[woodenleg]

This is a rather silly question, but does anybody have a good technique for carving buttons? I frequently have difficulty making them round and also making them all the same size. Sometimes, I pop them out. Any suggestions other than the obvious -- practice??? Thanks

For small buttons, I use a nail set. Just push down and it will leave the imprint, then you can carve around it if you want. For larger ones I use a leather punch, the hollow kind. I would imagin eye punches would work also.

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

or you can work in reverse using a drill bit...gives the illusion of buttons :

[mikeg]

In the current issue Carving Magazine, Old Don used a tool to make Santa's buttons. I forget if he said what it's called but it's basicaly a round gouge that he used like a nail set.

mikeg

a hollow punch will do the trick to make the circle, but remember to rock it a little before pulling it out of the wood otherwise you risk the chance of taking the plug out and only having a hole (learnd from experience!)

I like to use finish nails. I pound on the point and drive in the nail head. The nail head has a concave surface and it gives the nice round effect. There are so many sizes of finish nails that you can always find one that fits your carving and it is a lot less expensive than a nail punch or eye gouge.

For larger carvings, I use an eye punch or a leather punch. I am careful not to push too deep with the punches as already explained by others.

For smaller carvings (which is what I do most often), I use a knife to cut out the button 'manually'. I do this with a series of 4 small triangles around the area where I want the button to be. I most often leave the corners - but sometimes will try to round the button a little. The key is having the little triangle holes to give the illusion that the button is separate from the shirt.

On the minatures, I just do one small triangle to simulate the button more with a hole than an actual separate piece.

My 2 cents worth, or what its worth...

from a hobbie shop localy, i bought pin tubing, you can get it in verious sizes. of brass tubing, from where only a straight pin will fit in, to 1/2 inch,,

i cut off a small length and fit a piece of dowell on the end for a handle and use it like a palm push chizzle..

if your hobbie shop dont have pin tubing... in emergency i have use the brass type ink refill for a ball point pin,, scripto brand is usualy 1/8th inch... or light house for the blind products..

just another cheap idea,,

i didnt know there was such a thing as an eye gouge.. ?? :P except in wrestling...ha

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

they have two different types of eye gouges, oval and round and about $35 a set of 4 if I remember right...have looked at them, but 35.00 will buy something else I want more :P

Once you have made your button, by what ever method you choose from above, be sure to take your knife and cut in a small wedge to represent the 'botton hole' sticking out the edge past the button.