Making a Kilt Pin

[sarge]

Thank you for these ideas. Most of you seem to grip the problem that I dont wantto poke a big hole in the kilt, but I prefer to not alter the badge. I like the magnet idea, but the bolt would still require alteration. I would say its about a 3/32 bolt about 1/4 inch long.

I guess I could have a 1/8 hole stitched in the kilt, and it would not be too obvious; but that's a hard thing to do

[xman]

I guess I could have a 1/8 hole stitched in the kilt, and it would not be too obvious; but that's a hard thing to do

Don't do that. At 1/4" deep I don't think you're going to have much luck there without alteration. You could try building up a few magnets on the back to get to 1/4" and then use another behind the over apron to see how that looks, but I'm sceptical myself. Perhaps using it for its intended purpose is your best route after all.

[Tim B]

I've been away for a while and just read your post, so I'm a bit late with advice. I am a police officer and I took one of my old cap badges (with the screw bolt) applied it to an inexpensive Stilwater sporran. I just poked a small hole in the flap of the sporran and screwed the badge on. I wear it with my USA Kilts Law Enforcement Tartan. This doesn't answer your question about converting it to a kilt pin, but you can still honour your family member and keep the piece in tact.

[Mickey]

I use my post backed USMC cover emblem as a kilt pin a lot. I slip a bamboo skewer between the fibers, and use that to spread open a hole. Carefully put the screw post in so as not to tear any strands, then I put two thicknesses of cardboard over the post, about an inch square each, then tighten the nut down. The cardboard spreads the load over the whole emblem so all the weight is not pulling on the post. It also keeps in flat. When I take it out, a gentle rub of the fabric between my fingers is all that's needed and you can never tell there was anything there.

[piperdbh]

Any way you go about it, you're going to have to do some figuring and a little alteration to either the badge or the kilt. Here's my throw-in:
If the badge is never again going to be worn as part of a uniform, and if the only use it will see is as a kilt pin, and you're probably the only one who will use it, then I think I'd go ahead and cut the post off of it and solder on a big safety pin. That might cut down on some of the weight, you'd have an item that you can use, and you won't have damaged the front side of the badge.
And take pictures!