good to know

I put them in the container with my allergy needles and take them to the health dept, when it is full they give me a new container

Wow . . . that's amazing. Ever since FAX machines all technology has been magic to me. For this thread to pop up as we write it? Now that's magic.

Don't poke it in your scalp run the pin along your scalp pointy end running along scalp not against it. Also the oils in your hair help it to slide thru the fabric better.

Same here. I keep an empty pill bottle by my sewing machine and discard the bent and dull pins as I find them.

ditto!

I re purpose my dull straight pins in crafts either in Sunday school or just whatever. I make snowmen out of styrofoam balls and my kids stick them together with old straight pins first dipped in hot glue. The ones with the beaded heads (pins, not kids) tee hee, are held together in threes and dipped in hot glue, cooled and then dipped in black paint to make "coal" eyes for snow people. It is fun and my kids love it!

post some of your cool projects, here please so we can recycle our pins

that reminds me we used to make these cool Christmas decorations years ago with my grandma, so I searched and found the free pattern for us


http://www.ehow.com/how_4545974_make...ornaments.html

I also use the pill bottle method. When filled, we have a Sharp's container at schoolI will slip them in.

As far as the cost to dispose of the containers, it is outrageous but a necessary evil.
At the animal shelter, I scheduled the guy to come once a year. At the most, he would have to pick up a box that was 3 cubic feet or about 30"x30"x30". It would be filled with as many full Sharps containers as possible. We were charged over $400 for this one box. Then, you have to turn around and buy more Sharps containers to fill. Yep, it gets expensive.

Back in the 60's and 70's I used to buy kits from a company called "Lee Wards". They were ornaments like these only stepped up a notch. They were beautiful. I still have most of them but they are looking pretty sad now. Sure were fun to make.

And I miss Lee Wards. It was a great catalog. I spent all my money there

An idea I use for the old rotary blades...an empty loose powder (make-up) round container. Doesn't take up much space.

The hair has lanolin in it and that's what makes the pins slip into the material easily. I always do this with my needle when I am quilting and it gets sluggish.

I use my pins even when they are not their best. I have a container that I use these pins in and when I need to block something I have crocheted and starched, I use these to pin them to the large piece of cardboard I keep just for that. When they get too bad I put them into a pill bottle.

I use a clear bottle that is labelled-(bent dull pins and needles)- for the ladies at church to use when we quilt. I shudder when I think of a needle just tossed in the dust bin!

I trash them in a couple of plastic bags.

I put mine in a R/X bottle.

Poke them into an old bar of soap, and if that doesn't work, I drop them in a pill bottle and toss.

Putting them into a pill bottle is great. But before that try poking them in a bar of soap this sometimes helps.:)

I thought pins were like roaches. Eternal. I don't think I've ever worn out a pin. Or maybe I have, and I'm just to stupid to notice? LOL How does one know when one's pins are worn out?

I'm a diabetic and I have those sharp containters that I put my seringes in and I just dd them into that. At costco they are usual under$3.00 for one of those containers.
Then I just take them to Walgreens and they take the full containers.
kjym Kathy

I think I'll sacrfice on the M&M's containers too! Sounds too good to pass up. Also gives you an excuse to buy M&M's! Love it!

I stick my pins in a bar of hand soap...do it a few times and they are good to use again.

Here's an old hint I used when my babies(years ago)where in cloth diapers.I would rub it through my hair or stick it in a bar of soap.Went through like a charm.It still works by the way.I use it every so often,blessings,Vickie :mrgreen:

I collect them, put them in an old medicine bottle (along with the lancets my husband uses in his test kit) and super glue the top on. Then I just dispose of it in the trash.

Or empty spice bottle that you only have to snap the top up and drop the needle of pin through those little holes.

Frugal me, I run them over a whet stone/sharpening stone. I only throw them away when they are too bent or the head comes off. I actually sharpen some of my machine needles like this also, but check to see they aren't bent.

I have a small plastic dry creamer container by my sewing machine and it's large enough for pins and rotary blades. I glued some fabric on it and the top says "Dead needles & blades "

Now I'll just have to explain to the Dr. why I switched from the pill bottle to the M&M container.

;)

I like your way of thinking!

great idea, never thought of that. :thumbup: :-D

Great idea quiltlady...will do that from now on.

I put them in a perscription bottle and label it sharps from quilting, and put it in recycle, but remember to put the tape on and what they were used for, so the recycle people know. God bless.

I made some pin cushions for some friends and family that sew. I stuffed them with "Zilla- Lizard Litter" with just a little batting on the bottom so it wouldn't leak out if of the closing seam. The Litter is actually ground english walnut shells and it keeps your pins nice and sharp. The litter can be purchased at any pet store.