What is a metal fatback? What is a plastic medallion button? How are they different and what can you use them for? It is confusing, why do you offer both styles? What is a crimp die adapter used for? We get these questions quite frequently so we thought we would put together a quick history and tutorial for our followers.
Tag Archives: American Button Machines
Where can I find one button machine that makes different size buttons?
Where can I find one button machine that makes different size buttons? That’s a questions we get asked almost on a daily basis; sometimes twice in one day. So why don’t we just make one? There are actually a few very good reasons. Allow me to share with you some quality insider information.
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Industry Standard Size Buttons vs. BAM vs. Foreign Made… what’s the diff?
You have questions and we have answers. One of the most commonly asked questions we get revolves around the different types of button machines and supplies & whether or not they are interchangeable. Basically, you’ll find three kinds of button machines: Industry standard, proprietary and those made outside the USA.
Industry standard button supplies fit 99.9% of all standard-sized button machines. These parts are designed to be used with American made button machines and probably will not fit a foreign made machine and most definitely will not fit a Badge a Minit machine. What does this mean to you if you have an industry standard machine? Well, it means you can purchase supplies from any company that sells industry standard sizes. American Button Machines stocks the widest variety of industry standard button supplies & accessories and we are constantly on the search for new, innovative products.
American Button Machines vs Badge-a-Minit Magnet Sets | ABM vs BAM
Continuing our March Magnets theme this week I’m sharing with you a few of the differences between American Button Machines (ABM) magnet sets and those of Badge-a-Minit (BAM).
March Magnets Title Fight: ABM vs BAM
We Are Giving Away a Free Button Machine!
We find ourselves with an unusual situation today in that we have come into possession of a slightly used 2.25” button machine. As you know, our button machines are beyond sturdy. We even replaced some parts to make sure it is in tip-top shape.
We’ve been throwing around ideas of what to do with said machine and decided to have a contest to GIVE IT AWAY – FOR FREE!
All you have to do is like us on Facebook. If we reach 1500 Facebook likes within the next 60 days, we’ll pick a name at random from our “likers”, and that person wins. It’s that easy. If you already like us on Facebook, and want even more chances to win, then you can also like us on Google + and/or post a Google comment or review and we’ll put your name in twice or even three times. (Once more for the like and another for the review.)
So, talk about us on Facebook and Google. Share our information with your friends so they can like us too and we reach that all important 1500. We want someone to win and there’s no reason that someone can’t be YOU!
Until next time, Happy Button Making!
By Brighid Brown, Director of Blogging and All Things Cool at ABM
ABM Update: New sizes now available for the super popular Dynamo hand-held punch cutter.
You asked and we are delivering!
A few months ago we began offering a hand-held punch cutter for 1” buttons. Right out of the gate we were getting requests for larger sizes. Well, the wait is over – say hello to the Dynamo Hand-Held Graphic Punch Cutter for 1.25” AND 1.5” buttons! Continue reading
Common Myths About Chinese-made Button Making Kits
Over at our American Button Machines website, we recently posted a couple of new pages that offer a detailed comparison between American-made button making kits and Chinese-made button maker kits. While we are sure that some of you have noticed the links to the new pages on the ABM homepage and checked them out, we are quite certain that most of you do not spend your days hitting “Refresh” on our homepage awaiting new links.
Thus, we are going to post the content of those pages here, in a four-part series that breaks the content on the website up into four smaller chunks.
In the first part of the series that we are posting today, we are going to provide an overview and take a quick look at a few common myths about 3-in-1 button makers that are manufactured in China.
Button University Lesson 8: Making Buttons Is Easy!
Yesterday, in Lesson 7 of Button University, we talked about ways for you to create your templates for your buttons. Today, we are going to show you how easy it is to make a button when using our easy to use, quality button machines.
Watch it happen. Check out the videos of the process. The longest one is only 24 seconds! It really is that easy to make a button!
Here are some more simple step-by-step guidelines on how to make a button using products from American Button Machines.
Button Machine Step-by-Step
Step 1: Place the button components in the Pickup Die and the Crimp Die.
Step 2: Rotate the Pickup Die clockwise until it is underneath the Upper Die.
Step 3: Pull the handle down, easily crimping the shell, graphic, and mylar in the Upper Die.
Punch Cutter Step-by-Step
Step 1: Insert the paper strip into the punch cutter and center the graphic in the hole.
Step 2: Push the handle down until the punch goes all the way through the paper.
Step 3: Remove the cut graphic and place to the side.
Step 4: Pull the paper strip through, center the next graphic, and repeat steps 2 and 3.
As you can quickly tell, it doesn’t take long to make a button. And it’s certainly not very difficult! Join us tomorrow as we talk a little more about Fabric Buttons.
Brighid Brown – Director of Blogging and All Things Cool at ABM
Introducing 1 inch Ponytail Sets!
When ancient man needed to find a more efficient mode of transportation, it resulted in the invention of the wheel in Mesopotamia around the 5th millenium B.C.
When colonial American man needed a way to light dark rooms other than the candle, it led to the inspiration of that famous stormy night in Philadelphia and, ultimately, the invention of electricity.
And when society was plagued by loaf after loaf of frustratingly unsliced bread, it led to what was, at the time, the greatest invention in the history of the world and perhaps the entire universe. Yes, you know of what I am speaking: sliced bread.
But today, ladies and gentleman of the buttonsphere, is truly a landmark day. Why? Because no longer will great things be called “the greatest thing since sliced bread.”
No, there is now an even greater discovery, a greater invention, that surpasses even the previously peerless greatness of sliced bread. Thus, henceforth, whenever something great or fantabulous happens, you will now all be compelled to use the phrase in its new incarnation:
…”the greatest thing since 1″ ponytail holders.”
That’s right folks, the long anticipated day is here: 1″ ponytail holders are are now a reality.
Customer Spotlight: Barrel of Monkeys
Welcome to the first ABM Customer Spotlight!
We are very excited about this new feature here on the Button Blog, where we will be spotlighting the wonderful and creative button making work of some of our most loyal customers.
The first ABM Customer Spotlight is Jill Hamilton-Krawczyk, the creative genius behind Barrel of Monkeys. And rather than having us tell you about Jill and the story behind Barrel of Monkeys, we’ll let her tell you.