"Hot pinning" Topic

I've seen reference in several places. What is hot pinning, and how is it done?
Thanks, Bob

I did a google search and came up empty handed at least as far as modeling/wargaming goes. The term does seem to mean something to gay wrestlers but lets not go there

Dave

I think it refers to when you heat up a needle or pin and then plunge it deep into the flesh of a plastic figure.

;-)

I think this only works well for polyethylene and not styrene figures but I can be wrong here. It effectively would give he same result as if you use the pinvise to drill a hole and then insert a needle or brass rod. Basically you do this when you want to join two parts together and gluing alone isn't sufficent.

I have used this for replacing sword blades on soft plastic figures. I drill a small hole, heat the brass bar stock up (holding it in pliers) and gently push it into place. It takes some practice. If the metal is too hot, you screw-up a fig. It holds very well in my experience.

I know some guys use a hot pin to trim the flash off of soft plastic figures. It leaves a smoother cleaner cut than does an Xacto knife or a file.

I've used it for styrene ie hard plastic, model kits. Just be careful or you will melt too much.