How To Keep Pins From Falling Off (6 Easy Ways)

Enamel pins are a fun way to show off your interests, hobbies, and personality. Unfortunately, pins that are not secured properly can easily become undone and fall off. If you’ve ever lost a pin, you’ll know how frustrating that is.

If your pins keep falling off, their pin backs might be too weak to secure them into place. To stop losing more lapel pins, I’ve gathered the best hacks, products, and solutions on how to keep pins from falling off.

Without further ado, here’s how to stop pins from falling off!

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How To Keep Pins From Falling Off

Our Top Picks

Best Overall: Locking Pin Backs
Easiest To Use: Butterfly Clutch Pin Backs
Best For Comfort: Rubber Pin Backs
Best For DIY Pins: Safety Pin Clasps
Best Permanent Solution: Gorilla Super Glue Gel
Best Temporary Solution: Gorilla Mini Hot Glue Gun Kit

1. Locking Pin Back

Amazon

Looking for ideas on how to keep pins from falling off? Try using locking pin backs! These special pin backings are specifically designed to stop pins from falling off. They have a locking mechanism that helps keep pins in place.

To “lock” enamel pins on your bag or backpack, I highly recommend these metal locking pin backs from Amazon. This product fits most lapel pins, has a smooth back, and is made of quality nickel-plated copper. It has excellent grip to keep your pins in securely place until you are ready to remove them.

Note

  • Locking pin backs are a great anti-theft solution. However, they are notoriously difficult to remove. If you want something easier to use, I recommend using a butterfly clutch pin back or rubber pin back instead.

Best Overall: Locking Pin Backs

Amazon

Features

  • This listing is for a 30 pack of silver locking pin backs. It comes with a small clear storage case. See link for other quantity and color options.
  • Each locking pin back is approximately 1 centimeter in diameter and 0.7 centimeter in height. The pin backs are small, sturdy, made of quality nickel-plated copper, and have a smooth back.
  • This product fits most enamel pins. It has excellent grip to keep your pins securely in place until you are ready to remove them. To install, simply push the pin firmly into the pin post.

2. Butterfly Clutch Pin Back

Amazon

If your pins keep falling off, their backings might be too weak to secure them into place. To stop losing more enamel pins, I recommend replacing old pin backs with stronger ones, like these butterfly clutch pin backs from Amazon.

Butterfly clutch pin backs are the most common backings for lapel pins. These pin backs look like butterflies and easily open up when the “wings” are squeezed. They are strong and durable enough to ensure that you won’t lose your pins again!

Note that the “wings” can feel hard under clothing. If you want something more comfortable on your skin, I recommend using a rubber pin back instead. Otherwise, this is a simple solution on how to stop pins from falling off your backpack or bag!

Easiest To Use: Butterfly Clutch Pin Backs

Amazon

Features

  • This listing is for 50 pack of butterfly clutch pin backs. These clutches are made of nickel plated brass and lock pins firmly in place. They come in a convenient metal storage tin.
  • Each butterfly clutch pin back is approximately 10 millimeter in diameter. The small design makes them unnoticeable once they are secured onto your lapel pins.
  • This product fits most standard pins and is an excellent replacement for lost pin backs. The butterfly clutch is strong and durable enough to ensure that you won’t lose your pins again!

3. Rubber Pin Back

Amazon

Looking for ideas on how to keep pins from falling off your clothes? Rubber pin backs are a great way to secure lapel pins firmly into place. Unlike hard metal pin backs, the rubber material makes these pin backings comfortable to wear under clothing.

To stop losing enamel pins, I highly recommend replacing your pin backings with these rubber pin backs from Amazon. These pin backs are durable, made of PVC rubber, and come in a pack of 100! This product is gentle on skin and ideal for pins worn on clothing!

Best For Comfort: Rubber Pin Backs

Amazon

Features

  • This listing is for a 100 pack of rubber pin backs. These durable pin backings are made of PVC rubber and designed to last. Unlike hard metal pin backs, the soft material makes them comfortable to wear under clothing.
  • This product locks enamel pins firmly into place to stop pins from falling off. Each pin back is 11 millimeter in diameter and 7 millimeter in height. The small design makes them unnoticeable once they are secured onto your pins.
  • These rubber pin backs are an excellent replacement for lost backings. They are compatible with most pins 1 to 1.2 millimeters thick. Note that the pin backs will not fasten properly if the enamel pin is too slim.

4. Safety Pin Clasp

Amazon

Safety pin clasps are a secure way to attach lapel pins to clothes, bags, backpacks, and accessories. Although easy to open and close, they are difficult get undone by accident. It is no surprise that safety pins are a popular method to temporary secure loose or broken pieces of clothing.

If you are creating your own pins at home, I highly recommend using these safety pin clasps from Amazon as the backing. Unlike standard pin backs, these clasps stay securely in place and will not easily fall off.

