Punching grommets through webbing.

[Grebo]

Hi guys & girls
I don't normally do much in the grommet line, so I just have the old cutting punch, hammer & closer.
Now I have about 20 #2 grommets to get through three layers of sunbrella plus one layer of medium weight webbing. Any tips on how to punch through that lot !  ::)
Please  ;D

[bobbin]

Setting grommets (common sense fasteners, or snaps) in webbing is a drag.  Eat your wheaties and then be prepared to really get busy with the mallet.  It really helps if the punch is sharp and you have one of those plastic/rubber pads to put under the work. 

[Mike8560]

I never had trouble putting snaps into webbing

Nut sommon sence and lift the dot grometts the punch tool is extremely hard to go through webbing. 

Grometts like on a t top I cand pinch webbing.  In fact I don't have webbing but only 3 layers of canvas.
Wheni tried to put a frometts in webbing getting the hole is the hard part  punchwhat gou can a d then try burning the hole with a  soldering iron.
Once you have a hole setting the gromett is not hard 

[Allan]

I use only stainless steel grommets and as such a hand punch is a real pain if not impossible
I use a 2 tonne press with the dies in it and it goes through without problems
It is not the best thing for site work though

Allan

[JuneC]

I like to use a sawn-off wood piling under the fabric.  MUCH easier than the rubber/plastic/starboard base and easier on the die cutter.  It won't dull the die nearly as fast. 

June

[Grebo]

Setting grommets (common sense fasteners, or snaps) in webbing is a drag.  Eat your wheaties and then be prepared to really get busy with the mallet.  It really helps if the punch is sharp and you have one of those plastic/rubber pads to put under the work. 

Yeh that's what I thought  :'(   
No miracle cure then, will have a look around for a lump of wood.

[bobbin]

June, I've never used anything but the rubber pad thingys.  I didn't know it would dull the punches faster, thanks for that tid bit!

[ajlelectronics]

Would an arbor press do the job for you? Here is an example...

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1-2-TONNE-ARBOR-ARBOUR-PRESS-/330513208763?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item4cf41f55bb

[Mojo]

Would an arbor press do the job for you? Here is an example...

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1-2-TONNE-ARBOR-ARBOUR-PRESS-/330513208763?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item4cf41f55bb

Funny you posted that. I was thinking the same thing.

Harbor Freight sells these arbor presses. I have used them before for pressing out bearings or pressing them in. They really apply a lot of force.

I was wondering several months ago if they could be adapted to upholstery projects.

Chris

[Allan]

Chris

I use a press like that to set my snaps it is a 1 tonne one however it will not set the stainless steel grommets although I haven't tried the nickel ones as I only use the stainless ones

Allan

[Grebo]

I keep looking at my button press, I am sure I could something with it.
Just never get the time to have a good look, may be today is the day.  ::)
Cuppa tea first.  ;D    I can't face all that hammering yet.

[Mike8560]

Hammering? Tou have to get a gromett press still cirri v the home I. Webbing is a pia

[scarab29]

did a buggy top last spring and bought a set of dies for my press n snap from manart and the self piercing grommets in stainless. the dies were NOT the ones that come in the press n snap kit.  No problem with them through the sunbrella and webbing I used.  Common sense I use the 'ol hand punch and a mallet. On my second punch as I nicked one. Block of wood does it for me.

[Bob T]

Easier than you think!  I keep a propane torch handy and heat up the punch head before easily pushing it thru the webbing and sunbrella.  I've found that gently spinning the punch as I push it through helps leave a cleaner cut.  Only light hammer / mallet use is needed if at all!

[Grebo]

Easier than you think!  I keep a propane torch handy and heat up the punch head before easily pushing it thru the webbing and sunbrella.  I've found that gently spinning the punch as I push it through helps leave a cleaner cut.  Only light hammer / mallet use is needed if at all!

There's a thought.