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, viviennewal...@aol.com 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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