The Hidden Purpose of That Tiny Hole in a Safety Pin Will Surprise You

At first glance, a safety pin is one of the most ordinary objects you can imagine. It lives quietly in sewing kits, first-aid boxes, backpacks, and desk drawers. You’ve probably used one to fix a popped button, secure a bandage, or rescue an outfit malfunction at the last second.

But have you ever really looked at a safety pin?

More specifically—have you noticed that tiny hole near the coiled end?

Most people assume it’s decorative, accidental, or simply a byproduct of manufacturing. Some never notice it at all. Yet that small, seemingly insignificant hole has a purpose—actually, several purposes—and they’re far more clever than you might expect.

In this article, we’ll uncover the hidden function of that tiny hole, explore the surprising engineering behind safety pins, dive into their history, and reveal how such a small detail has made a big difference for over a century.

Once you know the truth, you’ll never look at a safety pin the same way again.

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A Closer Look at the Everyday Safety Pin

Before we get to the secret of the hole, let’s break down what a safety pin actually is.

A standard safety pin has four main parts:

1. The Point – The sharp end that pierces fabric

2. The Shaft – The straight section that holds the material together

3. The Clasp – The protective cover that locks the point in place

4. The Coil (Spring) – The twisted metal loop at the top that creates tension

And right near that coil… there it is.

That tiny hole.

It’s usually no bigger than the tip of a pencil, sometimes even smaller. And yet it plays a role that’s both mechanical and historical.

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The Short Answer: Why the Hole Exists

The tiny hole in a safety pin primarily exists to:

Control tension, stabilize the spring, and improve the pin’s strength and reliability.

But that’s just the surface-level explanation.

To really appreciate its importance, we need to go deeper—into physics, design, and history.

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The Safety Pin Is a Spring-Based Tool

At its core, a safety pin is not just a fastener. It’s a spring mechanism.

The coiled end acts like a spring that stores energy when the pin is opened. When you close it, that stored energy presses the sharp point firmly into the clasp, keeping it from accidentally opening.

The tiny hole plays a key role in this system.

How the Hole Supports the Spring

• The hole allows precise placement of the wire during manufacturing

• It helps anchor the coil so tension is evenly distributed

• It prevents the metal from slipping or deforming under stress

Without this hole, the spring could twist unevenly, weaken over time, or lose its snapping force.

In other words, the hole helps make sure the safety pin stays… safe.

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A Manufacturing Secret Hidden in Plain Sight

One of the most important purposes of the hole has nothing to do with everyday use—and everything to do with how safety pins are made.

The Hole as a Manufacturing Anchor

During production:

• The metal wire is bent and coiled under high tension

• The hole acts as a guide point for machines

• It ensures uniform size, shape, and alignment

This allows manufacturers to mass-produce millions of identical safety pins with consistent strength and reliability.

Without the hole, production would be slower, more expensive, and less precise.

So while you may never use the hole directly, it’s essential to the pin’s existence in the first place.

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A Clever Solution to a 19th-Century Problem

To understand why such a small detail matters, we need to travel back in time.

The Invention of the Safety Pin

The modern safety pin was invented in 1849 by Walter Hunt, an American mechanic and inventor.

Hunt was actually trying to pay off a debt. He designed the safety pin in just a few hours, using a piece of brass wire. His goal was simple:

• Create a pin that wouldn’t easily poke the user

• Make it strong, reusable, and secure

The result was revolutionary.

Unlike straight pins, which were sharp and dangerous, Hunt’s design used a spring mechanism and a clasp to cover the point.

And yes—the coil and hole were part of that original concept.

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Why the Hole Makes the Pin Stronger

You might think removing metal (by adding a hole) would make the pin weaker. Surprisingly, the opposite is often true.

Stress Distribution Matters

When a safety pin is opened and closed repeatedly, stress builds up around the coil.

The hole:

• Helps distribute that stress evenly

• Reduces metal fatigue

• Prevents cracking or snapping

This is a common engineering trick—strategically placed holes can actually increase durability by preventing stress from concentrating in one spot.

That tiny hole helps the pin survive thousands of open-and-close cycles.

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The Hole’s Role in Preventing Slippage

Another hidden benefit of the hole is grip control.

The wire forming the pin passes through and around that area. The hole helps:

• Lock the wire into position

• Prevent rotation of the coil

• Keep the pin aligned during use

Without it, the pin might twist slightly each time it’s opened, eventually leading to misalignment or failure.

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Can You Use the Hole for Anything?

Over the years, creative users have found unexpected ways to use the hole.

While these aren’t the original purpose, they show how versatile the design is.

Common Creative Uses

• Threading string or thread through the hole to guide it through fabric

• Attaching charms or tags temporarily

• Hanging lightweight items

• Marking fabric or clothing sizes

In survival or emergency situations, people have even used safety pins with string as makeshift fasteners, hooks, or markers.

The hole makes these hacks possible.

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Why Not All Pins Have the Same Hole

If you compare different safety pins, you might notice:

• Some holes are round

• Some are oval

• Some are barely visible

This depends on:

• Manufacturer

• Material (steel, brass, stainless steel)

• Intended use (clothing, medical, industrial)

Heavy-duty safety pins often have reinforced coils and slightly larger holes to handle greater tension.

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Medical and Industrial Safety Pins

Safety pins aren’t just for clothes.

They’re used in:

• Hospitals

• Emergency kits

• Factories

• Construction sites

In these settings, reliability is critical.

The tiny hole ensures:

• Consistent spring force

• Predictable performance

• Reduced risk of accidental opening

In medical contexts especially, a failed pin could cause serious problems—so that small hole becomes a big deal.

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The Psychology of Overlooked Design

One of the most fascinating things about the safety pin hole is how often it’s ignored.

This speaks to a larger truth about design:

The best designs often go unnoticed because they work perfectly.

When something functions smoothly, we rarely stop to question why.

The safety pin hole is a reminder that:

• Everyday objects are often the result of deep thought

• Small details can have huge impact

• Good engineering hides in plain sight

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Other Everyday Objects With Hidden Purposes

Once you start noticing details like this, you’ll see them everywhere.

Examples include:

• The hole in pen caps (airflow safety)

• The arrow next to the gas pump icon in cars

• The ridges on coins

• The notch in scissors

Like the safety pin hole, these features solve specific problems most users never think about.

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Why This Tiny Hole Still Matters Today

Despite modern technology, the safety pin has barely changed in over 170 years.

Why?

Because the design works.

The tiny hole is part of a system that is:

• Cheap

• Durable

• Easy to use

• Mass-producible

In an age of disposable products, the safety pin remains a model of efficient, sustainable design.

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What Would Happen If the Hole Didn’t Exist?

If you removed the hole entirely:

• Manufacturing would be harder

• Spring tension would be less reliable

• Pins would wear out faster

• Failure rates would increase

That tiny hole is the difference between a pin that lasts years and one that bends or breaks quickly.

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A Lesson From a Tiny Hole

The next time you pick up a safety pin, take a moment to look at it closely.

That tiny hole isn’t random.

It represents:

• Thoughtful engineering

• Historical ingenuity

• The power of small details

It’s proof that even the simplest objects around us have stories, secrets, and smart solutions hidden inside them.

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Final Thoughts

The safety pin is a humble object, often overlooked and underestimated. Yet within its simple form lies a perfect balance of function, safety, and design.

And that tiny hole?

It’s not just a hole.

It’s a solution—quietly doing its job for generations.

So the next time someone asks why it’s there, you’ll know:

Because even the smallest details can make all the difference.