!

Carolyn Hipskind · #**182** 2011-03-21, 6:58am

Jaci: Would you mind sharing tips on how to clean the bead release out of the head of a push pin when you make them on a 1/16 rod. Also, how do you get them to stand up straight to dry when you glue whatever pin you use. Thank you, Carolyn

jaci · #**183** 2011-03-21, 5:11pm

I just take a dremel and grind out the innards. It really does not matter if there is some release in in places (unless you have a clear top) There will be enough glue to glass connection to make it stick forever. The easier solution to using a clear glass is to use a tiny pastel base, of any color, and build the clear on top. You will hide any traces of release this way.

When you glue them in, just stick them in a piece of foam, poly-clay, or a cork board

Carolyn Hipskind · #**184** 2011-03-21, 6:13pm

Thanks for the reply! I did the dremel trick but I have a tapered head on my diamond drill which left a lot of bead release. Maybe I'm being too fussy. I'll try again to get the little stinkers to stand up. Maybe if I let the glue/expoxy dry a little before I stick them together. I appreciate your help. Carolyn

hannahbeads · #**185** 2011-03-22, 7:52pm

I just got some t-pins and made some toppers. I can't wait to try this!!

Moth · #**186** 2011-03-22, 8:01pm

I bought a pack of cheap push pins at the drug store today, the ones with the clear plastic tops. I'm gonna smash 'em off and try it out.

I couldn't resist. They were right there at the register as I was checking out and they were $1.69 for 100 of them.

artsyuno · #**187** 2011-03-22, 11:19pm

I've been playing with store-bought push pins, too. It's fun to smash them and more of a challenge to make 'em directly on the metal.

Eileen · #**188** 2011-03-23, 9:07am

Now that I'm finally set up, I think this might be a great way to figure out how to set my flame without just making a bunch of odd beads, maybe I'll stop by the store when I go out (before I forget again, sigh)

Moth · #**189** 2011-03-23, 9:26am

Quote:

Originally Posted by artsyuno

I've been playing with store-bought push pins, too. It's fun to smash them and more of a challenge to make 'em directly on the metal.

Yeah, post-torch finish work isn't my favorite thing. I like to take stuff out of the kiln finished. LOL That's why I'm moving more and more into offhand work. No bead cleaning, no mandrel dipping. LOL I just wanna melt stuff.

Anyway, yeah--I'm happy with the push pins so far. They are cheap and easy--something I've aspired to my whole life. LOL

jaci · #**190** 2011-03-23, 5:05pm

Mary you are too funny!!

CSimi115 · #**191** 2011-03-28, 5:17pm

Here are some I did the other day. I love doing them. Haven't quite figured how to get the definition in the relief and still have the glass stay on the bead and not pop off.

Chris S. (Newbie)

junko · #**192** 2011-03-28, 5:33pm

Those are great, Chris! I'm a newbie too, and I think I read somewhere that anything in relief can't have any undercuts or it will pop off... like I think one of those transparent purple dots might pop off, but the others should be fine since they don't have undercuts...

jaci · #**193** 2011-03-28, 6:30pm

Chris I think they look great!

mewkittie · #**194** 2011-04-10, 11:43am

I was inspired by this thread to make some push pins. Great ideas!! They are so much fun!! Here's a few that I took out of the kiln last night:

It's kind of challenging to work on such a small piece.

junko · #**195** 2011-04-10, 2:23pm

Susan- those are adorable!

Eileen · #**196** 2011-04-10, 5:03pm

Those are so cute! Can I ask how big they are?

mewkittie · #**197** 2011-04-10, 5:29pm

Thanks junko and Eileen.

They are around 3/8" wide. Some are smaller.

Eileen · #**198** 2011-04-10, 6:15pm

You packed a lot of cute onto a small canvas

misspiggy · #**199** 2011-04-13, 7:08pm

This might be a stupid question but what do you use to hold the pin while you put the glass on? I was interested in cutting off the top of plastic pushpins and using the pins but what or how can I hold it? Is there some kinda of special tool?

