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Sunday, January 11, 2015

Classic American Clothespins

There is nothing like an inferior clothespins
to ruffle my feathers.
Our canine companion thinks it's just a fun game.
I go to hang laundry,
get said inferior clothespin in proper pincer grip,
go to pinch clothes to line,
SNAP!
it breaks and flies,
Rip (short for seam-ripper) goes into attack mode.
Those flying objects are no match for his sharp teeth.
He'll show'em.
He's going to be so disappointed when I use clothespins that actually work.
No more attack the flying clothespin game.

One of my Christmas blessings this year
was a  bag of Classic American Clothespins
from Herrick Kimball.
Source here
I was so excited.
I actually ordered them for myself
since there was a waiting list to get them.
They came ready to be assembled.  The sand paper and emery board were included incase of any rough spots (as well as the springs-not pictured.)
I want them to last for the rest of my life so I first gave them a
generous dose of linseed oil.
Since I was at it, I decided to go ahead and oil my old ones too.
I then mixed up a batch of wood wax.  I melted the beeswax in a tin can
then mixed it all together in a little old chipped teacup I had.
I like the wide-mouth of the teacup.
It makes using a rag/cloth easier.
It's not set-up in this picture.
I had to stir it up several times.
The recipe that Herrick recommends is the same one that I had,
so that was reassuring.
I've used it on furniture, and really like the results. 
(Recipe included at end of post)
Here is the common clothespin available in most laundry sections of the store.
One of the old 'good' ones that my mom gave me when I was whining
about crummy clothes pins.
And on the right one of my new American Classic Clothespins.
And I just couldn't resist - the real ends of the spectrum:
a plastic clothespin vs. AC clothespin.

We have snow on the ground right now
so I haven't had the opportunity to use them yet,
but I can hardly wait.
As I was putting them together,
I told Mr. LB, "Let me see your finger." :)
The springs are nice and strong.
It will be so nice to be able to hang jeans and not break the clothespins.

Wood Wax Recipe
2 Tablespoons linseed oil
2 Tablespoons turpentine
1 ounce beeswax (melted)

Mix together and rub on wood products.
Please be sure to follow any safety precautions on ingredient labels.

Until next time,
Nimble Fingers and Even Stitches

16 comments:

  1. Too costly for my blood, though I know he has to get it to make a profit.

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    Replies
    1. They were a bit pricey, but I am in hopes that they last me forever.

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  2. Wow, they are beauties! I have a cemetery of clothespins on the lawn... I am going to have to bite the bullet one day and order some. It seems I am always needing to add to my supplies. Thanks for sharing this product :)

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    Replies
    1. So far based on my test of pinching fingers, pant legs and ear lobes - they should be great.

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  3. The clothespins you get at discount places are horrible! They constantly break. I'm not up to making my own but would look for better ones.

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    1. This comment has been removed by the author.

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    2. Another reader found some at a yard/garage sale for a dollar:)

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  4. I am like JES and have quite a few broken clothespins "decorating" my lawn. A couple months ago I finally bought some and am all ready for the Spring and Summer :) Thanks for sharing and enjoy your day. Hugs!

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    Replies
    1. Doesn't it just make you want to do laundry? :)

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  5. God has provided some of the old style clothespins for me at garage sales.... actually several times. Sometimes people sell them for high prices, but other times I have found a clothespin bag (that hangs on the clothesline) FULL of old clothespins... for $1.00. A treasure. :) I keep watching at garage sales and estate sales. Those new pins you bought though, look wonderful. :)

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    Replies
    1. Wow! I don't think I've ever seen any or if I have I was too brain dead at the time to notice them, but great idea. I try to keep a list of things to look for at yard sales that I won't just go out and buy so will have to add that to the list. Thank you

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  6. I'm with you for needing some "good" clothes pins. The ones that are easily accessible nowadays seem to pop apart as soon as you pinch them.

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  7. I live in Australia and I buy these wooden clothes pegs cheaply. We can also buy plastic (the more expensive ones are good) and I tend to use a combination depending on what I am hanging. They are cheap enough to just keep replacing if they break of get lost in the garden.

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  8. There is no replacement for a GOOD clothespin! I have memories of helping my mother pin clothes on the line. well, I handed her the pin, I was just a little girl 3 or 4 years of age, and I would grab a lightweight piece of clothing, the jeans were too heavy to pick up for me!, and hand it to her, and then hand her a clothes pin. I am sure it would have been faster if she had done it herself, but she let me "help" her. The old pins were so much better than what they have now. i bought some 30 years ago, and they have served me well! I can't bring myself to buy the newer poorer kind. So thanks for the link to where you purchased these! They look wonderful and will last much longer with your wax and oil mix on them!
    hugs,
    Betsy

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  9. The Classic American Clothespins are indeed a treasure. The were such good quality and lasts for years. When and if you can find clothespins now they surely are made to look close to the old ones, but just aren't the same Thank you for sharing with the Clever Chicks Blog Hop! I hope you’ll join us again next week!

    Cheers,
    Kathy Shea Mormino
    The Chicken Chick
    http://www.The-Chicken-Chick.com

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