Eyelets & Grommets
Eyelets, Grommets & Setters
Grommets vs Eyelets, what the difference? Eyelets and grommets are both used to strengthen holes in thinner leathers and softer leathers when putting a lace, string, rope, or hook through the holes. The grommets look like an eyelet except they have a washer underneath. The grommets offer more strength to the hole than an eyelet since the grommet washer gives more support on the underneath side. We stock the eyelet setters and grommet setters for the different sizes. Typically, eyelets are only available in smaller diameters and are often called shoe eyelets. Grommets tend to be available in a large range of diameters.
The grommets we stock are solid brass so they will not rust. Therefore, the solid brass grommets can be used in applications that expose them to the elements. We also supply silver colored metal grommets which are a solid brass base metal with a nickel plating. The metal eyelets we stock are a steel base. The metal eyelets are nickel plated (silver color) or brass plated (gold color). Steel will eventually rust if continually exposed to water.
Installing grommets is easy. First, use a leather hole punch to make the appropriate size hole in your leather or other material that is just big enough to allow the grommet to fit though. You want the hole to be snug around the post, so the eyelet or grommet won't be able to pull through the material. The grommet tool has an anvil and driver. The base of the grommet sits in the anvil. Place the top side of your leather or material over the grommet post. Next, place the washer on top so the edge of the washer lays flat on the leather. Put your grommet driver on top of the grommet and tap with a mallet to crimp the post over the washer until it becomes tight. Then rotate the driver slightly as you tap so it is well crimped.
The process for setting an eyelet is the same process as the grommet except you do not have a washer. The eyelet tool also has an anvil and a driver. The eyelet tool will crimp the end of the eyelet around your leather or whatever material you are using.
The grommet post or eyelet post must stick up above the thickness of your leather, canvas, awning, or tarp for it to be able to crimp. If your material is too thick for the grommet post height, it will not set. If the leather is too thin for the post height, the grommet could set crooked. If your material is too thin, you can always thicken it by adding more material in that section which also makes it even stronger. Your grommet setter tool size and eyelet setter tool size must always match the diameter size of your grommet or eyelet you are using. There is a different setting tool for each size diameter grommet or eyelet.
More About Our Eyelets & Grommets
Eyelets, Grommets & Setters
Grommets vs Eyelets, what the difference? Eyelets and grommets are both used to strengthen holes in thinner leathers and softer leathers when putting a lace, string, rope, or hook through the holes. The grommets look like an eyelet except they have a washer underneath. The grommets offer more strength to the hole than an eyelet since the grommet washer gives more support on the underneath side. We stock the eyelet setters and grommet setters for the different sizes. Typically, eyelets are only available in smaller diameters and are often called shoe eyelets. Grommets tend to be available in a large range of diameters.
The grommets we stock are solid brass so they will not rust. Therefore, the solid brass grommets can be used in applications that expose them to the elements. We also supply silver colored metal grommets which are a solid brass base metal with a nickel plating. The metal eyelets we stock are a steel base. The metal eyelets are nickel plated (silver color) or brass plated (gold color). Steel will eventually rust if continually exposed to water.
Installing grommets is easy. First, use a leather hole punch to make the appropriate size hole in your leather or other material that is just big enough to allow the grommet to fit though. You want the hole to be snug around the post, so the eyelet or grommet won't be able to pull through the material. The grommet tool has an anvil and driver. The base of the grommet sits in the anvil. Place the top side of your leather or material over the grommet post. Next, place the washer on top so the edge of the washer lays flat on the leather. Put your grommet driver on top of the grommet and tap with a mallet to crimp the post over the washer until it becomes tight. Then rotate the driver slightly as you tap so it is well crimped.
The process for setting an eyelet is the same process as the grommet except you do not have a washer. The eyelet tool also has an anvil and a driver. The eyelet tool will crimp the end of the eyelet around your leather or whatever material you are using.
The grommet post or eyelet post must stick up above the thickness of your leather, canvas, awning, or tarp for it to be able to crimp. If your material is too thick for the grommet post height, it will not set. If the leather is too thin for the post height, the grommet could set crooked. If your material is too thin, you can always thicken it by adding more material in that section which also makes it even stronger. Your grommet setter tool size and eyelet setter tool size must always match the diameter size of your grommet or eyelet you are using. There is a different setting tool for each size diameter grommet or eyelet.