The Button Blog - American Button Machines — Ask ABM

What is the best size for a campaign button?  You want your button to be noticed so everyone will know about your candidate, right?  It's important to choose a button size that is big enough to be seen but not so big they become awkward for the people that want to wear them.  It's tempting to get the biggest button possible but that actually might not be the best way to get your message out.  As the size of the button goes up so does the cost and weight of the buttons.  In addition to the cost, if you give a...

Where can I find button making instructions?  How do you make mirrors, coasters and key chains?  ABM makes it super easy!  We have a whole page dedicated to just instructions for all of the tips and tricks on making your favorite accessories with buttons! From the blue navigation bar on our site, just hover over "Learning Center" and then select "Button Making Instructions".  There you will find a comprehensive collection of detailed directions for all of your favorite ABM products. You can find help in many locations on the ABM site.  The Button Blog is a wealth of information.  There you can...

What makes a photo button maker different?  Do I really need the photo button kit to make photo buttons?  If you plan to use actual photo paper to make your buttons the answer is yes, you need a photo button making kit and here's why. Button makers are very finely calibrated to use a certain thickness of materials to get a good, cleanly crimped button.  When you change that thickness by too much, or too little, the button can fail.  Photo paper is significantly thicker than standard 24 pound copier paper, which is what most machines are calibrated for. You...

How do I fix a bubble in the edge of my mylar?  Bubbles at the edge of your mylar can be an unfortunate side effect of using a laser printer to print your graphics.  Laser printers provide beautiful, crisp images but they can also cause mylar to slip when you crimp your button together, especially if you have a full bleed in your design.  Toner from laser printers contain wax and even if you have made 100 perfect buttons, the printer can decide to dump a little extra wax on that page and suddenly your buttons won't work.  You have the dreaded bubble...

Why should I buy your button machine?  What makes your company different?  These are common questions from people who are researching button companies as they prepare to begin their button making adventures.  Here at ABM, we love when someone ask us what makes us special and we’re more than happy to tell them why! Investing in a quality button machine is crucial to button making success but you want to make sure that you are getting the best value for your money.   In your search you will find machines that are less expensive but remember the golden rule – you...