Button pins are probably the easiest lapel pin anyone can make. These buttons vary in size, and are mostly circular in shape; they can go from .75 of an inch, to large 3 and 4 inch buttons. Unlike other types of lapel pins, such as Cloisonné or Die-Struck, these button pins do not require bulky machinery and an intricate step-by-step process to produce. Often, people actually design and make their own buttons, it's as simple as purchasing supplies from a source, which includes the "button making machine", "the pin-back button part", the "plate", and the "Mylar film" or plastic used as a protective cover for the button design.
Making Your Own Button Pins
The first step in making your own button pin is purchasing the necessary raw materials you need, they are:
a. Button Machine
b. Circular Button Plate
c. Pin-Back Buttons (these are the parts which house the pins)
d. Mylar Film
e. Design
Where To Get:
. Button Machine
Button machines can be purchased from many online retailers, or specialty stores. Many of these sellers have their own proven designs (such as Dr. Don's Button Machines), which are backed by many years of reliability and ease of use. These machines come in different sizes, depending on the size of the button you're making. At an average, they are the same size as a small to medium hand-held clothes iron.
. Circular Button Plate
The button plates are the actual surface in which the designs are pressed on; they are flat, circularly cut pieces of metal, usually copper or aluminum. These plates are readily available for purchase at button making shops, or you can cut your own by using a "circle cutter"; which is also sold by the same specialty retailers which sell other button making parts.
. Pin-Back Buttons
These button parts are usually recognized by the pin attached to the plate; these are the parts which go directly in contact with your clothing. Like other button plates, they come in different sizes and fitted with clothing pins according to your specific choice.
. Mylar Film
Mylar is an extraordinarily strong polyester film that resulted from the development of Dacron in the early 1950s. During the 1960 cellophane gave room for the more efficient and economical Mylar, which delivers superior strength, heat resistance, and excellent insulating properties. Mylar's unique qualities made new markets in the manufacturers of magnetic video and audio tape, capacitor dielectrics, packaging and batteries. By around the 1970s, Mylar had become Dupont's best-selling multi-functional film, despite lingering competition.
Mylar film is used as a protective layer on top of the button design. Aside from the protective property, the plastic coating provides a glossy effect on the button face, which gives a smooth look.
. Design
This is probably the most tedious but most enjoyable portion of making your own button pin. If you have a computer, and the necessary software; you can make virtually any kind of design for your button face. The design pattern have almost no restrictions, any color is applicable, and the size is only limited to how big the button is. There is no special paper required in the printing, although some professionally made custom buttons use photo paper to heighten the effect, and produce a more detailed picture; but using such would also up the cost.
Assembling The Button Pin
Now that you have the necessary parts for your button pin, assembling is the next step, it can be deemed as the easiest.and to some, the most fun experience in the process. Summarily, the "Button Machine" is used all throughout, place the button plate, design pattern, and the Mylar film (the plate being at the bottom, and Mylar on top) inside the designated circular crevice of the machine (you'll know which), press it, and you'll have your button face in a snap. To attach the pin-back, take your assembled button face and place the pin-back at the bottom of the machine crevice, with the button face at the top, press them all together using the machine.and you've got a nice custom made button pin right at your fingertips, ready to make some more?
