Punching grommets through webbing.

[bobbin]

I like that one, too!  So, Bob, do you have to wear oven mitts?   ;)

[Bob T]

Surprisingly, no oven mitts.  I can usually do about 20 holes before it gets too hot to hold, then I let it cool while I put in the grommets.  Otherwise, I just dip the handle in cold water.  On sails, sometimes I need to go thru 10 layers or more.

[Mike8560]

Here  is my press mi had ro make a t top canvas this morning
indont put webbing were the grometts will be only 3 layers od canvas.
http://i782.photobucket.com/albums/yy102/Mike8560/photo-91.jpg

[Grebo]

Nice Mike.  :D

The webbing is customers request  ::)
But I am pretty fed up with bashing the table everytime I need to fit them so I am going to invest in the grommet dies & button cutters to fit my osborne W1 button press, that should do it.  ;D

[Mike8560]

Sorry to hikack but has anyone had trouble with selfpiercing grometts latly

For me they just don't cut anymore maybe it's cheap metal.

[Bob T]

Sorry I didn't get back sooner.  Here is the setup I use for the smaller grommets.  I heat the cutter and use the drill to spin it.  Cuts easily.

[Darren Henry]

I keep looking at my button press, I am sure I could something with it.

Yes you can. Check your local tool stores for a punch set where the different sizes share one handle. Think of a socket set that snap onto an extension. There is a set out at work if you want a picture Monday {I don't want to see that ignorant S.O.B until punch in Monday}

Plan "B"; find a piece of stout tubing the right diameter, sharpen the end on your grindstone and cut to the length you need.

Not only does the end grain wood /rubber pad * save your tool they make a cleaner hole because the die can go into them and any "low spots" on the cutting edge get a chance to catch up and do their job .

* My favorite for the button press is a men's heel lift [that rubber piece on the bottom of the heel of his shoe]. I buy them wholesale for a buck or two a pair. Tell your cobbler what you need it for and he/she should have varying densities to choose form. I punch into the back side. The face usually has something embossed on it.

[Mike8560]

Bob that looks lime how we usx to stud our snowmobile tracks carbide studs fir traction on ice   
We did t heat it though just lit it in. Drill and cut the holes   

[Grebo]

I keep looking at my button press, I am sure I could something with it.

Yes you can. Check your local tool stores for a punch set where the different sizes share one handle. Think of a socket set that snap onto an extension. There is a set out at work if you want a picture Monday {I don't want to see that ignorant S.O.B until punch in Monday}

Cool thanks Darren, I will go look on Monday, everyone's closed today as it's Fathers day  ::)

Suzi

[Darren Henry]

Father's Day  :o  :o  :o Oh crap!!! Do we celebrate it the same day over here in Canada? I thought it was in June. I've already overlooked one birthday this year. The girlfriend's 60 Th.

[Mike8560]

Darren down here it's called. "woman friend"

[Grebo]

Father's Day  :o  :o  :o Oh crap!!! Do we celebrate it the same day over here in Canada? I thought it was in June. I've already overlooked one birthday this year. The girlfriend's 60 Th.

No I think Spain has it anytime they feel like it  ;D   Definitely not the same as the UK anyway.  ;)

I have been around loads of shops this morning & not one has the set you are talking about  >:(, I know exactly what you mean, there is a couple in the Osborne catalog.
I even went to an industrial ferreteria ( iron mongers I guess you call it ) & all they had where the single punches like I have anyway. So I got a couple of new one's & will cut down the old ones. :(
I might go & try the heat method just to get this job done.  Thanks Bob.  ;)

Suzi

[gene]

This is one of the reasons I enjoy this site. When I saw the topic, "Punching grommets through webbing", I thought maybe one or two replies.

I have done grommets for shower curtains and a few times for drapes. And once for a tarp that a friend was going to use for camping.

I never knew that it was such an important part of marine work. I must have thought subconsciously that all those grommets came with the fabric.

gene

[JuneC]

A single t-top can take hundreds of grommets.

http://www.centuryboats.com/images/uploads/boats/2102IS-ttop.jpg

I have a floor-standing, foot operated, Stimpson.  Unfortunately, I don't have self-piercing dies for it so holes must be cut first.  I have yet to find self-piercing grommets with spur washers anyway.  No idea why the two concepts can't be combined.  You can either get self-piercing, or spur, but never have found both in a single grommet. 

June

[DBR1957]

Don't do grommets on a regular basis but the last job I did was about 4 gross with hammer
style punch, #1 spur grommets. Narrow storm curtains on a huge houseboat. The real trick
to cutting the hole in webbing is to cut with the webbing side up. Always worked best for
me. I've always just used plywood or Starboard scrap as a backer.