How To Prepare Pinback Button Graphics and Use Adjustable Rotary Cutter

[Note: If you're thinking to yourself, "Hey! I've seen this post before!" you might be right. This post was originally published on December 12th, 2008. We are cycling it back to the front of the blog so our new readers are made aware of it, as the content is no less relevant today. And besides, it's always good to review...]

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Pinback buttons have a wide array of uses and functions, from political campaign buttons to promotional tools for small businesses. Through the use of a button maker and button making supplies, it is easy for a small business or a school operating on a limited budget to quickly produce a number of buttons for sale as novelty items or as memorabilia.

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ABM Video Series: How to Cut Circular Button Graphics Using an Economy Circle Cutter

Welcome back to the ABM Video Series!

Today’s video tutorial is a very simple one, and shows you how to cut out circular button graphics using American Button Machines’ econo circle cutter.

The econo circle cutter differs from our other circle cutters by obviously being less expensive. Still, it cuts perfect circles and is adjustable from 2 inches to 7 1/4 inches. And while it’s perfect for preparing graphics for button making, it will work well for any type of circular cut you need to make with paper.

Here are the quick and easy steps:

• Create a sheet of paper with as many of your circular graphics on it as will fit.
• Adjust the econo circle cutter to the appropriate size.
• Line the econo circle cutter up on the graphic you are preparing to cut.
• Place your hand on top of the cutter to hold it in place.
• Rotate the handle at the base of the econo circle cutter to quickly, accurately, and easily cut out a perfectly circular graphic.
• Make some buttons!

And, of course, don’t forget the most important step in the econo circle cutter usage process: get one!

Here is your short and sweet video tutorial:

Video: How to Cut Button Graphics Using an Economy Circle Cutter

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Photo Circle Cutter Comparison: Photo Punch and Graphic Punch

Among the many, many questions that we receive on a daily basis are:

• How awesome is it being immersed in the wonderful world of buttons on a daily basis? (Answer: awesome!)
• Can you make fabric-covered buttons with your button machines? (Answer: yes!)
• What is the meaning of life? (Answer: we don’t know, but when we find out we will make custom pinback buttons and send one to all of our past, present, and future customers!)

Those, of course, are just three of the myriad questions we get asked. Another of the common queries revolves around two different types of cutters that we offer: the 2.25″ photo punch cutter and the 2.25″ graphic punch cutter. 

The primary difference between the two cutters is the size of the circle they cut out, and there is a very specific reason why this is the case.  You see, a 2.25″ button machine can’t use true photo paper because it is too thick. Thus, the photo punch cutter actually cuts a circle that is slightly smaller than the standard graphic punch cutter.

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Button Maker Price Comparison: American All-in-One Kits v Chinese 3-in-1 Button Makers

Welcome back for post #2 in our weeklong series discussing American-made button maker kits and Chinese-made button maker kits. Yesterday we provided an overview and debunked a few myths about Chinese 3-in-1 button machines. Today we are going to do a button maker price comparison, contrasting the costs of Chinese-made button makers to the costs of our American-made button makers.

First, let’s take a look at the hard costs as we dig into this button maker price comparison.

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Button University Lesson 4: The Three Different Kinds of Cutters

Sorry for the late posting time on today’s Button University lesson. Sometimes the phone just rings and rings and rings and our duty as gatekeepers to the wonderful world of buttons beckons from sunrise to sundown. After a moment to catch my breath, it is now time for some late afternoon fun here at The Button Blog.

Yesterday, in lesson 4 of our ongoing Button University series, we discussed design standards for button machines and gave you the reasons why ours have the best button machine design available on the market. Today, we are going to dive feet first into cutters. And if you are a graduate of Indiana University, no, this post does not have anything to do with the Cutters race team or the Little 500.

(Raise your hand if you understood that reference? The movie Breaking Away? Anyone? Okay, not many hands up. I hear crickets. Let’s just move along now, shall we?)

So, let’s say that you are getting ready to start a button project. You have your button machine, you have all of your button supplies, and you even have sheets of neatly printed circular graphics ready to go. Are you ready to start making buttons?

Not so fast. Your gorgeous and beautiful graphics must be cut out!

How are you going to accomplish this?

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