In this category you will find all the tools needed for covering buttons: button tools for pressing button blanks, matching holders for use in our presses, as well as circle cutters with holder and backing plate for cutting the fabric or leather discs.
Matching blanks can be found in the category Cover buttons. General information on presses, tools and dies can be found in the parent category Tools.
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When covering buttons, matching fabric or leather discs are cut first. The covering material and button blank are then placed in the button tool and pressed in the press to form a finished, covered button.
| Step | Tool required | Important for the result |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Cut fabric or leather disc | Circle cutter, holder for circle cutter and backing plate | The disc must be large enough to cleanly wrap around the button blank. |
| 2. Insert button blank and material | Button tool in matching size | Button blank, button tool and circle cutter must be selected in the same line size. |
| 3. Press the button | Suitable press with correct holder | Depending on the press, a 9 mm holder, a bushing or the holder for button tools is required. |
The button tool is the actual pressing tool for covering buttons. It joins the two parts of the button blank with the cut fabric or leather disc in a single pressing operation.
The holder for button tools is required when button tools are to be used with the spring-strike press. It sits in the lower 19 mm bore of the press and accepts the button tool in the 9 mm centre hole.
The circle cutter punches round cut pieces from fabric, leather, tarpaulin and similar flexible sheet materials. For coverable buttons it is used to prepare even fabric or leather discs in the matching size.
For circle cutters, the complete system of cutter, upper holder and lower backing plate is always required. The holder guides the cutter at the top of the press, the backing plate forms the counter support at the bottom.
The line size is decisive. Button blank, button tool and circle cutter are combined in the same line size – for example a size 32 blank, size 32 tool and size 32 circle cutter. The millimetre figures may appear different because they refer to different things: with the button tool to the finished button, with the circle cutter to the cut disc.
| Project / material | Recommended tool | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Thin to medium-weight fabrics | Button tool fabric / standard | Suitable for typical fabric buttons, faux leather and very thin soft natural leather. |
| Leather or upholstery fabrics | Button tool leather | For medium-weight leather as well as medium to thicker upholstery fabrics. |
| Fabric discs for buttons | Circle cutter in matching line size | The line size must match the button blank and button tool. |
| Large button sizes from size 40 | Toggle press or spring-strike press | TEP-2 and screw press are not sufficient for these sizes. |
The button tools are compatible with all Getmore Crafts presses. What matters is the correct lower holder, as the button tools require a 9 mm guide at the bottom.
TEP-2 and screw press are suitable for button sizes up to size 36. From size 40, the toggle press or spring-strike press is required.
Circle cutters are not used on their own. They always require the matching holder for circle cutter and the backing plate for circle cutter.
Three parts are required for cutting with circle cutters: circle cutter, holder for circle cutter and backing plate for circle cutter.
You need a button tool in the matching size and a suitable press. If you want to punch the fabric or leather discs yourself, you also need a circle cutter, the holder for circle cutter and the backing plate for circle cutter.
The fabric version is intended for thin to medium-weight fabrics, faux leather and very thin soft natural leather. The leather version is suitable for leather, upholstery buttons and medium to thicker upholstery fabrics.
Choose button blank, button tool and circle cutter in the same line size. Example: For size 32 button blanks, use a size 32 button tool and a size 32 circle cutter.
The circle cutter is not the pressing tool for the button itself, but serves to cut even fabric or leather discs. If the discs are already prepared to size, only the matching button tool is needed for pressing.
For circle cutter punching you always need three parts: the circle cutter in the desired size, the matching holder for circle cutter and the backing plate for circle cutter as counter support.
Yes. For the spring-strike press, however, the separate holder for button tools is required. It replaces the bushing there and provides the 9 mm guide as well as the necessary support surface for the button tool.
Yes, the screw press can be used for coverable buttons up to size 36. For circle cutter punching, however, the screw press is not recommended.
From size 40, the toggle press or spring-strike press should be used, as TEP-2 and screw press do not provide sufficient pressing force for these sizes.
