🤏 Miniatures -

📌 Pinning

TL;DR:

• Use pin vice with a 1 mm drill bit for the holes.
• Use 22 gauge (0.8 mm) uncoated metal wire for the pins.
• Coat the pin with super glue before inserting it into the holes.
• If pinning a model to a base, bend the underside part for more strength.

22 gauge wire is about 0.8 mm in diameter, dirty cheap and good for pinning. Most metal wires will work, I take the stiffest I can find that I still can bend around my finger. Don't use plastic-coated ones, but some minor coating like a varnish shouldn't be an issue. 20 gauge (0.9 mm) works too.

Slimmer wire like 30 gauge (0.3 mm) is excellent for decorative work and for pinning tiny details.

Use poster putty to mark the drill location. Drill one of the holes, press a piece of blu tack flat on the other piece, press the pieces together, and the blu tack should have a bump where you should drill.

Works the same, for pinning pieces to together or pinning miniature to a base.

Drill using a pin vise. A pin vise is a small hand drill that you can use to drill holes in miniatures. Rotary tools like Dremel are too fast and can melt the plastic.

But I do use a rotary tool for some metal miniatures, or if I want to drill a lot of pinholes in a row. Just be careful and go slow. And note that it will heat up any metal quite a lot.

Metal rods are useful for pinning large things. Brass rods are easier to bend, cut, and sand than steel. Brass also has a nice steampunk feel when used for scenery or bases, if you like that look.