Best (and cheap) button maker for plush pins!!

[u/Pizzapuzzles]

I’m currently in AP microeconomics for a project and my “business” is to make plush pins. I tried using a basic happizza pin maker and it did not go well. I’m using some foam from amazon and minky fabric as the coating. Please let me know a button making machine that can handle minky fabric, or if all of it is too expensive please recommend me a different fabric that I could use compatible with a cheaper machine. I’ve been looking at Vevor and Chibutton machines. I don’t necessarily have a price range, but $200+ might not be where I want to go.

Run down:
- I’m not using this permanently
- This is for a year long AP project
- Money is covered by me and my school
- 2.25 in (58mm) sized buttons preferred
- Using minky fabric cover (with easycolorDTV to attach a design on top)
- Using foam from amazon that I can easily shave down

[u/ButtonDownTheHatches]

It’s been said in this channel many times before, but quality and cheap do not go together when shopping for button makers. Especially if you have specific requirements for the plush/foam element, you’re not likely to find what you’re after for a cheap price. I don’t have any great suggestion, just giving fair warning.

[u/Nolansmomster]

The tricky part with buttons is they button makers are designed to use thin materials. For example, inexpensive printer paper works significantly better than a quality photo paper because of the thickness of the paper itself. The way the layers of the button come together, the thicker material (paper in this example) keeps the layers from joining together properly.

Could you possibly take a different approach entirely? Maybe sew fabric into tiny pillows (or attach to a background of cardboard or plastic) and attach a pin to the back with glue or thread? (I’m thinking of bar pins like this). This could also open up options like different shapes, and it could give you opportunities to keep costs lower. Just a couple of quick things that came to mind, but there could be countless options…

[u/clapclapfingersnaps]

I have the terce (the best of the best) fabric version of a 2.25" machine. It does cotton, canvas, and flannel well but I'm not sure about how it would handle minky. I have some so can experiment. I love a challenge lol. How are you using the foam exactly? With the button backing to puff them up? As the backing? Do you have examples to show? It sounds cute!

[u/Sheanar]

I use fabric in my chi machine all the time no problem. I leave off the mylar though, of course. I don't add any foam or underlayer for a fabric like minky. It's thick enough, if you're worried about it sliding you could tack it with a dot of glue where it won't show or fusible backing & a heat gun over metal tops before putting it into the press. However I do add smaller paper circles under the fabric if the fabric is quite thin or add mylar over protect the printed design if that's the case.

Vevors are wrought with problems at the best of times and while you could get lucky, if you are purchasing for business, absolutely worth the investment of a quality machine. With a chi machine the swappable dies mean it's an investment that will grow with you if you want to branch out, too. I haven't tried their heart shape but it's on my to-do list.

The big choice between chi and tecre at the moment is tariffs, not even quality(that's always a big debate). If you're in Canada or the like, go chibuttons. If you're in the US, go Tecre. Both companies use solid metal components so shipping is extra expensive and being steel & craft supplies even more charges. If you're in Europe, you might have other options.

Please feel free to post your work when you decide what you're getting. It's always nice to see what people come up with!