MAKING THE BUTTONS

Let us go into the design of the button and how it is made. I will assume that you do not have tool-room
equipment so we will use what is normally found in a small shop. We will make a 30-caliber button first.
Get a few pieces of 5/16-inch grade 883 carbide, 1 1/2 inch long.

Wholesale Tool should be able to supply you with the carbide. In addition, you will need a piece of
5/16-drill rod, a 1/4 diamond-grinding wheel, and a 1/8 inch 60 degree diamond wheel. The 1/8 wheel
that is 4 inches is for the milling machine, the 1/4 x 6 inches is for the tool post grinder. You will also
need some diamond-lapping compound for finishing the buttons, coarse, medium, and fine.

Now cut 2 pieces of the 5/16-drill rod, 1/2 inch long, square and true the ends, center drill one end. You
will need a small V center bar. Lay the carbide piece in the V, and the short drill rod, with the centers to
the outside. Put some low melting silver solder paste on the ends, press them together and heat them
up until the silver solder melts, and let cool. Be careful that you do not over heat the carbide or heat it up
to fast, as it will crack.

When soldered good, let it cool in the V ways. It is now ready to grind. You will need a small lathe dog
to hold the drill rod/carbide to the faceplate, while it is between centers.

You will need to set up a can of water-soluble oil to be used when you grind the carbide. This will also be
needed for the milling machine when you grind the land grooves in the buttons. It would be best if you
can use a mist type, as the carbide must not get hot.

GRINDING THE CARBIDE

When grinding the carbide use as high an rpm as possible, on the wheels. Keep plenty of coolant on the
work piece, and the wheel to keep the carbide cool and the diamond wheel from plugging up. The lathe
should be in back gear, and the feed slow.