Pinning Models

So I scored some cheap lizardmen metals of ebay and got a few free hours today and went to town assembling pretty much all the metal models I have that I've been neglecting (other than that dwarf bolter thrower which requires it's own day)

I have a new pinning media/method that I like a lot.

I know brass rod is supposed to be the best, but I can never get myself to spring for it. I have been using paperclip, but that kinda sucks, they are weak and a little too small. My new material - nails. I have a whole bunch that perfectly match my 1/16" bit and they are super cheap and very strong. Only downside is if you want to bend them it takes a lot more work, but these joints are not breaking now. Anyone else try this before?

Yup, what I use now is sewing needles. You can get a pack of 100 for cheap.

Aren't sewing needles a little thin though?

Or are there bigger sewing needles than I am thinking of. Are we talking knitting needles?

They have many sized needles miniscule to holy crap! Take a quick browse at walmart sometime. In the very few times I have actually pinned, I used nails and coat hangers... both work well as long as you get something strong eough to cut the nail with out hurting the tool.

YEs they are thin, and also strong as heck. Even when I was pinning Rackham models sewing needles did the job.