How to Make Custom Closing Pins (Like I Had Been Doing)

[ACMESkydiver 0]

Aside from current projects that I have already agreed to, I'm not doing these any more. So here's how you do it so you can do your own:

Order raw pins -I got mine from any parachute rigging / gear shop. Most will have a discount the more you buy.

Find a metal marker -this is the tough part. Call around industrial areas...machinists and metal shops that do custom marking (not engraving; HUGE difference in cost) typically do marking for parts, knives, etc. Some (like the guy that was doing them for me) will take on your pins as a 'side' job for their fabrication biz.

Take a pin down to the marker so he/she can see what it is they will be marking, and start negotiating! -Again, kinda tough. You'll find (most likely) that they will want a set-up or design fee, then a per piece fee.

Once you get the pins back from the metal marker, apply about 3 coats each side of clear lacquer or shellac (I used nail polish top coat lacquer, but I'll be buying spray-on for these last ones). Wait at least an hour or two between coats.

Buy jump rings from a bead shop -thicker is better, and you'll have a choice of materials. Go for a more tarnish-free metal or you'll have oil-slick looking jump rings after a few misty days or trips through the shower whilest wearing your pins... When opening jump rings to attach the closing pins, twist them open, then twist back closed. If you try to pull them apart then push them back together, you'll weaken them more, contort the shape, and you'll never get the ends to match up again.

If you're shipping out to people, you'll need to buy bubble padded envelopes to ship in, and mailing labels (unless you want to hand print 100 addresses. Not recommended. )

Take them into the post office and take them up to the counter to get postage amounts. Don't make the mistake I did with one batch and take them to the Automated thingy...they came back because the automated thingy doesn't account for extra postage needed for thick envelopes.

If you are doing a number of these for people that will not be physically in front of you to hand them out to, consider the following:

*Excel spreadsheets are a lifesaver. If you are doing these for DZ.commers, have them list their full name AND screenname for you on PayPal receipts (I was tearing my hair out trying to figure out who the heck was who on my first batch...)

*Collect money UP FRONT. Do not expect to be able to collect money after the fact. Trust me, you will end up with a whole bunch of uncollected pins that you just paid for yourself. -Not to say that people mean to, but sometimes they move, leave on vacation, etc and you never hear from them again...

Costs that you must account for:
*PAYPAL FEES if you will take money via PayPal
*Cost of pins -remember, I said it goes down the bigger the batch. It can be as big of a difference as $2 PER PIN or more...so make SURE that you set a price that will cover even if it is a smaller batch.
*Shipping to get the raw pins to you
*Tax on the price of the raw pins (if you're in the same state)
*Shipping to get the pins to the metal marker (or gas if you're driving)
*Metal marker's set-up/design fee
*Metal marker's per pin fee
*Tax on metal marker's bill of sales
*Shipping back to you from the metal marker (or gas if you're driving)
*Cost of Jump rings from bead shop
*Tax and shipping on jump rings if applicable
*Shellac or clear lacquer of some sort incl tax
*Cost of bubble envelopes incl tax
*Cost of printer labels incl tax
*Cost of ink for printer (I know, sounds ridiculous...but I burned through 2 cartridges printing up cards to go inside the envelopes and labels)
*Cost of postage

Remember that doing up 8 pins will be a whole bunch more expensive per pin then doing up 100 and remember to cover accordingly.

I listed out each minute cost because the little costs you forget about are the ones that add up and bite you in the end. Do NOT make the mistake of guesstimating! If you underestimate your costs by just $1-$2 per pin...well, 100 pins means you just donated $100-$200 plus your time. Cool if that's what you meant to do. Tough if it's not.

It is MUCH easier to have a deadline date for which all orders need to be in by than to get an order for one here, two there...again, see costs of pins and pieces, etc.

You can try an engraver. I found the price per engravers around here to be from $35-$75 per pin, which is why I looked for other options and convinced a metal marker to take my project.

I have been charging $10-$12 per pin because that is about the average cost to do them; if you are looking to make money, I'd suggest you charge $20 per. Remember, you have to consider your time when doing these as well.

When I'm done with these last ones, I will have made better than 800 closing pins over the past few years for memorials. Love y'all, but I have a family and 2 businesses to run.
I hope those pins helped in some way...and I hope someone can use this process in the future.

I'll probably still be available via email for a while (check my profile) if you get stuck or need help. I'm still in the middle of getting Tonto's pins done...and I'm still accepting orders for Lee's (if you're near ChaosKitty, see her. If not, I'll take a PayPal directly. You know the drill...name, screenname if applicable, ship-to address...)


Thanks all.

~Jaye
Do not believe that possibly you can escape the reward of your action.