Source For Mosaic Pin Stock?

ddavelarsen

ddavelarsen

Joined
Dec 7, 2000
Messages
5,179
Ever optimistic, I know one or more of you folks will have a great one-stop source for all manner of mosaic pin material. I'd like to get a gigantic selection of various sizes of everything, all in one fell swoop. Am I dreaming? Or do you have a perfect solution for me?

Thanks, and happy Thanksgiving to all.

Dave
 
Dave, try an art supply or hobby store, they usually have a display that has all manner of thin copper and brass stock including round and square tubing and round pin stock down to about 1/32" or smaller. You have the added advantage of standing there and seeing what will fit together.
 
I'm with Silent!

I buy my mosaic pin stock at a hobby store that sells models, trains, etc. All kinds of aluminum, copper and brass, in solod, hollow, round and square stock!
 
Hi Dave...

Try Jeff Diotte from Downie's Knife suppy...

Jeff can be reached here

jeffsupply@cogeco.ca

He has finished pins,,but possibly could supply you with pin stock...

ttyle

Eric...
 
Dave: McMaster-Carr is where I get the majority of the material for mosaic pins and it is cheaper than the others.
 
McMaster is a god idea! Especially if you already know the size pins and tubes you need. I buy all manner of other stuff there so I don't know why I haven't thought to look for pin stock and such there.
I did pick up a few pieces at the hobby store to make some simple pins but knowing what a mess I make with epoxy just glueing up a knife I can't imagine what I'd get into trying to epoxy up mosaic pins! My wife would probably find me glued to my chair and the
kitchen table in the morning!
 
Thanks for all the ideas. I do have an order in with K&G as of the few catalogs I have they did the best job getting a selection. But I can't help thinking there must be more, more!, parts available... I will try the local hobby store and I'll get with McMaster Carr espcially when I figure out what I need or want. I really want to put a big pile of stuff together to play like tinkertoys over the holidays.

A second note, what do you guys use to draw a vacuum? I know there's the tried and true lip method, but I'm not excited about getting a mouthful of epoxy - and you know I will. Any small vacuum pumps out there?

See Guy that's how you do it, remove yourself from the equation! :D My knife's a small sacrifice for your wife to make for that tidbit of information, just be sure to tell her!

Thanks again,

Dave
 
I never tried the vacuum stuff, but what did work for me was stuff called "potting epoxy". I use it here at work to seal wires coming out of motors. Its just a very liquid/flowing epoxy and I just fill the tube with it and push in my pins. Put some tape on the bottom and your done.
 
BB, where would you buy potting epoxy? Sounds like a good idea, though possibly the kind of mess Guy is interested in...

Dave
 
You might try using one of those small hand pumps used to bleed brake lines for your vacuum. That's what I use and it works pretty slick.
 
Thanks for all the info. If I can't find the brake line pump I may try to find a big scary syringe. Once I figure out what I really need, that K&S Metals looks like a good place to buy quantities of this stuff, which is really what I want. But I need to experiment first. :D I feel like a kid again, playing with Lincoln Logs.

Dave
 
I'll have to try and rig up a pump thing-a-ma-jig myself.

But all of the pins I made I bought some tubing from the hardware store that was clear. I superglied one iend of the tubing over one end of the pinstock, put epoxy in a all and narrow container (pill containers work) and sucked unti the epoxy came through the clear tube. Someone on the forums once warned of epoxy fumes though, so I do not know how safe this method is, but it definitely works!
 
I use a foodsaver with the mason jar hose attachment for a vacuum. I use a piece of 6" poly butyl tube that fits over the end of the metal tube an inch or so. I use the food saver to draw the epoxy up until it is completely through the metal tube and into the poly tube. Then I use a piece of kids playdough to plug the bottom end of the tube.
Just throw a chunk into your epoxy cup and mash the bottom of your metal tube into it to seal it. Set it to the side, do the next one. The extra epoxy in the poly tube is there for any air bubbles that might burp out. Once it sets up, the epoxy will not stick to the poly butyl and the poly butyl tube piece can be reused.
If you thin the epoxy to make it less viscous to help it up the tube, it will not fully harden. You can color the epoxy with Rit powder or liquid dye.
The foodsaver will chug and chug to pull the epoxy up the 12" tube, but it will after a minute or so. Good luck.
 
Gidday Dave
You may have done it already.
But just incase I looked at an old sticker on my pin material it is from K&S engineering Chicargo IL I think that is your top end of the country. You may be able to get a catalog. I found the easyest way was to go to the model plane and train store.After about half an hour playing with the combinations the ownwer will get real sus and ask what is going on. How do I know. I told him, turned out one of his reps was a knife guy as well.
 
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