In search of #30 Reg dies

[MinUph]

Does anyone have an extra set of UPH dies #30 they would part with? Not HUX. I have several set of HUX dies and need to find the UPH size. They don't seem to make them in both sizes anymore.
  Let me know if you have some and for how much. Thanks

[sofadoc]

Masco Fabrics in Birmingham lists their dies as "Medium weight" and "heavy weight". 

They don't list them as "Uph" and "HUX".

Anyway, their mediums are $48.95 if you have an account with them.

800 326 2726

[MinUph]

Thanks Dennis I dropped them an email.

[kodydog]

Okay you guys, I never knew there were different types of dies. I've always just used the ones I bought 30 years ago from a fellow going out of business. "Uph" and "HUX", I've never heard these terms and don't know what they mean. "Medium weight" and "heavy weight" make a little more since but still not quite sure. I'm guessing heavy weight is for thicker fabric or even leather? Please explain.

[MinUph]

Uph would be considered probably equal to medium and Hux would be heavy. If you look at your dies you should see them marked. And seeing they are old it should be Uph or Hux. The difference is in the size. Hux cutters will be slightly oversized from Uph cutters. And the die sets follow suit. When using thin fabrics the Uph sets are better and when heavier fabrics are used the Hux sets work better. I am finding I can't get a good button made consistently with Hux dies if the fabric is thinner. Like cottons, Sunbrella etc. Even doubled. If I had Uph dies and used my Hux cutters I am sure the slightly larger fabric cutout will help this problem.
 I hope this makes sense and explains the difference. This company that Dennis pointed me to called these set Medium and Heavy. I don't know why but they do. I'll be interested to see how the dies are stamped.

[sofadoc]

I have 2 sets of 30 dies. They are stamped "medium" and "heavy". The top die that you plunge the shell through is milled out about .005 more on the heavy than the medium set. I've had some thick vinyl buttons that the extra .005 really made the buttons a lot easier to press without  leaving that " crimp ring" around the top.

I used to have a set of 30 dies that were stamped "Naugahyde". I'm pretty sure they were the same as "heavy" or "HUX",

[kodydog]

Okay so my top die, the one you slide the shell into has no mark. The bottom spring loaded die is marked HUX. I assume the guy I bought them from bought them as a pair. This would explain why I have to add an extra layer when using vary thin fabric. But thick leather and some vinyls can be a real PITA. Silicone spray helps somewhat. Thanks for the info, I never knew.

[sofadoc]

Scroll down to page 52

http://mascofabrics.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/TheCatalog2010.pdf

[SteveA]

I remember seeing a you tube video where the upholsterer cut his buttons out with a scissor after tracing around the die with a pencil -
he contends the dies don't leave enough room for a good button
SA

[MinUph]

Yes Steve this is the issue. Mixing them will help. And that is what I do. I set the fabric on the shell die and cut around it. Time consuming.

[kodydog]

I agree but its much faster to use the next bigger cutter. Speaking of dies here is one I found in a box of stuff that was included when I bought my button maker. Its made by Handy and has 22 LEFT inscribed on it. Maybe used to push the cap into the die?

[sofadoc]

Yeah, I just use the next size up on cutters

[brmax]

Interesting for sure, i wasnt aware of all the options.  So went looking i guess as others did.
Lite
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LVWHEN6#featureBulletsAndDetailBullets_secondary_view_div_1491425145366
Reg
https://www.amazon.com/C-S-Osborne-Co-WDIHUC302/dp/B01LW6QRT1#featureBulletsAndDetailBullets_secondary_view_div_1491424997269
Heavy
https://www.amazon.com/C-S-Osborne-Co-WDIHUXC302/dp/B01LVWHE2I#featureBulletsAndDetailBullets_secondary_view_div_1491425201182

Now i wonder if any i have are stamped with anything
Thanks for the tips
Floyd

[gene]

My dies are stamped Hph. I never noticed that before.

I've had trouble with really thin fabric before. Several times I glued the face fabric to another thicker type fabric and then punched out the circles. That worked out OK.

I have an old one arm bandit that has 3 dies on it: cap with fabric die that gets stuffed into the top die and then is pressed onto the back die. It makes for fast work.

gene