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That looks fantastic, and really shows off that stone too. If you start moving to larger pieces, you might want to look at getting a wire straightener of some kind. I use nylon jaw pliers, but sometimes I use these as well Beadalon Artistic Nylon Wire Straightener Tool with 3 Rollers: Amazon.com.au: Office & School Supplies Longer lengths of wire naturally get a bit bendy.
Here you go, first and only coil I've ever built. Will be building more when my black KFL+v2 arrives in the mail tomorrow. I was excited and intimidated at first, but building the coil couldn't be any simpler (I used this wire coiling gizmo on amazon). 28g kanthal, 10 wraps, 1.3ohm, CVS organic cotton.
The best place would be your local piercing/tattoo parlor. They most likely will have them in stock and may be able to help you swap them if your not quite healed yet. They also could possibly order them for you if they didn't have them.
Or you can order through Amazon- Clear Plastic Ear Piercing Retainers - 6 Pairs https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0092TZ14K/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_NsPADbYMQAF6B
A craft store may have them as well as they are sometimes sold as a craft item.
I bought a 25 pack of spool tamers (sanity savers) on Amazon, and they work great. If you're in a rush, you might find them locally at a Michael's.
Tools, I use a V1 Coil Master jig, usually at 2mm, or a Kuro jig, also a set of generic Fasttech ceramic tip tweezers, and a pair of Hakko CHP-170 flush cutters for the wire, and a set of stamped Chinese thrum scissors for the wick (3 for a buck at amazon usually).
Wick is either Puff organic cotton, or rayon from that giant size crate I bought at Sally Beauty, lifetime supply for $20, it's a seriously huge box of fiber.
I use 24 and 26 gauge Kanthal for my builds, no Claptons or other fancy coils, once in a blue moon I'll twist some 28 gauge for certain juices. I run a mech or an old OKR, no temp control, so no stainless or nichrome wire ever. I do use spool tamers to keep my wire from going all over.
No stand or build platform, usually just build right on my mod. I do use an ohm reader sometimes, but, I've been using the same build on the same atty for a year now, so I haven't been metering my coils because nothing has changed, I can count the wraps just fine.
I really like the backings I got off amazon. I don't recommend getting the ones that you need the allen wrench for. apparently it's easy to damage the pin backs with those and some people wont trade for pins that they know have had them. I got
I've done that as well -- total pain in the ass to try to respool it. You can probably salvage some by cutting the mess into usable lengths.
Get some Beadalon Spool Tamers. They are cheap (25 for $12 on Amazon) and will prevent that from happening again. All my spools wear them and have never had an unspooling problem since.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00KAZ137Y/ref=ox_sc_saved_title_4?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1
- A CM in the parks recommended that I get some locking pin backs as she said the mickey ones aren't super reliable. Do you have any that you like in particular?
> https://www.amazon.com/Pieces-Metal-Backs-Locking-Keepers/dp/B07VH4JMMQ something like this, but to be honest; I tried these on a cruise, and I still nearly lost a pin. https://www.amazon.com/Pieces-Keepers-Locks-Locking-Wrench/dp/B07SX9FS1F/ are way more secure, but you run the risk of damaging your pins and losing the key
So I don't really use them.
> When I was in the parks the traders with a lot of pins had really nice looking portfolio books. They looked kind of clunky though and I really hope to carry just a few pins when I go to the park. I really only like to have my mini backpack and not carry anything else. Any advice for a safe way to store my small collection of traders for the park? Maybe 10-15 pins.
It depends if you are looking to display them or just whip it out for trade. I think you can use an old CD case to put them in if you are looking to exchange with people. If you want to trade and display pins, I would just get an ita bag. If it's traders you are going to be exchanging in with a CM, I just stick mine in a basic one compartment toiletry/make up bag.
> I have filled my small hanging cloth pin display at home that I had pre-Disney pins so I'm looking to upgrade. Is the cloth board where you put the back on the pin worse for maintaining pins then the cork style where you stick the pins in without the backs? I don't intend to sell my pins at this time, but I still want to keep them nice over the years.
I don't think they are worse. I think it is a matter of taste. I prefer cork boards because it is easier to reorganize your collection rather than having to take each pin back out every time you want to reorganize.
I love putting pins on bags! I recommend using locking pin backs (https://www.amazon.com/Pieces-Metal-Backs-Locking-Keepers/dp/B07VH4JMMQ) as they keep the pins more secure.
Pin maker here! These are the ones I recommend to my customers. I have used many of them on all different pins and fabrics and they work great and are very secure!
Whatever you might call them, if you're not using the locking type...
https://www.amazon.com/Pieces-Metal-Backs-Locking-Keepers/dp/B07VH4JMMQ/
You'll be sorry.
