Steel Planting Pins How-To

I prefer to use steel planting pins in the bases of the trees. Unfortunately it's not feasible to use for every tree kit or package of trunks, because they are cut individually.  However, I do make them and use them for handmade 11 and 13 inch trees. As I've wrestled with trying to find the best way to do this, I just thought I'd share what I've learned so far. A few photos here:

Using brads for a nail gun, I remove the plastic binder by soaking in acetone in a jar for a day.

Individual brads have a small head on them.

To start, I cut at an angle with linesman's pliers to make a sharp point.

This makes a sharp point which can be pushed into the hole in the trunk base.

I dip the sharp end in yellow glue to help keep it in the hole.

I try to get as much yellow glue in the hole as possible before pushing it in securely with the pliers. I set the pliers so it can only move a short distance. That way if anything happens, the pliers will hopefully stop at the trunk base. This does take some force to accomplish.

These are ready. For safety, I keep the blunt end until I'm ready to make a tree.

When ready to be used, I cut the exposed end off the same way. This will slide easily into EPS or any semi-soft surface.

Ready and waiting for foliage!