Traditional Muzzleloading Association

Craftsmanship => Clothing and Other Crafts => Topic started by: LeeRoy on March 06, 2014, 07:48:28 PM

Title: Bone Buttons
Post by: LeeRoy on March 06, 2014, 07:48:28 PM

I have been thinking about making a couple of bone buttons for a sewing kit that I am making.
So while at Petco I saw some beef rib bone chews, one made the trek to my camp.

So is there any tricks to make said buttons, or anything that I should watch out for.
In my thinking wash with hot soapy water and dry. Draw a circle and cut out. Drill a couple holes there about the center. Maybe dress with bee's wax.

Any other info or suggestions  would be a help.

LeeRoy

Title: Re: Bone Buttons
Post by: sse on March 06, 2014, 10:59:04 PM

I can't answer your question, but it sounds like a nice project and I hope it works out well (and would like to see pics of the outcome).

Title: Re: Bone Buttons
Post by: Woodrock on March 10, 2014, 12:59:44 AM

Most early bone buttons had a rounded depression in the centre. You can do this with a drill bit ground to the rounded shape. than cut out the button with a hole saw. Bone being fairly soft, you can make you own small hole saws from steel tubing with hand filed teeth.  I found it easier to centre the buttons by drill the thread holes after  cutting the depression, and making a jig with two pins to hold the blank in place whilst cutting out the button with the hollow bit. (hole saw).
Woody

Title: Re: Bone Buttons
Post by: LeeRoy on March 10, 2014, 08:44:48 AM

Thanks for the replies.

LeeRoy

Title: Re: Bone Buttons
Post by: LRB on March 10, 2014, 01:22:37 PM

Most early buttons were also 4 holers. Not all, but most.

Title: Re: Bone Buttons
Post by: LeeRoy on March 12, 2014, 08:45:30 PM

Wouldn't you know it, I split the rib bone down both sides and remover the material from the inside. Now with 2 pieces of some what flat bone, they are too thin for buttons.

Next idea, thread winders. But the bone pieces are not truly flat.

Could these pieces be flattened?

Would placing them in hot water and then clamp them between something, to keep them flat until they cool work?

Any input would be helpful.

LeeRoy

Title: Re: Bone Buttons
Post by: LeeRoy on March 19, 2014, 07:37:30 AM

Here is the end product of the rib bone. I made some thread winders for my sewing kit, husiff, housewife kit.
A item to carry in my new possibles pouch.

LeeRoy

Title: Re: Bone Buttons
Post by: Roaddog on March 20, 2014, 06:01:17 AM

They look good Leeroy.Ihope you use a good dust mask wen working with bone.the dust can get in your lunges and will make you so ill that you won't get over it.

Title: Re: Bone Buttons
Post by: Roaddog on March 20, 2014, 06:03:04 AM

Quote from: "Roaddog"

They look good Leeroy.I hope you use a good dust mask wen working with bone.the dust can get in your lunges and will make you so ill that you won't get over it.

Title: Re: Bone Buttons
Post by: LeeRoy on March 20, 2014, 10:07:29 PM

Thanks for replying and the warning.
Yes, I use the 3-M paper mask that has the 2 straps. I use them when working with a sander too.

LeeRoy

Title: Re: Bone Buttons
Post by: Roaddog on March 21, 2014, 07:04:13 AM

Title: Re: Bone Buttons
Post by: LeeRoy on March 26, 2014, 08:58:03 AM

Thanks for the replies.

I am thinking on another visit to PetMart, I will find a thicker piece of bone this time.

LeeRoy

Title: Re: Bone Buttons
Post by: Ironhand on March 26, 2014, 09:09:55 AM

Talk to a butcher. Ask for a scapula (shoulder bone), they are fairly flat and have no marrow cavity.

Ironhand

Title: Re: Bone Buttons
Post by: LeeRoy on March 27, 2014, 07:33:45 AM

Thanks for the tip.

LeeRoy

Title: Re: Bone Buttons
Post by: Loyalist Dave on January 16, 2015, 07:44:13 AM

Quote from: "LRB"

Most early buttons were also 4 holers. Not all, but most.

They were?

 :cry:

LD

Title: Re: Bone Buttons
Post by: LeeRoy on January 16, 2015, 11:11:07 AM

I would think that it would depend on the type of garment that they are being used on,
light use or heavy.

Thanks for the replies.
LeeRoy

Title: Re: Bone Buttons
Post by: Kermit on January 20, 2015, 11:07:04 AM

Time to stop thinking and do some research. Seems buttons were made with one, two, three, four, and five holes, with FIVE being thought the most common. Also, buttons on clothing were for those with some monetary resources. Closing clothing with pins or hooks and eyes might be more HC in many cases.

Consider making buttons with one hole for a metal shank. Bone buttons were often just the forms for fabric covered buttons.

Read this. All of it. (Trying to open the links can be crazymaking since many are dead.)

A Woodsrunner's Diary: 18th Century Buttons. BONE BUTTONS. (http://woodsrunnersdiary.blogspot.com/2009/09/18th-century-buttons-bone-buttons.html)

Beware. Just because a button is bone doesn't mean it's old. Some folks think something from the 60's is an antique. Makes me prehistoric.

Title: Re: Bone Buttons
Post by: LeeRoy on January 20, 2015, 06:05:09 PM

Thanks for the link.
It is a interesting read.

LeeRoy

Title: Re: Bone Buttons
Post by: Blackbruin on January 28, 2015, 07:27:22 PM

I always found antler to be more durable and easier

Title: Re: Bone Buttons
Post by: Mad Irish Jack on February 09, 2015, 05:30:37 PM

I also think antler  more durable and easier to make buttons from. I had a friend give me a decent eight point rack. I use 1/32 to a 1/16 bit to drill holes for the thread. I set a homemade fence on the table plate of a band saw using the thinist, finest toothed blade I can use. This helps keep thicknesses even. I slice off the buttons and keep them in order. I put 4, 5, or 6 buttons to a threaded set. I use what I need and when I rondy I go to the clothiers and sell on the blanket. Sets of same size sell easier than having them picked through. You need to check local law about animal parts etc. You can also tint (dye) buttons and/or tell those who buy them.  I only have 6 whole racks out of my 31, plus many given to me, that I haven't sliced up and used for buttons, handle and other uses.

Title: Re: Bone Buttons
Post by: Bison Horn on February 09, 2015, 10:55:19 PM

I use antler buttons easy to make on the bandmsaw and hold up well. There is always a good supply of antlers. BH