Hello Vivienne -

I have no problem treating my brass pins when they get tarnished. Then, they're good as new. However, I've also shifted to using primarily stainless pins, because I have less trouble with bending, and also because they come in so many wonderful sizes.

As for the gold plating idea, I can tell you this: Gold is a relatively soft metal. When it is used for plating, the tiniest little "compromise" in the plating allows the brass beneath to tarnish, and soon you have flaking plating! I can't wear gold plated jewelry, because the slightest scratch ends up destroying the piece. I also do embroidery and needlepoint, and quite a few years ago, the gold-plated needle was all the rage! Now, I grant you that a single needle moving through lots of stiff fibers gets far more exercise during an embroidery project than the individual pins do in lace. However, it's like putting our pins in a lab for QC: work it, work it, work it.... does it hold up? And, the answer is clearly no. Before I had finished one (fairly large) project, the gold plating was completely worn away, and I was left with a needle that was indistinguishable from the others in my needle case. Definitely not worth the money, in my opinion, especially when you consider that 250 pins wouldn't get you far in any project!!

Clay



On 4/10/2010 7:11 AM, [email protected] wrote:
Hi all, I would like your views. Though I am a supplier this is not
promoting any thing I sell but I think Lace makers need to express an opinion  
on.
The people who make many of the pins in the world have been looking for a
long time at the problem of brass pins tarnishing. they tell me they are
specially treated but that they know in, their words, 6 months 2 years 5 years
  they will not be the same. So they are proposing the make a gold plated
pin  which they claim will stay bright and untarnished for years and years.
They say  but are not fixed on it yet, the price would be similar to say our
Torchon pin  but you would get say 250 as opposed to 400. I have told them I
don't think  British lace makers would pay the differance. But then I
thought of the ladies  who have to replace their pins so now I don't know. They
are a good kind family  companya and I don't want them to waste money on some
thing that won't sell.  What do you think? Vivienne

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