Button Maker

Jigg for making buttons on a drill press.
Used for making custom buttons out of bone, mother of pearl, or any other thin shell such as clams and mussles.
Wear appropreate NIOSH dust mask when cutting buttons because of the high silica content.

Instructions for making buttons:

1. Mount 5/64" bit in drill press, and use that to center the jig.
2. Find flat spot in shell.
3. Drill single 5/64" hole near center of flat spot.
4. Slide sled to the left stop and fasten down.
5. Place first hole over the single pin on sled.
6. Drill second hole in button.
7. Slide sled to the right stop and fasten down.
8. Use plug cutter to cut out button.

Parts needed (McMaster-Carr part numbers for reference, but any standard hardware will work)

• 2x 1/4-20 5/8" flat-top nylon set screw, 94564A085
• 2x 1/4-20 5/8" Socket head cap screw, 92196A539
• 2x 1/4-20 Hex nut, 92673A113
• 2x 1/4"-0.05 OD Flat washer, 9124A117 (typically found in stainless steel)
• 3x #1-64 1/2" Pan head screw, 91772A170
• 2x #12 1" Round head sheet metal screw, 90190A296
• 2x 1/4"-0.635 Flat washer 90107A029, (standard size washer)

Tools for assembly:

• 1/4-20 Tap 2521A621
• 1-64 Tap 2522A712

Tools for making buttons:

• 5/64 Drill Bit 3146A113
• 1/2" Plug cutter 2806A15

Build the button maker:

• Review the attached rendering to see how it all fits together.
• Tap the two 1/4-20 horizontal holes in the track, insert the set screws, and set to 0.10"
• Tap the three 1-64 vertical holes in the sled, isert the screws and set to 0.15" proud of the top
• Assembly of the position locking screws and nuts should be obvious.
• Mount whole thing to a board for easy clamping on drill press.