Pin backs

[Bandaid]

I have a question for pin and/or broach carvers about how they place the pin on the back of the piece. Do you have the "pointy" end down or up, and also, if it has to be placed horizontal should it face left or right? I've placed them both ways but have always wondered which is easier for the wearer to place them on a garment. Are there any pros or cons for either way?

Maybe some of the gals have an opinion as to their preference.

[Bob K.]

I really don't think it matters much but if it was me, I would have the pointy end pointing up if it's vertical and facing to the left if it's going to be horizontal.

[Tom-H]

Hey Bandaid! I just asked the most knowledgeable person around here, and she said for the Broach/Pin: "Pointy end pointing down. That's so that if the clasp comes undone, the broach/pin will not easily slide out of the fabric and fall off and be lost". Makes sense to me.....Don't know about the other positioned broach/pin tho.

Tom H

[Just Carving]

You want the pin pointing to the left so when you close the clasp, the clasp turns down. Gravity hopefully works in this case also.

Bob L

[Claude]

In my opinion, horizontally it doesn't matter; vertically, it should be point down, as Tom's expert says.

I put mine on with five minute two-part epoxy. I mix for 3 minutes, then smear some on the wood, smear some on the back of the clasp, then press the two together. If the epoxy doesn't ooze up out of the holes in the clasp, I use a toothpick to make sure some does, and smear it around a bit.

If the pin is relatively heavy, I use a small ball burr in my Dremel to make indentations in the back of the pin approximately where the clasp holes will be. The indentations are no more than the thickness of the ball (maybe 3/32 inch...). Then I make sure the holes are filled with the epoxy as I mount the clasp.

Claude

[Bandaid]

Thanks for the input guys. The reasons for putting the point down or to the left make sense.

Claude...good tip on drilling the holes for added strength.
If the thickness allows, I carve a trench the size of the pin back to set the pin into the piece so it doesn't stick out too far from the garment. Also I have been roughing up the back of the pin with a small file before adding the epoxy to help with the adhesion.

Thanks again, from now on it's pointy end down!