I have a Zirkel magnetic pin cushion. I also bought new pins. It doesn't require special pins. I love it. I just toss my pins at the Zirkel when I take them out and they all land on it and have their heads out. I really do toss them, I guess the magnet is strong enough that I rarely miss. I bought new pins and it is like my rotary cutter, you don't realize how dull they are until you get new ones. The only thing I don't like about it is that it is a strong magnet and sometimes all of scissors and seam ripper are stuck to it also.