Penny Buttons

Saturday night, about to head out. No jeans.

I am incapable of buying new jeans, after the last time, looking a few pairs of simple, black jeans I went through three shops looking for jeans that'd have the right waist and fit my calves in, apparently regular cut jeans are skinny now too. Or it has something to do with the foolish shape my body describes.

These jeans had a big hole where the button should be. Not a quick repair with no rivet buttons and sewing skills that aspire to mediocrity.

The jeans also have some teeth missing on the zip, a safety pin acts a stop on the busted side, so the zipper doesn't fall off. I need new jeans.

Looking at my change jar created a five minute fix that really did work, survives the washing machine and all!

Video if you'd rather see and hear me be awkward about my trampy buttons...

Step 1: Holes in Pennies

To make the holes in the pennies I didn't do too much hoking about, I grabbed a 4mm drill bit - a cheap Bosch one.

I sprayed WD-40 on to the penny, letting the rim of it hold a puddle to help keep the bit cool, since I hadn't drilled much metal with these bits.

3 in 1 or WD-40 are fine in lieu of cutting fluid for little things.

I held these with my carpenter's pincers since the vice wasn't out and this was a rush effort, on a cutting mat with the leg of a picture frame removed during my last project.

When drilling metal with no vice there's a sweet spot, I had the drill on the faster gear but didn't keep the speed particularly high, too low and the cutting edge gets a chance to dig as you hold it, too high and you'll just cook the bit.

By the by, a guy I used to work with put a snapped drill bit through my thumbnail while drilling a hole to repair a stainless chimney pot by leaning on it too hard, it took three months to get the last of the shards of metal and nail out as it grew forward, so don't wail on it either.

Step 2: Begin the Button

The first bit of the button is the front of it, with the front penny hanging loose against the head of the bolt.

Behind it is a nut threaded on as far as the thickness of another penny and another nut to the end of the bolt. (this nut gets pressed against by the penny and another nut)

Step 3: Add the Button

Slip the bolt through the hole in your jeans and put the second penny on, thread the second nut on behind the penny.

There's a photo of it stacked up sans jeans to be clear.

The second penny could be a washer or both of them for that matter, it just stops the whole lot from slipping through the hole in the jeans.

Step 4: Tighten Until You're on Fleek

Tighten the back nut up against the first one as tight at possible.

Now you should have a tightly locked backing penny and a loose front one for a button.

You're now fashionable. Or at least you're not accidentally exposing yourself to people.