Making your own gifts is fun. Making
your own gag gifts is even more fun.
This Dime-'n-Pin is a pun for diamond
pin, and is used to generate surprise and a chuckle. When you ask
someone “Would you like a dime-n-pin?” (say it quickly as you
would diamond pin) the general response is, “Sure!”. When you
produce and the recipient sees the the dime you have soldered on to a
safety pin their first expression is puzzlement which is followed by
laughter.
This is a good way to break the ice,
have some fun, or to give as a unique gift.
Needed:
- Dime
- Safety pin – large enough to unclasp once it is soldered to the dime
- Solder – Radiator with flux
- Needle-nose Pliers (or needle-nose vice grips)
- Propane torch
- Lighter or matches
- Pan of water
- Solid work surface
Set up your work area in a safe place
where propane and other fumes won't contaminate the air. Your table
should be sturdy and not wobble so as not to upset the lit propane
starting a fire. Once you have set the propane tank on your work
table ensuring that it won't easily tip, twist the nozzle open just
enough so that you hear a slight hiss.
Hold the lighter (or lit match) below
the nozzle but up high enough that when you light the lighter the
flame or spark will ignite the gas you hear hissing from the opening
of the tank.
DO NOT FULLY OPEN THE NOZZLE. You want
it open only enough to keep a steady flame.
Lay a safety pin on the back of a dime.
The head stamped on the dime should be in the same upright position
as and perpendicular to the safety latch of the pin. Clamp the
needle-nose pliers on the edge of the dime making sure you have also
clamped the pin. Slightly lift the pin so there is no problem
unclasping the it when it is put on or taken off.
I like to use the needle-nose vice
grips which are self-clamping so I don't have to concentrate on
keeping the pliers closed with enough pressure to hold the pin and
dime.
Hold the face of the dime in the flame
and apply the solder with the other hand on the back surface of the
dime also touching the bottom leg of the pin (the part of the pin
that doesn't move). When the dime heats enough to melt the solder,
remove it and the dime immediately from the flame as it will continue
to melt covering more area than you want.
With the pin now soldered into place,
remove it from the flame and dunk into a pan of water to cool the
pliers as well as the dime.
This is a how-to article only. Use the instructions at your own risk.
New Father's Day gifts at Visages
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