Hook a Book

Step 3 Make the pin

Making a pin from a length of .1" diameter aluminum wire only requires you to insert the length of wire in the hole so that the wire is flush with one side or the other and to cut the wire flush on the other side.

You can use a 12 AWG copper wire if you seal it with varnish. Over time copper begins to turn green, leaving you with a nasty stain. I have not tried a match stick or toothpick as a pin for a book this heavy - but it could very well be all that is needed for the pin.

If a larger hole is acceptable, say large enough to use a standard binding post, then you can use a steel binding post instead of aluminum or plastic so that sheet magnets can be used to hold the covers closed. Otherwise you'll have to wrap the book with a strand of clear monofilliment to keep the covers from flapping in the wind.

If you have room for a really large hole consider using these kinds of pins:

A round bar magnet can also be used as the pin and has the advantage of allowing sheet steel to be glued to the covers to hold the covers in and preventing the pin from sliding out.

Aluminum and plastic binding post already used in the book binding world to hold pages together although rather expensive considering other things you might use.