How to Set a Grommet

[auroraceleste]

And this tutorial because I have hours before class starts and the pictures have been in my gallery for EVER:


Materials needed:
A hammer - I like rubber-ended or a rubber mallet because steel can damage your tools
A grommet setter - We'll be using the hammer kind in this demo - 2 part anvil and driver
An Awl, or substitute sharp pencil, chopstick, or some other pointy device


You will also need grommets. First, the difference between grommets and eyelets:

Simply, a grommet has a lot of metal, and an eyelet has a little. (Technically: it has to do with the size of the flange of metal compared to the hole). Anyway, be sure you have grommets, not eyelets.

Next, be sure you get the right grommets. The sturdiest, most reliable grommets are two parts:

They come with a hole piece with a post and a washer piece that secures the grommet on the other side. Inspect a grommet. If the post part has lines scored onto it or the end feels rough, it's a split grommet. These grommets split the post into a star-looking shape to secure in place. This is bad because all the scored pieces of the star are sharp and can cut you, your corset/garment, or your laces as you feed them through; they also have cheap, flimsy, easy-to-bend metal. Finally, if you have the right grommets, make sure they are of the same size as your setter. I like 00, which are smaller than 0s, but use whatever size and color is right for your project.

Next, mark the locations for your new grommets on your project. I like ink pen because any marking will be covered up with proper grommet application, and ink pen won't wipe off:


Next, using the awl, poke a small hole in the center of your grommet mark. Use light pressure and twist to widen the hole, twisting the threads of the fabric aside instead of breaking them off (some will break, just break as few as possible).


Continue pushing and twisting until the hole is wide enough for the grommet to pass through.


This is where I like having a professional awl. If you have an awl of the proper size, take the awl out of the hole and put the grommet, post opening towards the point, onto the awl shaft. Press down lightly until it's secure. Then put the awl back into the fabric hole, widening the fabric with the awl and easing it down over the grommet's post with your fingers. Then place the washer onto the awl and press it down onto the fabric until the post sticks out the top.



Next, squeeze the grommet and washer between your fingers to keep them together. While doing this slide the awl out of the fabric:




Next we need to find the anvil for the grommet setter. Place the grommet into the divot on the anvil. The order should go: floor, grommet, fabric, and washer, with the post sticking out of the washer on top. If you're using colored or coated grommets cover the anvil with a tiny piece of felt or fleece with a hole cut in the middle before you put down your grommet. This will prevent the anvil from scratching your grommet:



Next, find the grommet setter driver. Put the driver into the hole on the grommet post.


Now you're going to hammer it in! Find your hammer, preferably rubber:


Using the rubber end (rawhide is ok, too) tap gently on the driver to set the grommet. Don't just whack it to death, though. To set the grommet you want to roll the post over onto the washer in a smooth, rolled lip. Whacking the driver really hard can split the post and flatten it instead of rolling it, leading to a sharp edge to cut your laces and a weak spot where your grommet can come out later. So use softer taps. I usually use around 20 taps to set one grommet:


Take the driver out, and you have a nicely set, rolled-edge, strong grommet!


And, finally, just a note, usually the grommet is on the right side of the fabric and the washer is on the wrong side. This is why colored grommets can come with silver washers, because they won't be seen anyway.

Comments

[verminiusrex.livejournal.com]

I prefer my method. "Go to friend's house. Use her grommet press. Make plans to buy yourself one."

[dleighb.livejournal.com]

Although I've used the above method, this is my method too. Only I don't make plans to buy one for myself. I make plans to do whatever it takes not to lose my friend with the grommet press!

[rowangolightly.livejournal.com]

That's been my plan for years! We bought a cheap-assed one but it was only worth what we paid for it.

Meantime, the method shown is the method I use.

[chernobylred.livejournal.com]

LOL!

I tell you, that $120 I spent on a grommet press and die (they were having a sale) was some of the best money I ever spent.

SO. AWESOME.

[mahariel.livejournal.com]

I'm in complete agreement - my industrial grommet setter was my 2006 Christmas present to myself, and it was one of the best purchases I've ever made.

[lasergirl.livejournal.com]

This is a great tutorial. It's a shame that most of your photos are out of focus though.

[cromgellslwten.livejournal.com]

I am curious, what is a grommet press? And the method shown above I used for my very first sewings and found it very enerving. Then i bought this http://www.fadenversand.de/hersteller/prym/druckknoepfe-oesen-nieten/druckknoepfe/prym-vario-zange.html
whatever its called in English :)
It works like pliers and putting in grommetsa or eyelets is the most easy part of the whole process.

[auroraceleste.livejournal.com]

I don't like the pliers because I don't have enough hand strength to squeeze them hard enough to set 20-30 grommets. Those are called pliers, though. These are grommet presses:
http://www.metalgrommets.com/prod_atmach.html