What Customers Are Saying
Photo Buttons & CoastersI use my 3.5 buttons for photo buttons and they sale out quickly. I just started making coasters with a 3.5 button. Amazing what you can make!!!!
Community Name TagsI live in a community and have been making them as Nametags. They are easy to make and everyone loves them.
- Loyal Customer
So glad I found ABM no complaints from me
- Live Event Photo Buttons
I take live picture poses of people at an event and print them to an Airprint Printer, cut them out and make a 3.5" button with as many as a dozen people on the button. A unique thing.
- Sports Photography
The 3-1/2” is a perfect button for sports photography. And you can make them from a4x6 print
The 3.5" Pinback Button Set is the complete three-part supply for making our largest round pinback buttons: front shell, mylar cover, and locking spring pinback. Every component is built to American Standard sizing and made in the USA for a clean, consistent crimp in your 3.5" button maker.
The 3.5" button is the largest round size we offer — a full canvas for photos, bold artwork, and designs that work as wearable signage. It is also the only size that makes drink coasters. Order the 10-set sample pack to test your setup, or scale up to 1,000 sets for production runs.
3.5" Pinback Button Set Specifications
| Finished Button Size | 3.5 inches |
|---|---|
| Sizing Standard | American Standard. Not compatible with foreign-made "89 mm" machines. |
| Components Per Set | Front shell, mylar cover, locking spring pinback (3 pieces — everything needed for one button) |
| Graphic Cut Size | 4.000" — the paper size your design must be cut to before pressing |
| Compatible Machine | ABM 3.5" Photo Button Maker (Model 350) — presses regular paper or photo stock |
| Pack Quantities | 10 (sample pack), 100, 250, 500, and 1,000 sets |
| Manufactured | Made in USA |
| Best For | Photo buttons, political campaigns, schools, libraries, churches, nonprofits, event planners, craft-fair and Etsy sellers |
What Else Can You Make with a 3.5" Button Maker
Pinback buttons are just the start. The same machine and the same front shells press every product below — swap the back or add an accessory, and you have a new product line.
Coaster Buttons
Cork-backed drink coasters — exclusive to the 3.5" size. Requires the coaster insert on the Model 350.
Ceramic Magnets
Super-strong magnets that work with finished 3.5" pinned buttons — no extra press step.
Button Easels
Cardboard easels that display finished buttons on tables, counters, and craft-fair booths.
American Standard Sizing — Why It Matters
These parts are built to American Standard 3.5" sizing. A 3.5" button measures exactly 88.9 mm. Foreign-made machines in this range are built to metric specifications — and that fraction of a millimeter is the difference between a button that crimps tight and one that jams the die or falls apart. Even though the sizes sound interchangeable, American Standard 3.5" parts do not typically work in foreign-made metric machines.
If you own an ABM 3.5" Photo Button Maker or another American Standard 3.5" press, these sets are designed and tested to run through it consistently, package after package. Not sure what machine you have? Call us at (972) 985-5074 and we will help you identify it before you order.
Use Case Ideas for 3.5" Buttons
The 3.5" button is our largest round canvas — designs read like small signs, and photos display at nearly full snapshot size. Popular uses include:
- Photo buttons. Sports portraits, graduation photos, and proud-parent buttons at nearly full snapshot size.
- Campaign and rally buttons. The maximum-impact political size — full-color candidate artwork visible across a crowd.
- School spirit and events. Homecoming, senior nights, team photo buttons, and award recognition that cannot be missed.
- Memorial and celebration keepsakes. Dignified photo buttons for memorial services, anniversaries, and milestone birthdays.
- Drink coasters. The only button size that doubles as a cork-backed coaster — weddings, breweries, and corporate gifts.
- Trade shows and promotions. "Ask me about" buttons and staff identification readable at conversation distance.
- Church and nonprofit fundraising. Event themes, donor recognition, and awareness designs with room for full messaging.
Compatible Machines & Cutters
These sets are designed and tested with American Button Machines' 3.5" equipment lineup, so every component crimps consistently from the first button to the thousandth.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is included in each 3.5" pinback button set?
Each set contains the three components needed to make one complete button: a metal front shell, a clear mylar cover that protects your design, and a back with a locking spring pinback. No glue or adhesive is needed — your button maker crimps all three pieces together with your printed design in one press.
What is the metric size of a 3.5" button?
A 3.5" button measures exactly 88.9 mm in diameter. It is commonly listed as the nominal "89 mm" size, but the parts themselves are built to the American Standard 3.5" specification — not the metric specification used by most foreign manufacturers.
Will these sets work in my foreign-made 89 mm button machine?
Typically, no. American Standard 3.5" parts (88.9 mm) and foreign-made metric machines sound like the same size, but the fraction-of-a-millimeter difference prevents a proper crimp — buttons may jam the die or fail to lock together. These sets are designed and tested for the ABM 3.5" Photo Button Maker and other American Standard 3.5" presses. If you are not sure what machine you have, call us at (972) 985-5074 before ordering.
Can I make photo buttons with these sets?
Yes — the ABM 3.5" Photo Button Maker is built to press regular printer paper or thicker photo stock on the same machine. Cut your photo to 4.000" with the 3.5" Graphic/Photo Punch and press as usual. At 3.5", photos display at nearly full snapshot size.
Can I make drink coasters with a 3.5" button maker?
Yes — 3.5" is the only button size that makes drink coasters. You will need the 3.5" Coaster Button Set (shell, recessed metal back, mylar, and adhesive cork) plus the 3.5" Photo Coaster Insert for the Model 350, which presses the flat button face a coaster requires. Replacement cork disks are available separately.
What size should I print and cut my graphics?
Graphics for 3.5" buttons must be cut to 4.000" in diameter — the extra material wraps around the shell's edge during pressing. The 3.5" Graphic/Photo Punch cuts this exact size in standard paper or photo stock, or you can dial it in on the Adjustable Circle Cutter.
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