37mm Button Maker Machine

I was hesitant reading some of the reviews but am really happy with my purchase. I have had no issues creating buttons with this and the instructions are straight forward. A metal button maker is a big investment that I didn't want to make, and this gets the job done. I have been using my Cricut to cut all of my paper images, so I have not used the little cutter that comes with the kit. I think this is a great way to get started until you can make the investment to get a more solid machine. It is plastic but does not require much force to operate.

I debated a long time before buying this due to the mixed reviews. I have an Etsy shop and was looking to add buttons to my product lineup. I couldn’t afford a big professional maker, but the cost for this wasn’t exactly a drop in the bucket either.When it arrived I was surprised at how heavy it was. It has some sturdy high quality metal. Assembly was easy with the Allen wrench it came with and the basic instructions. Making the actual buttons was where the reviews diverge and I think that is because it’s hard to visualize what exactly you need to do from the instructions. There are a few good YouTube videos that helped me with that. I recommend searching them up. They show you how to line the molds up properly for each step and that makes a big difference.Some of the tips I have:• Make sure that your mylar is not stuck together. They are sticky and if you have more than one you won’t get a clean button.• Use a glue stick to glue your image onto the metal. It prevents it from wiggling when you press.• Make sure your image and your button back are turned straight so that the pin will face up correctly when finished.• Hold the press down about 5 seconds for your second press. It makes sure the mylar has time to set into its shape.• Use the right paper. You don’t want a thick paper, but still want your images to look crisp. I bought a package of matte presentation paper here on Amazon and it has worked very well. The brand I bought was epson, but there are other brands that would work.• The circle cutter is garbage. Don’t expect to be able to use it. I purchased a large hole punch (also on Amazon) to make my circles. Make sure it cuts 1/4-1/2 inch bigger than your finished buttons.With the YouTube videos and my tips you should be able to make high quality buttons with no problems. Out of the hundred or so I’ve made so far I have only mis-punched maybe 5 buttons and those were where my tips come from. My press was also very loud initially, but a bit of WD-40 fixed it right up.Good luck, and get creative!

Not hard to use, if you do, everything in order.Button cutter is useless.Get a proper punch or cut by hand1) place front plate, image & cover into maker head A2) rotate layered pieces into maker3) squeeze enough to push them into the maker head (only requires squeeze part way, you can feel when they pop into place)4) put backing into B press cup (so it matches image orientation for pins)5) rotate under maker press (1st parts will stay in maker)6) Squeeze handle completely to ensure proper crimping. Note: you can't stop once you start squeezing or pieces will come apart & won't crimp right.Made 300 buttons, only messed up 5 or 6 because of not squeezing completely to crimp.

After a couple of batches, about 20%-30% of my buttons came out with a bubble on one side, where the mylar cover didn't crimp all the way under the back. Totally unusable buttons, with unacceptable waste. (Other users show photos of this phenomenon but don't cite the reason.) I measured the mylar/clear plastic covers because I noticed there was space around it in the mold. It's TOO SMALL.Per the manufacturer's own instruction sheet, paper for a 32mm button should measure 44mm, and the mylar covers have to match the paper size for it to work. Both the paper and the mylar need to take up all the space inside the mold diameter so no slippage/misalignment occurs. The mylars shipped with this press are smaller than spec, about 41mm. So now I'm left to either buy a whole third party button parts kit with mylars, or to find replacement mylars sold separately, which takes 5-7 weeks to ship. Disappointing, if I'm generous with my words.The press itself assembled easily and the sliding mechanism is good. No quibbles about the press. But shipping mylars that break the pressing process is just unacceptable. You waste so much in ink, paper, and plastic button parts.UPDATE Jan/2022: I've received 5 different emails offering to pay me to remove this review. They started by offering $20 to remove it, and with each email gradually increased to $50. This should suffice as my answer to removing an honest review.