Pin sizes?

[livingplanet3]

What size mounting pins have most of you found to be the most commonly used for Lepidoptera, as well as most Coleoptera? I've read a number of articles stating that #2 and #3 pins are the most commonly used for most, with sizes above that really only being needed for somewhat large to very large beetles.

[Adam Cotton]

I use number 5 for most Papilionidae, and number 3 for smaller bodied species. I prefer a strong pin that will not vibrate which can be a problem with very thin pins.

Adam.

[58chevy]

I use #2 & #3 for most specimens, even large moths. Sometimes I use #1 for small butterflies and #0 for wing spreading. As was mentioned above, very large beetles are the only insects I collect that require larger pins.

[livingplanet3]

Thank you for the input. It seems that pin size is mostly a matter of personal preference (so long as you're not using a pin that's very obviously too large or too small for a specimen)? There really doesn't seem to be a significant amount of difference in the diameters between #2 & #3, though #4 is clearly thicker than #2. For the majority of Lepidoptera specimens in my collection, which are medium to quite large, #3, #4 & #5 would likely be most appropriate. As for my beetles, I'll definitely need a good number of #6 & #7 for those since I have many large Scarabaeidae, such as Dynastes, Megasoma & Goliathus.

[papiliotheona]

I use #2 for everything from Brephidium exilis on through giant-skippers.

PT

[livingplanet3]

Jul 11, 2021 15:53:17 GMT -8 papiliotheona said:

I use #2 for everything from Brephidium exilis on through giant-skippers.

PT

Probably the only species in my own collection that would be suited to a #2 pin would be a few specimens of Riodinidae, such as Rhetus spp.

[exoticimports]

My standard is #3. 95% of what I use.

Chuck

[bobw]

I also use no. 3 for everything.

[jshuey]

Jul 11, 2021 15:52:28 GMT -8 papiliotheona said:

I use #2 for everything from Brephidium exilis on through giant-skippers.

PT

Exactly - I even use #2s to move wings and nail them down on the boards.

john

[exoticimports]

Jul 12, 2021 5:17:35 GMT -8 jshuey said:

Jul 11, 2021 15:52:28 GMT -8 papiliotheona said:

I use #2 for everything from Brephidium exilis on through giant-skippers.

PT

Exactly - I even use #2s to move wings and nail them down on the boards.

john

The prized specimen collectors are in shock!

[kevinkk]

Well, maybe things DO exist for a reason, but I use only 1 or two pin sizes, and I don't even know what they are offhand.

[papiliotheona]

I prefer #1s for pinning down the glassine around the wings--I often find 2s aren't sharp enough for Bioquip's often very hard wood. The problem is that #1s are very susceptible to becoming "pretzel pins" or turning into "lightning bolts"--again because of BQ's wood.

BT

[kevinkk]

Jul 12, 2021 12:33:34 GMT -8 papiliotheona said:

I prefer #1s for pinning down the glassine around the wings--I often find 2s aren't sharp enough for Bioquip's often very hard wood. The problem is that #1s are very susceptible to becoming "pretzel pins" or turning into "lightning bolts"--again because of BQ's wood.

BT

I haven't had any issues with the adjustable board I bought from Bioquip, I use setting pins most of the time to hold down glassine, or make sure the
glass slides don't slide around, and those are thicker and sturdy.

I did have to customize my board to hold large winged specimens, and that wood from the craft store is hard, I made the board wider by glueing 
some removable extensions together, so it could accommodate wide winged material.

[58chevy]

I've never used a commercial spreading board (I make mine), but it sounds like they're made of basswood instead of balsa. Balsa is much softer and accepts pins easily. If your board is bending pins, just glue a piece of balsa to the top of the basswood. Balsa is more expensive, but you don't need much of it.

[bobw]

All the setting boards I've seen are made of cork on a plywood base and covered with paper.