Scalefour Forum

Many decades ago I bought some entomological pins and I've now run out of one size. I've tried UK specialist suppliers and searched Amazon and Ebay without success, one specialist also checked with their suppliers and could also not find any.
What I'm after is what was sold as No. 20 pins that are very useful for fixing things together, like working wagon brakes, and for securing things like lamp irons to plastic models.
The photo shows from top to bottom
No. 14 pin, 0.4mm diameter (I still have many of these)
No. 20 pin, 0.25mm diameter (my last one - these are what I need)
0.25mm headless pin (made by Minucie - bought because I didn't look closely enough at the illustration on line).

Fine pins, usually much longer, with glass or plastic heads, or even large lumps of brass are not too difficult to find, nor are "flat" head pins thicker than 0.4mm. But has anyone any idea where I can get pins like the No. 20 illustrated.

Try this site:

https://entomoravia.eu/index.php/insect-pins

Richard

Do you need the heads, Andrew? If not, the why not use brass or nickel silver wire?

I think the problem is that the original formed head has been replaced with an epoxy bead head on all entomological pins.

regards

Alan

Jewelers' suppliers such as Cookson Gold supply formed head pins in various wire sizes and materials; worth a look.

Another option is to take a leaf out of the jewelery crafters' book; hold selected wire in grips and, after heating the end with a flame, use a small hammer to form the head.

What about these:- https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/652141979/dritz-dressmaker-pins-size-20-nickle?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=dritz+sewing+pin&ref=sr_gallery-1-7

States size 20 but is this an American size 20?

Steve

Try looking for Lace pins. Examples here but does not seem to be much choice of size.

If the head is important but not the point, then domehead rivets could be the answer - that said, Eileens only go down to 0.4mm shank on these too!

https://eileensemporium.com/index.php?o ... thway=1113

Thanks to all for the interesting and useful suggestions.

Wire or headless pins can indeed be used in many circumstances, it's just that a pin is often easier to use:
- there's a point making it easier than plain wire to insert into a hole
- the point makes it easier to push a pin through things (plastic if the pin is heated by a soldering iron or just pressure into soft wood)
- the head makes it easier to hold vulnerable things onto a surface if a relatively weak glued joint is the other option (lamp iron or footboard support onto plastic or wood for example)
- moving joints are easier to make.

Forming a head on a piece of wire (or headless pin) is possible but I feel is not easy. A tiny bit of solder is the first thing I thought of but it's very difficult to get a uniform blob and shaping one is something I'm not sure I could do. Also liable to fail if soldering the other end of the pin.
I am intrigued by the suggestion of heating and then forming a head - I would have thought that fine wire would cool too fast to make this feasible in a domestic environment. I have difficulty in picturing how this could be done by hand.

I've also used pins to simulate bolt heads but there are cosmetic alternatives if joint strength is not important.

andrewnummelin wrote:Thanks to all for the interesting and useful suggestions.

Wire or headless pins can indeed be used in many circumstances, it's just that a pin is often easier to use:
- there's a point making it easier than plain wire to insert into a hole
- the point makes it easier to push a pin through things (plastic if the pin is heated by a soldering iron or just pressure into soft wood)
- the head makes it easier to hold vulnerable things onto a surface if a relatively weak glued joint is the other option (lamp iron or footboard support onto plastic or wood for example)
- moving joints are easier to make.

Forming a head on a piece of wire (or headless pin) is possible but I feel is not easy. A tiny bit of solder is the first thing I thought of but it's very difficult to get a uniform blob and shaping one is something I'm not sure I could do. Also liable to fail if soldering the other end of the pin.
I am intrigued by the suggestion of heating and then forming a head - I would have thought that fine wire would cool too fast to make this feasible in a domestic environment. I have difficulty in picturing how this could be done by hand.

I've also used pins to simulate bolt heads but there are cosmetic alternatives if joint strength is not important.

To make your own heads to pins, you'd heat the wire with a blow torch until it becomes red hot and it will start to ball, then quench. Then you can shape it if desired, but it shouldn't be needed. A fairly basic jewellery technique to some extent.

KalKat wrote:How about these people? https://www.watdon.co.uk/acatalog/insec ... ories.html



Emma

Unfortunately smallest metal headed pins are, I think, 0.4mm.

andrewnummelin wrote:

Unfortunately smallest metal headed pins are, I think, 0.4mm.

Good Morning Andrew,
I you scroll down about halfway you will find a table of sizes. in Watdon Own Make.

AA is 0.004 inches (aka 4thou.) multiply by 2.54 for the diameter in mm . ie 0.004 * 2.54 = 0.01216 mm

Decide on the size you want in mm then divide by 2.54 to give you the size in inches.

Sorry to be a bore Les but you are a factor of 10 out with your sums. There are 25.4mm to the inch therefore your 4 thou pins work out at 0.1216mm.

Charlie

LesGros wrote:andrewnummelin wrote:

Unfortunately smallest metal headed pins are, I think, 0.4mm.

Good Morning Andrew,
I you scroll down about halfway you will find a table of sizes. in Watdon Own Make.

AA is 0.004 inches (aka 4thou.) multiply by 2.54 for the diameter in mm . ie 0.004 * 2.54 = 0.01216 mm

Decide on the size you want in mm then divide by 2.54 to give you the size in inches.

Trouble is that those are 'headless' and Andrew specifically wants heads.
Rgds

grovenor wrote:

Trouble is that those are 'headless' and Andrew specifically wants heads.

Ah... back to head forming then.