EuTengHao 60 Pieces Pin Keepers Pin Locks Pin Backs Locking Clasp Locking Pin Keeper Backs Locking Pin Backs (9mmx5.5mm,Silver) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07H2TG9L2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_BQ8WGDCW5816VX74ZA8P
Congrats on starting your collection! Seeing how they fit on your bag, they might fall off from the rubber mickey head backing if an object inside pushes the pin too much outward. You can get locking ones like these to prevent that: https://www.amazon.com/SUBANG-Count-Locking-Keepers-Storage/dp/B01LYS7N9J
Second this. I did have a few pins on my previous EDC bag, but I found them semi regularly snagging on things. Several of them were destroyed during use by being hit on things I threw my bag onto and one was lost twice before I got something like these locking pin backs to keep it from just falling off. The other style of pin, with these style backs will cause you way more trouble than they're worth as they will get lost or simply open on your bag and stab random contents and you when you try to don your bag. That second kind I highly recommend you avoid entirely. As for patches, go for it. You'll want to avoid iron on patches on padded surfaces, as you will melt the padding underneath, but it's a good way to secure a patch until you sew it. Also....sew it on. You will lose a patch that isn't sewn on in very short order, most especially on an area that bends.
These styles are my favorite. Haven't lost a pin since.
100 Pieces Pin Keepers Pin Locks Pin Backs Locking Clasp with Wrench, 6 x 5 mm https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07SX9FS1F/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_glt_i_E4Q60E1X49CH4PB5QMQ7
>>They have locking ones on Amazon. Like these? locking backs > >Yep those are great, they also make ones with a little screw,l. As you can see it's a bit clunkier, might not great for a purse.
>They have locking ones on Amazon. Like these? locking backs
Yep those are great, they also make ones with a little screw it's clunkier, not great for a purse.
They have locking ones on Amazon. Like these? locking backs
Thanks for the tips! BTW, I use one of these guys for straightening out my (small guage) wires. It's made for jewelry and fishing wire, but works great on solid and stranded electrical wire as well.
Do you mean it only has 1 post with a rubber clutch? You can try buying a locking clutch similar to this. Other than supergluing on more posts I’m not sure how else you could stop it from moving.
HEY!
There's actually a tool called a Wire Straightener. I use it and the first time I used it I was surprised how well it worked.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00JLRURTM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_glt_fabc_2MZ526EG7K2NB75W8P99
This type are the best in my opinion. I've had terrible luck with the kind that use an allen wrench for tightening
https://www.amazon.ca/EuTengHao-Keepers-Locking-9mmx5-5mm-Replacement/dp/B07H2TG9L2/ref=asc_df_B07H2TG9L2/?tag=googleshopc0c-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=491088464312&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=10598200108247241664&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9001498&hvtargid=pla-747778635312&psc=1 you can probably find them on aliexpress too
SUBANG 40 Pieces Metal Pin Backs Locking Pin Keepers Locking Clasp with Storage Case https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B01LYS7N9J/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_547CEGXBB9835AGZ8RW0
These are my favorites! Lost 0 pins at sunset!
I used to have a camelbak covered in pins. I wore it to several concerts, festivals, theme parks, and hikes and never lost one using pin locks similar to these - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07H2TG9L2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_glt_fabc_GEC8GVCHJCC9SPWJD6SK
You can get these really tight where even if someone wanted to steal them, they'd have a tough time.
Eventually I went to take the pins off my pack and noticed several of the posts were bent where the locking screw had been over-tightened. I have friends that had the same issue. The pins weren't ruined, but some of my posts still have bends in them and I'm worried of breaking them if I bend it back. I don't use these anymore for that reason, but maybe you could be careful not to over-tighten and have better results. Still, expect some bent posts if you're using these.
Nowadays I only wear pins on my hats. My girl wears them on her fanny pack sometimes. We've used these exact locks with good results: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LYS7N9J/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_glt_fabc_BF45HJMMEBZJHP2ACB6K
These don't have the same security as the allen-wrench style, but they're much better than standard clasps. They're also more comfortable (but not amazing) in a hat.
For both clasp types - they do fail occasionally so I don't wear single-posted pins if I really care about them.
Hope that helps. If anyone likes other styles of clasps, I'd be interested to hear about it.
Looks like you have some seriously collectible pins on there. Those have a bad habit of getting knocked off, but I can help!
I learned about these little things back in the day, doing my dress uniform for inspections and shit—they will keep those stick-back pins FIRMLY on your kutte!
I've been using locking pinbacks for a couple of years, but not these, these are intense.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07VH4JMMQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_fabc_KRAGZYGH5DKABME49NC8
This is what I've been using, a suggestion from my very close Deadhead friend who was WAY into pinning.