I have always left my safety pins open and stored them in one of my old medicine containers. I have four different containers for four sizes. I left them open because it was less trouble than to open and close them every time I needed them.
Well, I picked up a box of 250 pins for 50 cents at a garage sale. They were closed pins and a closed package, however when I opened the pins they had a small rust spot on the tip where it touched the top. I threw away a couple because I couldn't get it to go through my material. I got out a new metal scouring pad, and I raked the pin across the pad a few times. I was able to get it to go through 6 layers of thin material...... Yep, I swished all of the pins back and forth, left them open, and stored them in a container.

Syl

Correct me if I am wrong ... my understanding is, if they ae stainless quilting pins, they should not rust.

Be careful for any pins you are using ... you don't want rust spots on your projects!

Some 'stainless' is not really stainless and can rust. I use to have a mess with tangled safety pins left open until I found the pin covers. I love these things. They really work to make pinning easier. My DGD use to pin them all over her clothes making designs with them. They fit on curved or straight and make basting with safety pins so much better for your hands. And no tangled mess when left open in a container.
Here is a picture of them:


http://www.nancysnotions.com/product...grip+covers.do

If you have a medicine bottle that has one of those little cartradges to prevent motisture.....put one in your pin bottle. If they rusted once they will rust again.

Good thought ... I'm also thinking, would you be better off to let some air get into that bottle? A few punctures of the plastic lid? or the bottle itself?

Thanks...good info!

I believe the pins are just steel, not stainless steel. that is what the description is on the nancy notions web site.

If they are stainless steel ... they will say so.

The ones I buy clearly say that ... and now I won't buy any others! Extra cost, but well worth minimizing risk of the wrong ones getting used.

I work in an industry that uses ALOT of stainless steel. It is a myth that because a product is made from Stainless Steeel it will not rust. There are so many differnent types of stainless steel. The difference is the percentage of the different metals .. I could go on and on defining at lenght all the different types. The most common component that keeps stainless steel from rusting is a high percentage of nickel content. The many many types that are avaiable all get to be called "stainless steel". The high nickel content in stainless will not be able to be picked up by a magnet.... but due to the rising costs of nickel ... some are using other metals with the nickel and the steel to reduce the cost. But one thing is for sure cheap stainless will have a magnet adhere, ie more steel than other more $$$ metals that do not rust.
Most pin manufactures do not list the type of stainless. If you find one that does look for type 304 or 316 stainless, these have very high nickel contents and will not rust . Or find pins made from Nickel.

I took a magnet and held over the pins and they jump on it, everyone of them. lol
The magnet did not stick to my stainless steel cookware at all. I love my Cory Cookware, it's old but still perfect.
I've had it since 1960. It has a 100 year guarantee, and I plan on having a couple of the handles replaced when I go back to Dallas.
I have so many pins now it will take me a long time before I need any more. Thanks for the info
Syl