How To Make Buttons

Sometimes you want to improvise in an area where it seems to have nothing to do. For example, none of us does not think about making buttons. However, 100-150 years ago it was a thriving business. Nowadays there is the widest range of sizes and colors of buttons. But there is no such diversity in the quantity of materials for buttons. There are few buttons from natural materials, and you can buy them only for a high price. So why cannot it be a subject for your art? Almost every woman made something of her own at least once in her life. And why not make unique buttons with your own hands? Nothing is impossible, so let’s look how to make buttons.

Instructions:

1. You will need thick dry wood without cracking - oak, birch, elm, or ebony. There is an example of making buttons from the dry trunks of juniper. Do not cut the trees – save the nature.

2. Required tools: knife, a saw with fine tooth, drill with a borer of 1.5-2 mm long (0.059-0.079”) and the sandpaper of medium and fine grain. You can also use electric machines if possible: band or deck saw, drill and sander machine.

3. The ready material is sorted and sawn into patterns of the same diameter.

4. Each workpiece is dissolved with a saw or machine into the patterns of the buttons 3-5 mm (0.12-0.2”) thick. Operate the machine carefully and follow the safety arrangements strictly. When using a band saw, the output of the patterns will be smaller due to the wide cutting.

5. Using a knife, cut the edge of the wood from one pattern for giving the future button a round shape.

6. The excesses are removed from the rest of the patterns according to the first pattern of the button. An example is shown in the video.

7. Grind each button with the sandpaper, decreasing the grain size. Grind one side and the side surface of the button by yourself.

8. Mark the centers of the holes for sewing buttons by pencil. You can mark two, four or even three holes. There are almost no buttons with three holes!

9. Drill the holes carefully and slowly. It will be hard to drill the holes precisely where you have planned, but these buttons do not have to be perfect – they are unique and handmade. An example of drilling with electric drill is shown in the video.

10. You can cover buttons with oil, wax or varnish to make the fibers of the wood stand out and protect it from dust.