How To Get A Locking Pin Back Off

Two hands work better than one hand to remove a locking pin back, but in many cases that is not always possible.  The good news is once you know how to remove or unlock it, it is typically very easy to do with a single hand.

To ensure we address your specific issue we will discuss all custom pin back attachments and clutches as there are several different types each with its own uniqueness.

Butterfly or Military Clutch

This type of pin back clutch is the most common and the most widely used pin back attachment.  The positive to this clutch is it is free and very simple to use.  The negative to this clutch is it can fall off if not securely attached, the material between the pin and the clutch is thick, or it is bumped or knocked regularly while attached.  To remove the butterfly clutch, use your thumb and index finger to pinch the two prongs and pull.  The clutch should remove easily.

Rubber Clutch

This type of pin back clutch is the second most common pin back attachment used.  The positive to this clutch is it is free and very simple to use.  The negative to this clutch is it can fall off if put on and off frequently thus losing its friction, the material between the pin and the clutch is thick, or it is bumped or knocked regularly while attached.  The butterfly and rubber clutch hold equally well, some prefer the rubber clutch for a more comfort fit.  To remove the rubber clutch, use your thumb and index finger then pull.  The clutch should remove easily as it is held on by friction.

Deluxe Clutch (Locking Pin Back)

This type of pin back clutch is the next step up from the two previously described clutches.  The positive to this clutch is it locks and is very secure.  It costs a little extra, but may well be worth the price to protect from losing the custom pin.  The negative to this clutch is it can be difficult to remove if you are unfamiliar with how it works.  To remove the deluxe clutch, use your thumb and index finger and hold the flat circular top of the clutch, then with the tip of your thumb and index finger try to push the center part of the clutch away from the top.  This will release the locking mechanism inside and allow the clutch to be pulled off easily.  While this may sound a little confusing, it is often good to use two hands to move the two sections.  Once you understand how it moves or shifts it will be easy to manipulate with one hand.

Locking Pin Back

This type of pin back is completely different than anything previously described and is not as common for most pins.  Often when people talk about a locking pin back, they are referring to the deluxe clutch. To ensure we cover all basis we are addressing this type as well.  The positive to this type of clutch is it locks and is very secure.  It costs even more than the deluxe clutch but it is a sure way to secure a pin to never have it fall off.  The negative is it takes a little more effort to attach and it definitely requires two hands.  In addition, it requires a small allen wrench.  This type of pin back is a small cylinder shape like a barrel with a hole through the center.  There is also a screw inset in a hole on the side that is screwed in or out by using the small allen wrench.  The way it works is you put the nail from the pin through the hole, then tighten the screw with the allen wrench putting pressure on the nail thus securing it.

We hope this answered the question: “How do you get a locking pin back off?”  In addition, we hope it provided other valuable information related to custom lapel pin attachments.