Grommet dies for a Grommet Hand Press Machine

Grommet Setting Machine

A "hand press machine" makes setting grommets a lot easier, a lot faster and a lot healthier. A  "hand press machine" is actually a tool, unless it is motorized; but they are typically called machines anyway.  If you don't have a "hand press machine", then chances are you are using plier style hole punches mallet to  set grommets.  The pliers are hard on your hands and hammer setting grommets can be both time-consuming and inaccurate.
 
  There are several styles of "hand press machines"; some have handles that pull towards you, some have handles that pivot, and some have handles that get pushed down.   The one used in this article has a handle that gets pushed down.  Farthingales sells this one and one that pivot's.

Regardless of which type of "hand press machine" you choose to use the machine must be securely anchored to a stable surface.  .  The photograph shows a large C clamp securing the "hand press machine" to a tabletop.  .  You can also use bolts to permanently secure a "hand press machine".
 
Various dies can be purchased to fit the machine and serve different purposes.   Pictured below  are; "adaptors" in to sizes and a hole punch and anvil set. The "adaptors" consist of a post and a threaded hole .   The post fits into the machine, and dies gets screwed into the threaded hole. 

 

To set eyelets or grommets you have to use the dies that are specific to the grommets or the eyelets . They look very similar but setting a grommet with an eyelet die will not work as well as setting a grommet with the grommet die.

 

 

 

There is another type die available for setting grommets.  It's called pick die and has a spike that pokes through the fabric; creating the hole and setting the grommet simultaneously.   It sounds like a great idea and saves the time of hole punching but my experience is that it pulls the fabrics and creates marks aroundthe grommets.   So I don't recommend this die but there is a picture of it below.

 

 For more information on how to set grommets with a hand press machine / grommet setting machine / eyelet setting machine or to purchase one go to www.farthingalescorsetmaksupplies.com

 

 

 

 



Setting Grommets a.k.a. Eyelets

Eyelet Setting Instructions

(These instructions are included with the Eyelet Setting Kit #54-8600-kit)

Hammer Setting Eyelets

If you have ever set grommets using a Hammer Setter you will notice that the Eyelet Setter appears to be missing a piece; the base. We actually did call the manufacturer to confirm that all the pieces are here and they insisted there was no base piece to be had.

1. Make the hole using item #54-8600-cutr and a rubber or rawhide mallet.
2. Take the eyelet and push the shank into the hole until the eyelet is in place.
3. Place the eyelet on a solid, hard surface, the floor is best. Your fabric will be on top facing the ceiling with the eyelet underneath, almost hidden from view.
4. Take a washer and place it over the shank of the eyelet, the eyelet and washer will be shank to shank.
   Press gently until the washer is stable.
5. Center the Eyelet Setter (#54-8600-set) over the washer hole, the shaped end should fit neatly into the hole of the washer.
6. Hold the Eyelet Setter steady and bang a few times with the rubber mallet.
   Remove the Eyelet Setter and you are done.

NOTE: If the surface you are working on is not hard the eyelet may not set evenly and you will end up with little eyelet indentations in the surface of your table.

ALWAYS test the process on scrap first.

Eyelet

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Eyelet Setting by Machine

Click here for "How to Use the Eyelet Setting Machine"

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Grommet Setting Instructions

Using hammer set style tools; kit # 60-8810-kit (for #0 size grommets) or #54-8800-kit (for #00 size grommets).

You must have a rubber or rawhide mallet.

1. Punch a hole in your fabric using the "hole punch" and rubber mallet.
2. Place the grommet on the setting base, it should fit neatly in place.
3. Place you fabric on top of the grommet, being sure that the grommet shaft is coming up through the hole in the fabric.
4. Take the washer and slip it over the grommet shank, curved side upwards.
5. Center the setting tool with it’s "nose" going through the holes in washer grommet and base.
6. Strike with the rubber mallet two or three times
7. Check the set of the grommet, re-position and strike again if needed.

ALWAYS TEST ON SCRAP FABRIC FIRST

You cannot remove grommets once they are set or even partially set so be careful.