To start out with I just used an old wooden pin which had been in the kitchen for years. I realised pretty quickly it was close to useless and invested in a heavy duty, might break your toes if it fell on them, silicone covered pin. I found smaller silicone pins in Home Bargains for a fraction of the price I’d seen them selling for online and of equal quality. There’s absolutely no way a cake decorator could live without them. xx