Another button question

[piratesmate]

I've often cut off the shanks using a pair of wire cutters and never really had a problem. But I'm working with a set of buttons for a swap right now that is driving me crazy!! For some reason the bit of the shank that remains seems larger than usual and is being very stubborn about coming off!!

What do you do to get rid of that little bit of extra? I tried coarse sandpaper, but the only thing that got sanded was my thumbnail.

Any ideas?

 

[MazdaUK]

How about wrapping the sandpaper round something like a popsicle stick - I bet you've got one left from a pack of rub-ons somewhere

Let me know how it turns out - I'm still just looking at mine

 

[piratesmate]

Thanks for the idea, but I didn't word that too well. What I meant was that the coarse sandpaper wasn't doing anything to the bits left on the back of the button. I can get in there okay...it was just supposed to be a tongue-in-cheek comment about how it wasn't working & I'm a klutz!

 

[Queenie]

I've always used nail clippers, they get right down to the bottom of the shank for me and you can get quite a lot of pressure in them to get through tough materials.

 

[piratesmate]

I've always used nail clippers, they get right down to the bottom of the shank for me and you can get quite a lot of pressure in them to get through tough materials.

Duh! Of course! If you use the edge instead of the center (where it's curved) you could get right down next to it! That's part of the problem with the wire cutters...they're too angled to work right - especially with whatever these are made of! I've done it before with no problem.

ETA: I just had a thought! I wonder if these are the same wire cutters I usually use?!?