How do you "lock" Disney pins (jewelry)?

[walkdmc]

I figured if I mentioned "Disney" and "Pins" in the same sentence, I'd better make it clear I'm talking jewelry.

Our pins keep falling off our lanyards. Matter of fact, in DTD, my nephew lost a new one that was about $10 a whole 3 minutes after putting it on his lanyard

So, I see people mention they "lock" theirs. How does one do that?

 

[StacyMarie]

We bought packages of "locks" while at Disney.

 

[WilsonFlyer]

They sell packages of backs that lock with an allen screw and an allen wrench. They are available anywhere they sell pins, generally.

I went back and bought my first pack not 5 minutes after buying my first pins and lanyard just this past spring. I had exactly the same experience your nephew had and it ticked me off because this was not a cheap pin that fell off for me either, but rather one I had intended on keeping forever (I found it because I HEARD it hit the pavement and that's when I bought the locks.).

All my keeper pins are locked on my lanyard(s) now. That also keeps me from accidently trading one I didn't intend on trading.

 

[walkdmc]

Great idea! Thanks. I'll be on the lookout for locks on our next trip.

 

[bumbershoot]

You still have to be careful with the "locked" ones, they can work their way off. But they are way better than the Mickey head backs that the pins come with!

 

[Stitch's Greatest Fa]

Packs of lockable backs are for sale at most pin places, they replace the standard Mickey head backs and are put on/removed with an allen key!

 

[jeppy]

Anyone have an approxamite price for said "locks". I would love to wear my pins on my lanyard but i am always too scared that they will fall off and i wont notice.

 

[WilsonFlyer]

Anyone have an approxamite price for said "locks". I would love to wear my pins on my lanyard but i am always too scared that they will fall off and i wont notice.

I wanna say about $7 for 8? That's what I remember anyway. A buck apiece sounds about right. Too expensive? Yea. But what are you gonna do? It's a somewhat unique product offering. I'm sure you could find something similar at an automotive fastener shop but it's likely not worth the hassle given the number most people would need. It's like a lot of other things. Outside Disney, I would have never paid that price, but while in the parks, we usually just accept the fact that things are 2-3 times higher than they ought to be and let it go.

 

[toklotursa]

You still have to be careful with the "locked" ones, they can work their way off. But they are way better than the Mickey head backs that the pins come with!

If you put nail pollish on the lock screw it will hold better. The alternative is locktite.

I lost a POC pin this last trip. Then We bought the locks and they are worth the money. 7-8 dollars is less than the cost of a pin.

 

[patink]

I have used the locking pin backs Disney sells and I found them to be a bit of a hassle and overpriced.
Another option for you is a spring loaded type of pin back. They are a lot easier to use especially if you trade for a pin in the parks that you do not want to lose. (I found myself having a hard time keeping track of the little wrench.)
Search on ebay for locking pin backs. I have purchased from disneypatriot and would highly recommend buying from him. (her?)
Good Luck.

I can PM you a link to the backs I am talking about on ebay if you would like.

 

[jeppy]

It's like a lot of other things. Outside Disney, I would have never paid that price, but while in the parks, we usually just accept the fact that things are 2-3 times higher than they ought to be and let it go.

Thats funny.......why is it that when at disney we doint care what the price is?

 

[NYDisneyKid]

more money to spend on something that should be included with the pins

 

[bumbershoot]

more money to spend on something that should be included with the pins

Not everyone wants the locking backs, so no, it shouldn't be included. A pin trader isn't necessarily going to want the hassle of dealing with them each time they trade, and unless they're going to get a locking back with the trade they aren't going to trade it with the pin, so then they have to carry the rubber backs anyway... We're pin-keepers, not traders, and the 7.95 or 8.95 for a bunch of backs isn't bad for us.

 

[Brian Noble]

We use these; they don't require a tool, but work quite well.

http://cgi.ebay.com/50-Locking-Pin-...ltDomain_0&hash=item4aabe9f8f6#ht_1330wt_1141

(I have no relationship with that auction---just the first example I found.)

 

[Amber1111]

Search for "pin saver" or "pin lock" on EBay. I was looking for some yesterday. I think a pack of 12 was about $5.

 

[harleys mom]

We got our in the park at a pin cart. They are a gold bar that twists on with a alan wrench that was included in the bag. They worked great..

 

[chartle]

Here are a few from Ebay.

http://shop.ebay.com/i.html?_from=R...w=locking+pin+backs&_sacat=See-All-Categories

I have never used these but found them when I looking for some before our trip.

Don't get the ones that you pinch. My son and I lost two irreplaceable pins with those kind of backs.

 

[nellyru]

We need to get some of these next time.
Such a bummer when the younger ones loose a pin.

 

[torinsmom]

We use these; they don't require a tool, but work quite well.

http://cgi.ebay.com/50-Locking-Pin-...ltDomain_0&hash=item4aabe9f8f6#ht_1330wt_1141

(I have no relationship with that auction---just the first example I found.)

These are the kind I use as well. I bought the DIsney locking ones, and then lost the tool to unlock them. That was a pain in the rear end. This kind are easy to get off, but there is a certain way you have to pull them, so they don't fall off accidentally. They go on like the Mickey pin backs. Easy enough to use for traders but secure enough to use for the special ones too.