uber formal on the cheap: dollar by dollar

**Alan H** · 8th May 06, 11:30 AM

Originally Posted by beerbecue

Alan,

How did you get the buttons to lie/sit right on the coat?... The shank is pretty long on these PC buttons.....

I let my button flop a bit, because they were inexpensive and I didn't want to mash, em, but if your buttons are pewter with wire shanks, the put a rag or something on the top of the button to protect it (maybe 2-3 thicknesses?) and then smoosh the shank a little bit smaller/flatter with pliars.

If they're cast-in shanks, then you're stuck.

**switchblade5984** · 31st October 06, 01:28 PM

do we have any pics yet?

**beerbecue** · 31st October 06, 03:15 PM

I guess I should take some pictures...

Anyway, I had posted elsewhere that I made some ultra-cheap button fixtures to hold my PC buttons flat on my jacket...

A washer made of posterboard, and a cotter pin made from a paper clip...

Just make some buttonholes, sew the edges, and affix the buttons from the inside..

Didn't catch on my clothes at all and the buttons stay put very well. Nice thing is I can remove them from this jacket, wash the jacket sans buttons, use them on a different jacket, change button sizes... all kinds of possibilities...

A word from one supplier of buttons said that many people use little brass cotter pins that you can buy at Ace or other Hardware places....

I will post pictures once I find a place to host them.....

**Scott Gilmore** · 31st October 06, 05:40 PM

This is a great thread. Thanks Alan for posting complete information. Looking forward to pictures, beerbecue.

**KiltedCodeWarrior** · 31st October 06, 05:45 PM

Beerbecue, check out Photobucket. Free, easy to use, and you can easily link your pics to here, or anyplace for that matter. I keep all my pics there now.

**bunchdescendant** · 31st October 06, 11:26 PM

Originally Posted by beerbecue

I guess I should take some pictures...

Anyway, I had posted elsewhere that I made some ultra-cheap button fixtures to hold my PC buttons flat on my jacket...

A washer made of posterboard, and a cotter pin made from a paper clip...

Just make some buttonholes, sew the edges, and affix the buttons from the inside..

Didn't catch on my clothes at all and the buttons stay put very well. Nice thing is I can remove them from this jacket, wash the jacket sans buttons, use them on a different jacket, change button sizes... all kinds of possibilities...

A word from one supplier of buttons said that many people use little brass cotter pins that you can buy at Ace or other Hardware places....

I will post pictures once I find a place to host them.....

Seems like my USAF dress blues used a cotter pin to hold the buttons on. If it's good enough for Uncle Sam, it's good enough for me! LOL!! The cotter pins were probably $1.00 USD each from the contractor that supplied them! :rolleyes:

Ray

**switchblade5984** · 1st November 06, 12:32 PM

Marine dress blues get button holed then new buttons cotter pinned in!

**beerbecue** · 4th November 06, 01:53 PM

I stuck this entry on another thread. Thought I should include it here...

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/s...2&postcount=32

**Alan H** · 2nd July 07, 12:00 PM

*bump*

for toad in a kilt.

**cacunn** · 8th July 07, 02:51 PM

I have been thinking about getting one of the Eton Jackets from Uniformwearhouse as a compliment to the tails coat I converted to a PC. My questions is if you replaced the original button and added the six side button and cuff buttons with button held in place with cotter pins, could you also carry a set of buttons covered in black cloth matching the coat, could the black button be used to make the coat less formal - almost day wear.

Rather than carry two coats you could carry two sets of button.