How to Use a Steel Pick Machine for Wreath Making
A week doesn’t go by that I don’t receive a question about my Steelpix machine! A floral pick machine can be a huge help to you in your wreath making business or hobby. This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience. Click here to read my full disclosure policy.
How to Use a Steel Pick Machine for Wreath Making
Today I’m taking a few minutes to walk you through using a Steelpix Machine. First, let’s talk about what this machine is. The Steelpix or floral pick / stemming machine attaches steelpix to the ends of flower stems. Why would you want to do that? Simple – it allows you to insert your floral stem easier into your project and limits the amount of movement of the stem once it is in your arrangement.
Supplies
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Steelpix Steel Floral Picks 21/8 (my favorite size)
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How to Use a Steelpix machine:
- Start by loading the steel floral picks into your machine by first removing the weight, then insert the picks in the proper direction and add the weight back.
- Each block of picks is covered in plastic. Once the picks are loaded, remove the plastic film. Note: I like to use an X-acto knife or screwdriver to get under the plastic.
- Once the steel picks are loaded, plastic is removed and the weight is on, your machine is ready to go.
- To add a steel pick to your flower stem, lift the handle to insert a steel pick where the “jaws” are.
- Now lay the stem in the middle groove (between the jaws) and push the handle down. This crimps the steel pick onto the floral stem.
- You are all set! I like to add a bit of hot glue to the stem to ensure a good snug fit into my arrangement.
- The only maintenance required is oiling the machine every couple of weeks or so. This is simple to do and instructions can be found from the manufacturer of your machine.
How to Use a Steel Pick Machine for Wreath Making Video…
I know not everyone will want to make the investment in the Steelpix machine. If you are looking for a less expensive alternative, you can simply add wooden picks to your floral stems. Check out my tutorial, “How to Use Wood Floral Picks in Wreaths” for more information.
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If you enjoy watching me and/or learning to make wreaths of various styles, join me in my Wreath Making of the Month Club.
Happy Wreathing,
Julie
If you enjoyed this post, you might also like:
Frosty Winter Wreath Tutorial
DIY Pottery Barn Inspired Halloween Wreath Tutorial
You did a great job in showing how to use this. Your a sweet lady. Thank you
Thank you for taking you time to explain what the machine does! I googled it and your info was the only one that explained what we would do with it! Again thank you!
Bunny Aldridge
I am so glad I found your YouTube tutorials last evening, thoroughly enjoyed you! Such an inspiration!! I will look you up on Facebook!!
where do I add the oil
In the gears on the bottom.
Steel pick machines are very expensive for the non professional crafter. The ones I saw online were $200+. What can we Crafters with limited funds use instead?
Use wooden floral picks. Here are instructions for that https://southerncharmwreaths.com/how-to-use-wood-floral-picks-on-wreaths/
You can use a 40 percent discount coupon at Hobby Lobby. Mine was only 120. Worth it for convenience. I think michaels has them too and they might honor a hobby lobby coupon,
Julie thank you so much for the instructions. it was very helpful.
I have a B & W pick machine….it has been well taken care of and has been moved to my new home. I can not get it to send out the picks. I have oiled it and adjusted the screws in the front. It looks like the steel picks machine and I probably shouldn’t have adjusted the screws as they were factory set….but it does give you that option if necessary.
Can you please help me with this….I need to be able to use it …Thanks Nicky
Turn it over and see who the maker is. Then contact that company for more help.
how to to fix the steelpic machine
You’ll need to contact the manufacturer to fix it.
Where do you buy the pix to fit the machine? Will any steel pixs work? I just bought the machine but I didn’t get the pix. Ole doopy me.
I purchase them on Amazon.
Thank you for the information on the stemming machine. We found the stems in my parent’s crafting supplies after both had passed away and we had no idea what they were for. It was a couple days later and we found the machine. Google to the rescue on exactly what it was for. Found your video and it all makes sense now. Even where to oil the machine thanks to your video. I don’t know how old the machine is but it looks brand new (they stopped crafts almost 20 years ago) and there were a lot of stems (case of six boxes with 200 in the box) Now I just have to learn how to make wreaths. Again – excellent video and thanks for sharing.
So glad this was useful and I inspired you!
I have just acquired a pick machine from a florist here in my hometown. It’s an older Model w/o the heavy weight, is it required before it work properly. It Model # is 35 C. I am watching your video as I am sending this message to you. Any help on getting this machine to work will be greatly appreciated.
Yes the weight is needed to push the stems down. Maybe you can buy just that part somewhere.
I got my pic machine off e-bay for $90 free shipping, and 2000 picks. It was used but in new condition. I love it. Thank you for the tip. Another use for it: use a discarded flower stem about 3 inches long. Put a pic on both ends. Hot glue one end and insert it into a pumpkin or other decor. The pics make it so easy to place in a wreath.
I ordered supply from deco mesh and you card was in there said to scan it to get free patterns. How do I use the scan code. And has password free gift. thanknyou.
Hey Janet – You can access the free tutorials by scanning the QR with the camera on your smartphone. You will need to input the password on the page it should direct you to after scanning. If you have any additional questions, please contact us at [email protected]
Replay. ..why do you snip off the end of the flower stem before putting it in the stem machine.
Also I just started making wreaths and they are not selling. Do you have a class on how to make wreaths that will sell?
To shorten the stem so it’s not too long. Yes we have our wreath making of the month club.
Yes, I’ve found that when using greenery, if you try to use a whole twig or pick, some of the greenery can’t be turned and shows the back side. So I snipped the leaves off. They are about 3 to 4 inches so they are large enough to use individually, but the stems are weak. If you try to hot glue them they tend to weaken and not go into the wreath. I’ve used the wooden over the counter pics, which will work but it’s not fast and efficient.
Would you recommend getting a used one like on Ebay? They tend to run about $70 – to a $100.
Thanks for the tutorial.
Where do you order your steel pix from? I followed your link to Amazon but the item is no longer Available.
Thanks!
Amazon. You can search for them and I’m sure there are other suppliers
Thanks for the quick reply!. I did that but a lot some of them have bad reviews, with pics – they arrive loose in a box. I would want them to come “banded” or in cartridges (not sure what the term is), right?
You can purchase from a wholesale florist shop too, like Sims Pottery or try Hobby Lobby since they sell the machine.
My pick machine has stopped letting the picks come out. How can I fix my machine?
make sure to oil it regularly
I need the weights for the pic machine. Where can I purchase these?