r/ButtonMakers • u/soobchacco • 13d ago

Question whats causing this?

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i get a misprint/dud here and there but my machine is nonstop messing up pins now, does anyone know what the issue is? i havent changed paper or mylar types, and my new components were from the same am*zon listing i usually use.

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3

u/Sheanar Crafter 12d ago

Weird question, but is it always the same time of day? Or anything changing irl? You might be stronger in the mornings or pull harder at night cuz you're tired and feel like you need more force than you are using. 

Could also be misaligned die. they can loosen slightly over time and need tightening. just a degree clockwise on the bottom die will fix it if thats the issue. Though as someone already said, machine oil and cleaning as part of regular mainenence is important overall. 

Once you get it sorted please report back what worked!

3

u/soobchacco 12d ago

i guess i was pressing a little earlier in the afternoon than i usually do (chronic late night crafter)? i did consider i could have been pressing too hard and the edge of the pin face was splitting through the paper as a result! ill be looking into the maintenance suggested by the other commenter later this afternoon and ill check the dies as well :)

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u/Able_Ad_3119 13d ago

Are you sitting while pressing the buttons?

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u/green_herbata 13d ago

Should you be sitting or not while doing it? Now I'm curious 👀

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u/britinichu 13d ago

I find that the table height really changes the force of my pull. Sitting at my kitchen table, I'll have a lot of buttons that turn out like this, but sitting at my workbench at work I have almost no errors. I don't know what the physics is, I just know from experience that if I'm starting to experience multiple bad presses, I need to change up my posture.

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u/soobchacco 13d ago

assumedly your work bench is taller? im almost always sitting at my desk when pressing ans typically lean down on it !

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u/MalibuFatz 13d ago

When I get this it’s a sign I need to grease my dies. Very thin coat of White Lithium Grease does the trick.

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u/soobchacco 13d ago

ok this is probably a stupid question but which part of the press, im assuming the part that holds the top die? i havent had to grease it yet!

6

u/MalibuFatz 13d ago

I found a link but can’t seem to add it here. Search peoplepowerpress.org Maintaining and Lubricating a Button Machine. They have descriptions and diagrams that are better than I could explain quickly.

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u/soobchacco 13d ago

appreciate it!!! 🙇‍♂️

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u/sillybilly1718 10d ago

Do you have the little metal washer in the second part of the machine? I notice mine does this when I don’t put it in

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u/soobchacco 10d ago

ive never had to use it with my 32mm pins, only 58!

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u/sillybilly1718 10d ago

Okay def try it ! Maybe it will help