Alternative to pin mod? Plastic instead of metal?

[JLarsen]

So I'm in the process of reviving my v cube after my futile attempt to tighten the core, and I've replaced the core/rivets with c4y core/screws, and all that's left is the pins. But after looking at my old core/springs, which were literally so caked on with a mixture of cube dust and silicone that I had to pry them off with pliers, I just have to think there's a better way. I'm trying to think of something else I could glue into the screws that wouldn't scrape the hell out of the cubies. Specifically something more like the Shengshou 6x6s mechanism? You got any ideas? Preferably a common object like a paper clip/pin that I could easily cut up and use without trimming, sanding, molding etc. Something simple?

I'll post if I come up with something.

Edit: Not sure if I made a horrible oversight here or not, but I have an adjustable core here, with screws in it. It was someone on the forum that suggested I just do that, and then just pin mod. So here's my question. How do the pins work? Did the rivet rotate with the center pieces? Or did it remain fixed, hence the breaking in period? Wont gluing pins into a screw cause the cube to tighten as I turn it? I was never crystal clear on how the pins really worked. Any help is seriously appreciated. I miss 6x6.

Update: just watched pi's explanation video and the center pieces do indeed move over the screw, but I'm still worried about the screw possibly rotating with it. Has anyone attempted this before?