Already made prints (papers)? Then you can continue with the instructions below:
With these devices you can make all kinds of buttons in 2 presses.
To start, move the red lever upwards. This allows the base with the bottom 2 dies (1,2)
turn. Attention: With a newly greased appliance, this base may be somewhat stuck to the base plate.
Then take hold of the mould and pull it upwards very steadily. The base will then release from the base plate a little later.
* STEP 1: Construction of the front (mould 1)
This is where you put all the parts of the front:
- Spherical can front (with the sharp side down, convex side up)
- Cut paper (with text or image horizontally in front of you)
- Plastic film (Mylar)
Turn die 1 under the pusher (hanging die) and press the red lever all the way down
in one smooth, even movement. Then move the red lever back up. The parts
remain in the upper printer. Mould 2 is now facing you.
(The button front (and structure) is always the same for pin, magnet, key ring, mirror, opener, flatback, etc.)
* STEP 2: Construction of rear side (mould 2)
This is where all the parts for the rear end (see further: construction variants) are placed.
When mould 2 is filled, turn it back under the pusher. Press the lever all the way down again with a gentle, even movement. This way you press all parts together. Pull the lever up again and your button is ready!
Towork faster leave the finished button in mould 2 for a while.
After all, mould 1 is facing you. So immediately put the parts back in, turn and press (= step 1).
Then take out the finished button and immediately finish step 2.
Construction of variants (step 2)
Pins, magnets, key rings, openers, mirrors, flatbacks, ...
Of all these back sides, always place the visible side facing down in the mould.
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Pin: Place the pin with the pricking side facing down. To get the picture straight on the pin, lay the pin horizontally with the rectangle to the right and the circle to the left. This way, the button will open in the right direction afterwards.
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Pin 25mm (1 inch): Place the ring with the flat side down and the raised sharp edge up. Press everything together, then insert the pin. Everyone has their own technique for inserting the pins. The most important thing is not to bend the pin. The most important thing is not to bend the pin, otherwise the tension will be released and it will sit loose behind the ring. Our way is to take the pin so that the semi-arc is to the right and closed at the bottom. The side that is furthest away from you is first inserted under the ring in the button. Then place your thumb on the button on the right so that the right arch of the pin cannot come outside the ring of the button after the next step. With your other thumb, gently push the bottom corner of the button to just behind the ring. The pin will then pop into place perfectly.
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Magnet: Lay the magnet back with the flat side facing down. The raised edges face upwards.
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Magnet (self-adhesive) (75mm): Place the flat back towards the bottom, the raised edge upwards. Press the whole thing together. Then attach the self-adhesive magnet centrally. It is also possible to pre-paste these self-adhesive backsides and then to incorporate the whole into the device.
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Key rings 32 / 38mm: Place the ring (or tin plate with recess) with the raised edge upwards. The flatter side facing down. Now press all these parts together. Then insert the black plastic element (versa-back) into the back. Turn it a little so that all the barbs are caught behind the edges. Finally, click the key ring part onto the black eye. Done!
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Key rings 44 / 56mm: Place the flat back side down, raised edge up. Press the whole thing together. Then insert the 'snake chain' with barb in the groove provided on the back.
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Opener: You put the opener with the rounded side (where it says 'bottle opener') facing down. After pressing the parts together, you can attach the split ring through the two holes provided.
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Magnetic opener: You put the magnetic opener with the flat side and the magnet facing down into the mould.
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Mirror: Place the ring with the raised, sharp edge upwards in the mould. In this ring you put the mirror with the mirrored side down. Finally, place the cardboard sheet centrally on the mirror. This ensures that the mirrors are firmly seated and do not rattle.
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Flatback: First place the insert (flat metal plate with groove on side) in mould 2. The flat side without groove is facing downwards. Then lay the black plastic flatback on top. Press it all together. The insert remains in the mould. Finally you can place and press this button again in mould 1 for an extra flat closed result.
Tips:
Paper: use quality printer paper from 90 to 120g. Heavier paper is possible but cutting and making buttons will also be heavier, the edges of the buttons will also be a bit rougher because more material is being compressed at the same place.
* Watch out for double parts. Cans and rings in particular creep into each other. Drop them on the table and they will often jump off.
Foil: Try to leave the foil in the packaging as much as possible. Leave what you use in a nice pile as much as possible. In this way, the foil attracts as little dirt and dust as possible.
Download this button machine manual in pdf format here. (Dutch)
Download this button machine manual in pdf format here. (English)
