How to make a 1 inch magnet
(You can skip to the bottom of this post for the actual tutorial.)
Step 5: Insert the collet, sharp side up, into the crimp die.
Make sure to center the magnet very carefully. It's easy to do since it's a magnet and it sticks to the metal die. But you should still pay attention because if it's off center, your magnet won't crimp.
Step 7: Press your magnet as usual. Pull the handle all the way down toward you, rotate the die table around and pull the handle all the way down toward you a second time. Just like normal.
Step 8: Remove your finished magnet from the machine and marvel at how smooth and professional it looks and how easy it was to make. :)
(You can skip to the bottom of this post for the actual tutorial.)
But first lots of superfluous information:
Okay, so here is the whole story about 1 inch magnets. It used to be that you had to make a medallion button using a crimp adapter in your model 100 and then stick on a little 1/2 inch adhesive magnet to the back. They were cheap, but not too easy to do. Also the little 1/2 inch magnets weren't very strong. One day I got a call from one of my favorite customers over at Amoeba Music asking if there was any way to get better looking and stronger 1 inch magnets.
This got me to experimenting. I was looking at the magnets used for 1-1/4 inch magnets, and on a whim tried to cram one into the back of a 1 inch button (made with a collet like a standard button, not made as a medallion). And so the "1 inch Deluxe" magnet was born.
But people started complaining that it was too hard to insert the magnet into the collet after the fact, as I had originally posted in my instructions. Then I got the call that changed everything! I forget the customer name, but she, smarter than I, figured out that you just put the magnet in the collet IN THE MACHINE and then press the button. I had a serious DUH! moment because this is the same procedure one would use to make a mirror. This is why I haven't answered any of the questions on the original 1 inch magnet post. I am about to remove it and replace with this one.
But people started complaining that it was too hard to insert the magnet into the collet after the fact, as I had originally posted in my instructions. Then I got the call that changed everything! I forget the customer name, but she, smarter than I, figured out that you just put the magnet in the collet IN THE MACHINE and then press the button. I had a serious DUH! moment because this is the same procedure one would use to make a mirror. This is why I haven't answered any of the questions on the original 1 inch magnet post. I am about to remove it and replace with this one.
The Tutorial Starts Here
First, get every thing you need together. For 1 inch magnets you need:
Step 1: Insert the shell, smooth side up, into the take up die (the one thats on the left when the die table is perpendicular to the base plate.)
- A Model 100, 1 inch Button Maker
- 1 inch magnet sets (which includes, shells, collets, mylar, and a magnet)
- A graphic cut into a circle
Step 1: Insert the shell, smooth side up, into the take up die (the one thats on the left when the die table is perpendicular to the base plate.)
Step 2: Insert the graphic on top of the shell
Step 3: Insert the mylar on top of the graphic.
Step 4: Rotate the die table around.
Step 3: Insert the mylar on top of the graphic.
Step 4: Rotate the die table around.
Step 5: Insert the collet, sharp side up, into the crimp die.
Step 6: Insert the magnet, magnetic side down, into the center of the collet in the crimp die. You do not need to remove the back or expose the adhesive. The adhesive part of this magnet is only used for 1-1/4 inch magnets. In the 1 inch machine, the collet holds the magnet in place, it does not need to be adhesive.
Make sure to center the magnet very carefully. It's easy to do since it's a magnet and it sticks to the metal die. But you should still pay attention because if it's off center, your magnet won't crimp.
Step 7: Press your magnet as usual. Pull the handle all the way down toward you, rotate the die table around and pull the handle all the way down toward you a second time. Just like normal.
Step 8: Remove your finished magnet from the machine and marvel at how smooth and professional it looks and how easy it was to make. :)
6 comments:
Nice tutorial.
How do you get the graphic to curve around the edge like that? Are you using special software?
I'm making buttons and keychains for my 35th class reunion, and am having a terrible time getting the print to fit on a 2 1/4 inch button "print area", but using Word, the only way I can find to do it is straight line printing. Curving some things would help tremendously. Any advie?
Glad I found this blog!!!!!!!!!!!
Hi Anonymous,
Thank you for commenting. I use Adobe Photoshop to make my designs. Take a look at this page:
http://buttonmakers.net/button_design_help.htm
In Photoshop you can use the 'Text on a Path' feature to make curved type.
If you do not have Photoshop, Corel Draw has a 'text on a curve' option, or you could try fiddling with MS Word's Word Art feature to get the sort of text you are looking for. You can also use GIMP and a curved text plugin.
I think some more advanced design tutorials are in order for the future. Keep checking back for updates and feel free to email me at info@buttonmakers.net for specific help with your design.
Thanks!!
Rebecca
does the magnet sit flush with the back of the button, like in the 1 1/4" example, or does it poke out a bit?
Hi Emily,
The magnet is flush with the back of the button. It looks really nice.
Also, we discontinued the pokey-outy 1-1/4 inch magnets and replaced them with new flush collet magnets like these.
Thanks!!
Rebecca
Question.. are the fronts supposed to "bubble" up when you press a magnet?
I ordered some and received them this week and after pressing a couple I noticed that they "bubble/bulge" up in the center.
Hi Buttons,
Nope. You should not have a strange bulge in your magnet. It should look just like a button. Can you send me a photo of the problem? You can email a photo to info (at) buttonmakers.net.
One thing I should address is that the newer adhesive magnets are slightly smaller in diameter then they used to be. It turns out that not every machine could handle pressing the magnet inside the collet and the magnets were too fat to fit through the collet very easily after the button was pressed. So we started having them cut slightly smaller.
This tutorial needs to be revised again, because you should be inserting the magnet after the button is completed.
But that shouldn't make your magnets bulge. Something is wrong there. Please send me a photo and we'll go from there.
Rebecca
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