And one more

Hi, I've tried to get hold of some old typewriter buttons, each time I've seen them i get outbid or theres letters missing.So i decide to look into how to make my own!I've attached a picture of the first set that i have made, these will be used on my cellphone (Parlez-Phone) , if you think they are OK , ill post the full instructions on how to do it.So far these have cost me �£4.00 and i still have enough parts left for another 8. ( which by the looks of it i will have to make!)

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Title: Re: Typewriter Buttons and how to make your own!Post by: Commander Obadiah on July 18, 2008, 04:09:22 AM

Those look fantastic sir, how did you manage them?Commander C. Obadiah

Title: Re: Typewriter Buttons and how to make your own!Post by: Outa_Spaceman on July 18, 2008, 05:15:08 AM

Hmmmm....Typewriter buttons...

Title: Re: Typewriter Buttons and how to make your own!Post by: ironwood on July 18, 2008, 08:33:50 AM

They look really good.  Please post the instructions.

Title: Re: Typewriter Buttons and how to make your own!Post by: R. Douglas Johnson on July 18, 2008, 08:55:58 AM

These do look lovely! You've got the likeness down perfectly, and the advantage is that you can make your own labels - no irritating punctuation where it shouldn't be, etc.I got mine () by just finding some old typewriters and prying the keys off - typewriters turn up for about a fiver in junk shops, those not-quite-antiques shops, if you know the sort I mean - or auction sales. Some of mine were got for me by family members who run a second-hand bookshop and therefore go to a lot of auctions, just by having a word with the auctioneer - typewriters fetch almost nothing so it's often not worth selling them when they turn up in house lots. The keys come off with pliers and patience, but you have to be careful, especially if they have glass tops.Using them on one's mobile telephone is a great idea! Unfortunately my own phone keypad is far too fiddly to attempt anything similar.

Title: Re: Typewriter Buttons and how to make your own!Post by: popuptoaster on July 18, 2008, 08:57:24 AM

I was thinking about this the other day, i was gonna have a look at shirt buttons in the dress makers shop in town next time i went past, figured some paint and a circle of something to cover up the holes for thread in the middle could work.

Title: Re: Typewriter Buttons and how to make your own!Post by: Loidor on July 18, 2008, 09:11:46 AM

So, for us in need of making typewriter buttons... I'd love to see the instructions =)

Title: Re: Typewriter Buttons and how to make your own!Post by: Ironman on July 19, 2008, 04:49:27 AM

Ok once ive done the shopping to day, down at the local Bazzar is hal return and try to create a narrative one the subject.Theyve actually come out ok.Should hopefullly have them in situe on the Telephony device later as well.

Title: Re: Typewriter Buttons and how to make your own!Post by: Outa_Spaceman on July 19, 2008, 09:13:13 AM

Quote from: Ironman on July 19, 2008, 04:49:27 AM

Ok once ive done the shopping to day, down at the local Bazzar is hal return and try to create a narrative one the subject.Theyve actually come out ok.Should hopefullly have them in situe on the Telephony device later as well.

A way of producing typewriter keys, without savaging old typewriters, would probably confer sainthood on you... :D

Title: Re: Typewriter Buttons and how to make your own!Post by: Angus D. Murphy on July 19, 2008, 03:41:55 PM

Quote from: Outa_Spaceman on July 19, 2008, 09:13:13 AM

Quote from: Ironman on July 19, 2008, 04:49:27 AM

Ok once ive done the shopping to day, down at the local Bazzar is hal return and try to create a narrative one the subject.Theyve actually come out ok.Should hopefullly have them in situe on the Telephony device later as well.

A way of producing typewriter keys, without savaging old typewriters, would probably confer sainthood on you... :D

Cutting up old typerwriters is something I just can't do. A bit like cutting a book to make a box. It'd have to be a very, very bad book.

Title: Re: Typewriter Buttons and how to make your own!Post by: Benzworth on July 19, 2008, 11:49:14 PM

Yes, instructions please.Buttons of that style could be QUITE useful in several projects I have in mind.

