If you’ve ever met someone who is into pin trading, you know that it’s a big deal. Pin trading is said to have taken off during the first-ever Olympic games, way back in 1896. Today, you’ll find trading pins all over the place, not just in the Olympic village.
Starting a trading pins collection can be as simple as receiving your first pin as a gift or picking it up in a gift shop. You’ll find pin trading events in all sorts of surprising places, from Disney World to the baseball field.
The question, for a new trading pin collector, is how to store and protect trading pins. After all, you’re going to have the best luck at pin trading events if your collection is in good shape.
Read on as we talk about everything a new trading pin collector needs to know about building up, storing, and protecting their pin collection.
Where Can You Get Trading Pins for Your Collection?
First, we’ve got a brief beginner’s guide to building up your collection of trading pins. There are a few key ways that you can add new and old pins alike to your pin collection.
Buying New Trading Pins
Some lucky pin collectors get started when a former pin collector gifts them their entire collection. Others will need to get started from the ground up by buying pins, themselves.
It helps to determine what pin trading community you want to be part of. From there, you can buy pins within your niche online and in stores related to that niche. (For example, you can often purchase Disney pins online or at Disney-owned shops.)
Attending Pin Trading Events
Pin trading events are filled with excitement for trading pin collectors. Nowadays, there are tons of in-person and online pin trading events that you can attend.
The best advice we can offer is to look up the rules for each event you attend. For example, some events will establish rules about the types of pins that you can bring. Make sure to follow the rules, know the value of your trading pins, and respect other pin traders.
Designing Custom Trading Pins
Did you know that you can even design your own trading pins? If you want to customize a trading pin for a local event or for your organization, head to Metal Promo. Metal Promo makes it easy to design pins and buy them in small numbers or in bulk–you dream it, they make it.
What Are the Best Ways to Store Trading Pins?
Now, how can you store your trading pins? The key to good trading pin storage is organization. We’ll look at a few popular ways that you can store your trading pins at home and on the go.
Hanging Displays
Hanging displays are popular because they not only keep your pins in order but they make it easy to show off your collection. You can create a banner out of felt or push your trading pins into a sturdy piece of corkboard. Keep in mind that the second method will require careful organization and storage of your pin-backs, as many collectors only want pins that have their original pin-backs.
Display Cases
Looking for something a little more sophisticated that will also offer some extra protection? Consider creating a display case for all of your most valuable trading pins.
Start with a shadow box and cut a piece of black foam or corkboard that will fit directly into the frame. Then, add your pins, close the shadow box, and hang or prop up your new display case somewhere in your home.
Portable Displays
What is the best way to bring your trading pins to a pin trading event? The most popular method is to pin them to a lanyard that you can wear around your neck. This makes it easy to keep track of your pins and lets other collectors take a look at what you have to offer.
How Can You Keep Your Pins in Good Condition?
If you’re wondering how to keep your pins safe, know that a good storage method will do a lot of the work for you. It’s also worth noting that however you display your pins, you want to keep them in a temperature-controlled environment so that they don’t get too hot.
What if your pins need a little bit of TLC? Let’s take a quick look at protecting your pins from wear and tear.
Shining Your Pins
Most pins are made from enamel which is a durable material that is easy to keep clean. If your pins are on the grimy side, dilute a small amount of rubbing alcohol with water and remove the grime using a cotton swab. You can also restore the shine to your trading pins by buffing them with a microfiber cloth.
Trading Pin Rust Removal
If you start collecting vintage or antique pins, you may encounter rust on the metal backing. The easiest way to remove any rust on the metal components of a trading pin is to apply toothpaste using a standard toothbrush and lightly scrub until the rust comes away. If the rust is severe, try using a store-bought rust remover–once again, a toothbrush is the right tool of choice.
Get in on the Trading Pin Action and Maintain Your Collection
Trading pins offer a wonderful and exciting way to build a collection and join an enthusiastic community. These tips are perfect for anyone looking to get in on the action of pin trading.
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