- January 13, 2023
Improve Your Plastic Tags With The Use of Grommets or Eyelets
The choice between using eyelets or grommets in your tag is one based upon holding strength required and aesthetics. Grommets and eyelets are small pieces of hardware that are applied on canvas or sackcloth to reinforce holes. They are also quite common in plastic tag holes that are subjected to repetitive movements. Grommets or eyelets ensure that the wires, ropes or cords passed through the holes do not wear out or increase the hole diameter. They are made out of different materials but most common is brass or steel. Brass grommets and eyelets are commonly used for plastic tags because they will not rust like steel fasteners.
How to Install a Grommet or Eyelet
Grommets and eyelets can be installed beginning with a hand drive set that you use with a mallet, a hand press , foot press or auto feed machinery depending on your volume of work. First thing is to make sure you have all the required materials. For a hand drive application you should have a mallet, a driver or top die, an anvil or bottom die, the correct size grommet or eyelet and a washer. Make sure that the setting tools are the appropriate size for the grommet or eyelet that you are going to use. Every size grommet or eyelet uses very specific size setting tools.
- If using a grommet, begin by cutting a hole the approximate same size as the hole in the washer. Most hand setting kits should come with a round hole punch. If using an eyelet, make sure the hole size is 4 to 10 thousands larger than the barrel diameter of the eyelet. You can also use a washer with an eyelet just as you do with a grommet if it is necessary. This will be determined by the rigidity of your product.
- Insert the barrel of the grommet or eyelet into the hole from the side of the plastic where you want the finished side to be. Make sure the eyelet or grommet is sufficiently long enough to go through your material with at least 1/16 of an inch sticking through to the other side. Place the grommet or eyelet flange side down on the bottom die. The grommet or eyelet barrel will now be facing up.
- Now place the washer over the barrel and slide the top driver into the center of the grommet or eyelet barrel.
- Set the grommet by taping the top driver with the mallet until the setting is tight.
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Types of Grommets
They include the following with their preferred corresponding washer:
- Plain grommets: Just like the name suggests, plain grommets are simple and the most common. They are also called plain sheet metal grommets. They are the standard model recommended for light-duty or medium applications. Plain grommets pair well with plain washers. This type of grommets are the best to be used on plastic tags.
- Rolled rim grommets: These are recommended for heavy duty or thicker material. The spurs lock onto the rim of the grommet providing a tighter and stronger grip on the material. They are exclusively used with spur washers. Very common with large tarps and truck covers. Since the washers have a row of teeth around the inside hole and also a row of teeth around the outside edge, they cannot be used in thin material because the teeth will have nowhere when the grommet is set and the grommet and washer will not come completely together to form a tight setting.
- Self-piercing grommets: These types of grommets pierce their own hole and there is no need to pre-punch a hole in your material. They penetrate through the material as long as it matches with its corresponding washer. Not recommended for hard materials such as metal or hard plastic. These grommets are made from thicker brass or stainless steel. They must be applied with some type of setting machine like a hand press or foot press. They cannot be applied with a mallet. They can be used on plastic tags but they are much more expensive than a plain grommet and washer.
- Eyelets and WashersDepending on the look you are trying to achieve, eyelets and washers are also a viable alternative and are set just like plain grommets and washers. They are ideal on small tags where a grommet would be too large and distort the overall look of the product.
Advantages of Adding Grommets or Eyelets on Plastic Tags
- Brass grommets or eyelets do not rust. They ensure durability when used on plastic tags.
- Your plastic tag can withstand all weather be it wind or rain. The plain brass grommets or eyelets will still hold the plastic tag firmly. They are perfect for both indoors and outdoors tags.
- Grommets and eyelets are designed not to stress or scrape the plastic tag attached to it. Since grommets or eyelets firmly attach onto materials, your tags won't be affected even if they are pulled by an outside force.
If you are looking for the right grommets or eyelets for your tags, consult a manufacturer who specializes in grommets to help you pick the right type and size.