Title: Re: Typewriter Buttons and how to make your own!Post by: Ironman on July 20, 2008, 06:45:01 AM

OK as requested. there actually easier than they look to make, i did do a nice pamphlet on Photoshop buts its about 22 meg and wont resize.anyway

Parts list Fimo or for our Colonial colleges Sculpty, either black or ivory Brass rings (16mm or 5/8") as many as required A copper pipe olive 15mm our tube with a id of 15mm MDF block with a 16mm hole in (5/8") Small rolling pin or similar device wooden dowel or similar slightly smaller than the OD of the ring a baking tray  a cooker preheated to 110c or 230fITEMS READY FOR USE.

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1. roll out Fimo or Sculpty to about 4mm thick 5/32", then using the pipe olive cutout your fimo disc's

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2. drop the fimo disk into the mdf hole and place the ring on top

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3. press the ring with the stick into the fimo (gently)

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4. lift the fromer and push the button through.

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5.thats basically it, now place on a baking tray and cook them for 30 minutes

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once they've been made paint your number/ letter on, i tried to get some letraset rub on transfers of the right size and in white but typically they didn't have the ones i wanted, so ill have to look out for something else.hope this has been usefull.this is what I'm using them on My Parlez Phone from the cellphone link, and it does work, just got to finish the microphone horn and get some new replacement switches that i broke.

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Title: Re: Typewriter Buttons and how to make your own!Post by: elShoggotho on July 20, 2008, 08:10:46 AM

Two questions.1. Would it be feasible to use waterslide transfers? It would be great, I still have some inkjet waterslide stuff to print them myself.2. Milliput/Green Stuff, paint yourself? I don't want to soil kitchen and oven with the fimo stench..

Title: Re: Typewriter Buttons and how to make your own!Post by: Arcturon the hobo on July 20, 2008, 08:13:27 AM

I'd say greenstuff/milliput would work, it may be best to use enamel paint to get the glossy finish.

Title: Re: Typewriter Buttons and how to make your own!Post by: Outa_Spaceman on July 20, 2008, 08:54:38 AM

I've been using Dovecraft Crystal Effects for lettering...These are my current favorites:http://cuddlybuddly.com/products/1135/dovecraft-crystal-effects-alphabet-circle-blueor in black:http://cuddlybuddly.com/products/1136/dovecraft-crystal-effects-alphabet-circle-black

Title: Re: Typewriter Buttons and how to make your own!Post by: Ironman on July 20, 2008, 04:32:58 PM

Hi didnt get any of the Fimo Stink , youve probably been over cooking it, if thats the case ventilate the kitchen well, i think its a form of vynl so the fumes could be nasty if to much is inhailed.Anyway other ideas are always good, i just used fimo as ive used loads for maquettes when i was doing film stuff.OSM i take it you go to squires for those?

Title: Re: Typewriter Buttons and how to make your own!Post by: Outa_Spaceman on July 20, 2008, 05:44:56 PM

I haven't seen them in Squires...Though I suspect they'd be able to supply...I have mine delivered y'know.... ;)I've got some spares...I'll bob 'em through your door...

Title: Re: Typewriter Buttons and how to make your own!Post by: Commander Obadiah on July 21, 2008, 03:26:54 AM

Thankyou most kindly, Mr Ironman.Commander C. Obadiah

Title: Re: Typewriter Buttons and how to make your own!Post by: elShoggotho on July 21, 2008, 03:54:11 AM

Quote from: Arcturon the hobo on July 20, 2008, 08:13:27 AM

I'd say greenstuff/milliput would work, it may be best to use enamel paint to get the glossy finish.

Acrylic paints, as always. Glossy varnish over the stickers afterwards.

Title: Re: Typewriter Buttons and how to make your own!Post by: Hektor Plasm on July 21, 2008, 02:19:41 PM

How about using letter/number punches as used for metals to emboss the fimo before cooking; then apply a contrasting colour with a fine brush to fill in.  The font is a bit basic, but maybe there are other sources (John Bull printing Set??) of suitable letters that may be used to impress into the buttons?HP

Title: Re: Typewriter Buttons and how to make your own!Post by: Smaggers on July 21, 2008, 03:48:42 PM

A letterpress typeset would be good for that if you can find someone with one.

Title: Re: Typewriter Buttons and how to make your own!Post by: Ann Ominous on July 22, 2008, 01:36:15 AM

You can use rubber stamps to emboss Fimo/Sculpey as well.  I have several of those old "make your own stamp" sets, the kind with individual characters plus holder to mount them in. The individual letters are all small enough to fit on a key.  I believe they're still easy to find....Heck, I  guess you could just use the stamp to stamp the letter on the key after it was baked, too...