Thanks!

mewkittie · #**200** 2011-04-13, 7:27pm

Not a stupid question at all. It took me a while to figure it out. I got one of these:

It's stainless steel and 9 1/2" long. It is just big enough to fit the plastic push pin pins. After I make my topper, I use pliers to unloosen the vise and pull the push pin out with my pliers and toss it into the kiln. I got it from here: http://www.tedpella.com/dissect_html/picks.htm#_1350_5 Shipping was a little steep for one little item.

I tried a regular sized (4") pin vise and those work too for longer pins. Since the push pins are so short, my fingers were getting kind of burnt after I made two push pins. I did find another long pin vise on E-Bay and I just bought it so I haven't tried it yet. It's made out of steel and probably coated with nickel silver. Not sure how much heat it will hold. I have to dunk the stainless steel one into water between push pins to cool it off enough so I can put another pin in.

Hemostats will work too but it's harder to spin them.

Quote:

Originally Posted by misspiggy

This might be a stupid question but what do you use to hold the pin while you put the glass on? I was interested in cutting off the top of plastic pushpins and using the pins but what or how can I hold it? Is there some kinda of special tool?

Thanks!

Ro · #**201** 2011-04-14, 7:02am

http://www.micromark.com/Cross-Locki...ign=GoogleBase

i use these. i got them at a hobby store years ago. before i start i set pin in tweezers so they are ready on the bench, then i work on a punti and when piece is finished I super heat where im plunging pin into and barely heat metal pin a bit, stick pin in , hold my breath while it sets so i dont move, remove punti and place in hot kiln.

PiP · #**202** 2011-04-14, 7:09pm

Susan - I LOVE the looks of that needle holder. I think I might have to get one of those.

I use a bundle of steel stem wires bundled together. The points of the pin push into the voids between the wires. After I'm happy with the glass I just pull it out with my needle nose and cool it.

mewkittie · #**203** 2011-04-14, 8:14pm

Nance - I would never have thought about using wires to hold my pin in place. It's a cheaper solution and more creative than what I came up with.

junko · #**204** 2011-04-15, 6:08am

Quote:

Originally Posted by PiP

Susan - I LOVE the looks of that needle holder. I think I might have to get one of those.

I use a bundle of steel stem wires bundled together. The points of the pin push into the voids between the wires. After I'm happy with the glass I just pull it out with my needle nose and cool it.

What are steel stem wires?

PiP · #**205** 2011-04-16, 7:40pm

Go to the floral section of your craft store, Hobby Lobby, Micheals...etc. There will be packaged stem wire, it's straight and I think there's about 20 of them in the package. I don't have a package here to look at the label for you.

I actually got the idea from a post here on LWE. Here's a picture of mine.

junko · #**206** 2011-04-17, 5:18am

Ah, thank you!

darkroomdweller6 · #**207** 2011-05-03, 5:10pm

Thanks for the idea guys, I went with the victrola needles and was very happy with what I got. It felt like making marbles, but without the hassle of needing perfect spheres.

Glassbeadlady · #**208** 2011-11-18, 12:36pm

Walmart here in the Toronto area now sells packages of push pins with wooden tops.
The tops were so loose that I just pulled them off very easily with my fingers leaving a clean, straight pin.
Hope this helps someone.

Lyssa · #**209** 2011-11-18, 1:52pm

I think one could use quilting/sewing pins. Just cut to length.

patienthand · #**210** 2011-11-19, 6:40am

hmmmmmmmmmmmmm... a bit off the subject, but brass is compatible with 104 soft glass. I use brass wire all the time when making leaves and petals. I have also used small pure brass screws and made drawer pulls with them, they are now about 15 years old and still fine. for the screws.. I used a pin vice to hold them and heated the screw and added glas to the screw head, just make sure you have the screw head embedded so it doesnt pull out