New Magnets More Awesome Than Before!

New Magnets
More Awesome Than Before!

Newer, better, sleeker, sexier (can buttons be sexy... ?) than ever before, introducing the new 1-1/4 inch magnets!!!!!!!!!!!
These new sets are made with collets. The adhesive magnet goes inside the button after it's pressed. It sticks to the inside of the shell and lays flat with the collet.

It's way better than the old style. The old sets were made with a regular old button back that had the pin removed, as if you had just crafted your way from buttons to magnets. These new improved puppies make your model 125 machine feel like it was made for magnets!

Just look at the difference. Now that's a sexy magnet if I ever saw one.

We've basically discontinued the old style in favor of this newer, flatter magnet. But if you want to stick with the old style for some reason (the new ones are slightly more expensive) you can assemble a set of 100 from the bits and pieces section. You'll need shells, mylar, unpinned backs, and 3/4 diameter adhesive magnets. You'll have to contact us for pricing on quantities over 100 for the old style.


Next up are the new 7/8" ceramic magnets!

These are cool because they use the really strong ceramic magnets. They're made by placing the magnet inside the collet in the model 875 button machine when pressing the button, so there are no extra steps and no adhesives! And they're really really strong. Yippee!!

Step by step instructions will be coming soon.

1 inch magnets REVISED

How to make a 1 inch magnet
(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.

The Tutorial Starts Here

First, get every thing you need together. For 1 inch magnets you need:

• 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 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. :)

Bottle Opener Magnets

NOTICE: Bottle Opener Magnets are just some craziness I thought up during a moment of sheer craftopia. ButtonMakers.net does not sell "bottle opener magnet" sets, nor will they assist you in making them. But if you've got a little bit of craftiness in you, this is a pretty cool project.

There I was, pressing out my awesome straight edge root beer bottle openers, when I thought: "Who the heck wants to carry around a clunky 2-1/4 inch keychain anyway? Magnetic bottle openers would make a lot more sense." So I grabbed a 1-7/8 inch adhesive magnet from the 2-1/4 inch magnet sets and the 2-1/4 inch bottle opener sets and got to experimenting.

Turns out, my idea worked on the first try. I had to use thin office paper for it to work. The magnet isn't strong enough to hold to the fridge using thick photo paper.

Here's what I did:

1. I designed my logo with the 1-7/8 inch magnet bulge in mind. (If you don't do this, it looks a little unintentionally weird.) I used the 2-1/4 inch Photoshop design template only I made a perfect 1-7/8 inch circle in the middle. In this case it's yellow around the edges with a black 1-7/8th inch circle in the middle and my little agro-anti-alcohol design in the middle of that. (the graphic faces the fridge, so it's just a little coy reminder when someone goes to open a bottle. tee hee.)


2. Print and cut out the graphic, and get everything you need together. That includes the model 225 button machine, bottle opener sets, and a 1-7/8 inch adhesive magnet from the 2-1/4 complete magnet sets.








3. Remove the backing from the adhesive magnet and stick it to the shell. It has to be dead centered and stuck to the smooth outer side.







4. Load the machine. The Shell with the Magnet stuck to it goes into the Pick-Up die (the one with the deep-groove). The graphic goes on top of the Magnet and the mylar goes on top of that.







5. Rotate the die table around so that the Crimp die is facing you and load in the bottle opener back face down as shown.







6. Pull the handle toward you and press all the way down. Rotate the die table around the other way and pull the handle again.


7. Remove the magnet bottle opener from the machine and stick it to the fridge! : )








As you can see from the photo above, there's an odd bulge in the middle where the magnet is. But if you design with that in mind, it doesn't look half bad. Anyway, it's a small compromise for a bottle opener that sticks to the refrigerator!!!

Kids Chore Chart with Magnets!!

Need a creative way to keep chores organized
and inspire kids to clean??

Well bust out those button makers mom's and dad's
we've got just the project for you!!!

This ButtonMakers blog entry includes:

• A free kids chore chart in PDF format
• A page of magnet designs (included in PDF above) for the Model 100 Button Maker
  
• An example and instructions for how to make your own!
  

This cute and crafty kids chore chart is just the thing to get your kids cleaning and keep your sanity too. I actually don't have any kids, but in making this chore chart for the button blog, I discovered something amazing. This thing actually works! It's got myself and my partner keeping up with dishes and laundry like never before! It is great! I like this idea so much that I made a special chore chart just for the two of us.



Here's the idea:

1. Make a bunch of 1 inch magnets for each member of your family. Page two of the chore chart includes printable magnet designs. Click here for additional magnet making instructions.
2. Print out the chore chart or make your own.
3. Laminate the chart or use a transparency over it (to make it into a dry erase board too!) and stick it to the fridge.
4. Each week, delegate the chores by putting each family members magnet on their chore for the corresponding day.
5. When the chore is completed, you get a little sense of accomplishment when you move your magnet to the All Done! section.
   

This is what I did for my family:

I came up with a chart that shows the days of the week going across the top and the chores that are specific to my household down the side. Then I found the cutest retro font I could find and cute clip art to decorate it.

Then I stuck a transparency on top of it. So now, not only is it the coolest most super awesome magnetic chore chart ever, it is also a DIY dry erase board!! In my example I used an 11x17 layout because I just so happen to have a bunch of 11x17 paper and transparencies laying around. I made blue and pink buttons with our individual names for my partner and I.

The downloadable PDF chore chart is 8.5x11 vertical to be easily printed by most people. In addition to the listed chores (dishes, sweep, mop, garbage, vacuum, bathroom, and laundry) there are two blank sections so you can write in your own. You can print the magnet designs I included if you want, or you can make your own to suit your families needs. You could even switch the chart around by including the days of the week at the top, the family member names down the side, and then make different magnets for all the different chores. That way you could throw spring cleaning or some other not-so-regular household duties in there once in a while.

The possibilities are endless!!

I'd love to hear your feedback. Please leave a comment if you like these ideas : )

1 inch Magnet Buttons

THIS STYLE OF MAGNET HAS BEEN DISCONTINUED. Please refer to this post for current info!


All of the ButtonMakers.net button machines are able to create magents as well. Here I'll explain how to make standard 1 inch magnets. These are made just like a normal button except you use the crimp adapter and a plastic flat back instead of a collet. Then you stick a little 1/2 sticky magnet on to the back. These little magnets are your standard household variety strength. They can hold 1-2 sheets of paper on the fridge, but that's about it.

Later, I will show you how to make "deluxe" 1 inch magnets, which look nicer and can have more strength.


To make magnets you will need:

A Model 100 One Inch Button Making Machine
A Graphic (artwork that you created on the computer, drew, or found, and cut into a 1.313 inch circle
Crimp Adapter
And Magnet Sets (complete magnet sets include the following):
Shell
Mylar
Flat Back
1/2 inch Adhesive Magnet

1. Place the Crimp Adapter into the crimp die (the one without springs) with the largest side down as shown in the photo.

2. Insert the shell, graphic, and mylar into the pickup die.

3. Place the flat back on top of the crimp adapter in the crimp die.

4. Rotate the pickup die under the upper die and press as normal, repeat for the crimp die.

5. Remove the button from the machine, peel the backing off the magnet and stick it on the back.

That's all there is to it!!!