Title: Re: Typewriter Buttons and how to make your own!Post by: Ironman on July 22, 2008, 10:54:47 AM

I tired the stickers that Outa_Spaceman dropped round for me last night, and they dropped right into the ring beautifully, will photo and post.Thanks Outa_Spaceman your a hero!

Title: Re: Typewriter Buttons and how to make your own!Post by: splatman on July 23, 2008, 01:24:02 AM

Embossing the keys sounds great. It lets you "braille" the keys if you have to/like to type in the dark. Emboss them deep enough, and you can fill the impressions part-way with white paint or similar, while keeping that tactile aspect.Give it a Splat!

Title: Re: Typewriter Buttons and how to make your own!Post by: Ironman on July 23, 2008, 02:29:35 AM

That sounds good actually, you could put glow in the dark fimo into  the embossed marks once its cooked and re cook it.Maybe ill have a go, ill pop down our wonderous Leeside tools, and maybe spend a small fortune on the interesting stuff they have there.

Title: Re: Typewriter Buttons and how to make your own!Post by: Outa_Spaceman on July 23, 2008, 05:34:46 AM

Hmmmm...Leeside tools....http://www.leesidetools.co.uk/

Title: Re: Typewriter Buttons and how to make your own!Post by: Ann Ominous on July 23, 2008, 07:30:13 AM

Pardon my misuse of the term "emboss" in my earlier post; I meant "impress"...it was late, and I always confuse the two.I did a quick test with the set of stamps that I have, and realized they're too tiny for use on the individually-lettered keys (though they'd be good for imprinting a short word).  A quick internet search turned up myriads of larger and much nicer ones, and a new set is already on its way...Here's the results of my test (I hope this works, and an image actually appears below):(http://i515.photobucket.com/albums/t354/Ann_0minous/BGS.jpg)Obviously I wasn't being too careful about cutting the discs, or placing the letters.  The "G" in the middle is filled with white Sculpey; I'm out of glow-in-the-dark Fimo, so I used glow-in-the-dark acrylic paint on the "B" and the "S".  I didn't use a brush, I just pushed a dab of paint into the letter with the tip of my finger then wiped off the excess with a damp paper towel.  For the Sculpey "G" I pushed a dab of Sculpey into the letter, scraped it flush with a dental spatula, gave it a rub with a drop of mineral oil, and put it back in the oven.  When everything was dried and/or cooled I gave them a coat of clear enamel.  I'm not too impressed with the way the acrylics turned out--they don't look as clean as the Sculpey-filled letter, but they do glow very nicely.  I think impressing the letters, then filling them with glow-in-the-dark Fimo, would work very well.

Title: Re: Typewriter Buttons and how to make your own!Post by: Ironman on July 23, 2008, 05:51:37 PM

Cool , I'm going to see if i can find some stamps over the weekend and ill keep you posted.How about making glow in the dark buttons with black text, ill try that.Like you said the G looks really neat and tidy. Good going on that.Hmmm stamps , how about getting the alphabet engraved then pressing some fimo/Scuplty/Milliput.... into the letters and making your own stamps, OK ill try that tomorrow as well if i can.i have got a company that does somebits for me that makes seals for sealing wax but they're not cheap, but the make letter stamps for book binding ill talk to them.

Title: Re: Typewriter Buttons and how to make your own!Post by: Ironman on July 23, 2008, 06:13:46 PM

Just had a thought ( cogs crunching and bell tings)Amberly Museum!http://www.amberleymuseum.co.uk/index2.html (http://www.amberleymuseum.co.uk/index2.html)they have a typesetters, maybe i could try them and see what theyve got.

Title: Re: Typewriter Buttons and how to make your own!Post by: OldProfessorBear on July 23, 2008, 08:49:05 PM

A longish shot, but if you could find a letterpress hobbyist, you might be able to beg or borrow a set of, say, 12 or 14 point types. I'm sure there are places (especially in Britain) that will sell you a complete small font, but that would be many more bits of type than you'd need. Of course, if the price were low enough it wouldn't matter.