button trouble

[mike802]

Anyone have any suggestions on how to make vinyl buttons without the vinyl separating from the backing.  I have tried heating the vinyl, using a backer fabric, lubricating the vinyl and molds all without success. I am using standard duty molds.
Thanks
Mike.

[scott_san_diego]

That can happen when you press to hard down on the cap when making the button.  It will cut the vinyl.  Try making one will very little pressure when pressing down on the handle.

[sofadoc]

Obviously, I'm not suggesting anything you haven't already tried. But I spray silicone into both molds, and press very lightly. I'm sure you've already done that. You must have some REALLY delicate vinyl.
If there were some way to dull the rim of the shells with a file, or grinder. Maybe you could grip a shell between your fingers, and slide it across a file?

[MinUph]

Light pressure is the only way. If you make a few you will get to feel the shell close around the back. Do it very slowly and you will gain a feel for it. You will still spoil a few but this is possible.

[BCKC]

Ummmm...not to sound like a dork ball here...but....I have a vinyl die and a fabric die. They are very different indead.
The vinyl die is flatter topped than the fabric die letting the vinyl strech as needed with out cutting. OooOOO and like they said in upper post..lub is always great!

Karen

[sofadoc]

Ummmm...not to sound like a dork ball here...but....I have a vinyl die and a fabric die. They are very different indead.
The vinyl die is flatter topped than the fabric die letting the vinyl strech as needed with out cutting. OooOOO and like they said in upper post..lub is always great!

One of my supply catalogs recommends soft temper shells for vinyl (they come in regular temper, or soft temper).
Also, the dies come in soft, medium, and heavy weight. They recommend a heavy die for vinyl.
Since I only occasionally have trouble while making vinyl buttons, I personally couldn't justify the cost of having 2 different sets of dies for every size.
Sometimes, I have to make 10 buttons just to get 5 good ones (but not too often).

[mike802]

Thanks everybody.  I think the dies is the answer, I rarely make vinyl buttons and I have already tried all the suggestions mentioned. Unfortunately, or fortunately how ever you want to look at it, the customer is a very good repeat customer, so buying a new die just to make 4 buttons is not cost effective, but to keep a good customer happy it sure is.  I was just hoping someone might have a trick I hadn't tried to save me the expense.

[Lynn]

try warming up the vinyl and the die. Softening the vinyl with heat makes it easier to mould but if you don't warm the die up too it cools the vinyl off too fast.