Altering a pin - How hard would it be?

With a few exceptions, I really dislike most pins with dangles, and a lot of pins with hinged "covers" that open up. Dangles just annoy me for whatever reason, and I find that most hinged pins have the prettier "picture" inside, where it is hidden when displayed.

I currently have a Tiger Lily pin (#108809) that I LOVE, save for the fact that it has a dangling element that says "Pin Trading Day 2015". I would love to remove the dangling element, along with the chains that connect it to the main pin, but I don't know how I would do so cleanly, or if that's even something you can pay a jeweler to do.

My question is: Have any of you intentionally altered your pins by removing hinges, dangle, or other parts? ( Either by yourself, or with a jeweler's help?) Does anyone know of anyone experienced in fixing and/or refashioning pins? (I'm aware that the pin may lose value and/or become "untradeable." That's not an issue for me, as I plan on keeping this pin no matter what.)

You can easily get the dangle piece off with pliers. The chain connecting the dangle to the pin can be opened. If you want to shave down the pin so it doesn't look like it originally had a dangle piece, you should probably take it to a jewler. They'd know how to do that without damaging the pin.

So I have not dismantled pin dangles, but I have repaired them. They are typically not very difficult to manipulate, and you can remove the chain with a simple long-nosed plier. As for hinges, however, I am not so sure. There should be a pin to get out that holds the top and bottom components of the hinged pin together - but I am not sure how easy that would be to remove. Maybe try looking up tutorials on YouTube on how to disassemble contact mirrors, then get a cheap one from the dollar store to practice on. It shouldn't be too difficult though! Particularly for a crafty person such as yourself.


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I have had jewelers remove pin posts so I could a brooch style clasp on the back... they removed it so ckeanly you would never know it was there... take to a jeweler and have them looked at.

Thank you all for your input and suggestions!


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Kirk Fabbro also does pin alterations (removing hinges, attaching pin backs, etc.) I don't think he's on DPF, but he is on Facebook.

I've removed a few dangles before with jeweler's pliers. I've even gotten one of those massive music boxes off of the back of the Musical Moments pins (the box was damaged and so it played "A Whole New, Horrifying, Nail Screeching, Friday the 13th World." That sucker had to go...

~Merlin