For best results, select an appropriate length safety pin clasp based on the size of your pin. To attach them to the back of your enamel pin, simply apply a permanent glue like super glue. If you are DIY-ing your own pins, this is a great solution on how to stop pins from falling off at the get-go!

Best For DIY Pins: Safety Pin Clasps

Amazon

Features

  • This listing is for a 30 pack of 15 millimeter silver safety pin clasps. See link for other color and size options. For best results, select an appropriate length based on the size of your pin.
  • This safety pin backing has one hole, and is easy to open and close. To adhere it securely onto the back of an enamel pin, use a permanent glue like super glue.
  • Unlike standard pin backs, safety pin clasps stay securely in place and will not easily fall off. It’s a great solution to stop pins from falling off clothes, bags, backpacks, and accessories!

5. Super Glue

Looking for a permanent solution on how to keep pins from falling off? Try using super glue! If you don’t plan to remove your pins, super glue is an effective way to prevent theft and keep pins from falling off your backpack or bag.

To attach pins permanently, simply apply a dot of super glue onto the pin back before securing the enamel pin. For pins, I recommend using a strong adhesive like Gorilla Super Glue Gel. This product has an easy-to-use, clear formula that works great on lapel pins and pin backs!

The Gorilla Super Glue Gel dries fast in only 10 to 45 seconds! For best results, I recommend waiting 24 hours for a full cure before wearing your pins outside. If you want a strong, but temporary solution, try using a hot glue gun instead.

Best Permanent Solution: Gorilla Super Glue Gel

Amazon

Features

  • This listing is for one 20 gram bottle of Gorilla Super Glue Gel. This easy-to-use, clear formula works great on multiple surfaces, including enamel pins and pin backs!
  • Gorilla Super Glue Gel is designed for long-lasting repairs in an instant. The glue dries fast in 10 to 45 seconds! For best results, wait 24 hours for a full cure.
  • This super glue is designed for multiple uses. The bottle has an anti-clog cap with a metal pin inside which ensures an airtight seal for maximum reusability.

6. Hot Glue Gun

A hot glue gun is a device that melts hot glue sticks to dispense a clear, hot adhesive. Once dried, the hot glue hardens to bond two surfaces securely together. Compared to super glue, hot glue is much easier to remove if needed.

This fast drying adhesive can be used to secure pin backs onto lapel pins to prevent pins from falling off. To use, simply apply a dot of hot glue onto the pin back before securing the enamel pin. This is a great temporary solution on how to stop pins from falling off your bags, backpacks, and accessories!

If you don’t already have a hot glue gun at home, I recommend using Gorilla’s Mini Hot Glue Gun Kit (which comes with one dual temp mini hot glue gun and 30 hot glue sticks). The glue gun is light weight and easy-to-use, and has a comfort grip and a built-in stand. The glue sticks are also weather-resistant, incredibly durable, and ideal for bonding all types of pins.

Best Temporary Solution: Gorilla Mini Hot Glue Gun Kit

Amazon

Features

  • This listing is for one Gorilla Mini Hot Glue Gun Kit. It comes with one dual temp mini hot glue gun and 30 hot glue sticks. See link for other size and quantity options.
  • The Gorilla Mini Glue Gun is an ideal tool for crafts and repairs. It is light weight and easy-to-use, and has a comfort grip and a built-in stand. The easy squeeze trigger and long insulated nozzle allow a precise application for every project.
  • The Gorilla Hot Glue Sticks have a long term hold even on hard to bond surfaces. The clear adhesive works with both high and low temperature glue guns, and is weather-resistant and incredibly durable.

How To Keep Pins From Falling Off: Top Picks

In this post, I’ve gathered the best solutions on how to keep pins from falling off. Here are all the recommended products in one convenient list:

Our Top Picks

Best Overall: Locking Pin Backs
Easiest To Use: Butterfly Clutch Pin Backs
Best For Comfort: Rubber Pin Backs
Best For DIY Pins: Safety Pin Clasps
Best Permanent Solution: Gorilla Super Glue Gel
Best Temporary Solution: Gorilla Mini Hot Glue Gun Kit

Conclusion

Enamel pins are a fun way to show off your interests, hobbies, and personality. They are also a great way to decorate your clothes, bags, backpacks, and accessories. Unfortunately, pins that are not secured properly can easily become undone and fall off.

In this post, I’ve gathered several methods on how to keep pins from falling off. If your pins keep falling off, their pin backs might be too weak to secure them into place. To stop losing more lapel pins, I recommend replacing your pin backs for stronger ones or applying super glue or hot glue to secure them into place.

The best solution is to replace old backings with locking pin backs. These small devices are specifically designed to stop pins from falling off. They have a locking mechanism that helps keep pins in place.

Locking pins backs are a great anti-theft solution for pins, but can be extremely difficult to remove once attached. If you aren’t worried about theft, replacing old backings with stronger butterfly clutch pin backs is a simple way to ensure that you won’t lose your pins again!

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