A Grommet is an eyelet of firm material used to strengthen or protect
an opening.  I need a very small grommet used in the making of wheel
charts.  The grommet should have a hole in it about 1/8" in diameter. 
I am also looking for a tool to squeeze the grommet.  I am trying to
attach a wheel shaped piece of paper to a square piece of paper using
a grommet.  The wheel has information on it that the user can spin
around and view through a window on the other piece of paper.  The
gommet acts as the wheels anchor and pivot point. Grommet can be made
out of plastic or metal.

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Request for Question Clarification by aceresearcher-ga on 20 Mar 2003 11:06 PST

jelly888,

I have found grommets and grommet tools from a couple of different
sources, but I am not sure whether they will allow the paper to rotate
(I'm guessing it depends on how hard you press the two parts together
with a tool). Would you consider those an acceptable Answer?

Regards,

aceresearcher

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Clarification of Question by jelly888-ga on 25 Mar 2003 11:07 PST

Is there anyway for you to post a picture of the grommet and tool you have found? 

Is the diameter of the grommet 1/8" or less?

Are there any automatic grommet squeezer machines?

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Request for Question Clarification by aceresearcher-ga on 25 Mar 2003 11:27 PST

Hi, jelly888!

The grommets I have found are either brass, or nickel-plated brass.

The *exterior* diameter is 3/8"; I calculate that that makes the
*interior* diameter around 3/16" (equal to 1/8" + half of 1/8").

I am not sure what you mean by "automatic grommet squeezer machines"
-- an assembly-line piece of equipment that runs item after item
through, automatically installing grommets? I am sure that such
machines do exist; however, they are probably pretty expensive
(thousands of dollars). Is that what you are seeking?

Regards,

aceresearcher

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Clarification of Question by jelly888-ga on 25 Mar 2003 11:34 PST

Actually I am seeking the two things combined. In the first question,
tools to make units by hand. and the grommets.

I posted another question and made it a 20 dollar pay out for
manufacturers capable of making this product. I had a manufacturer in
chicago once but I need something on the west coast or southwest or
mexico. 1,000's at a time.  Thank you, good luck!

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Request for Question Clarification by aceresearcher-ga on 25 Mar 2003 12:59 PST

jelly888,

Here are close-ups of the grommets, plus pictures of 2 different tools:

http://image1ex.villagephotos.com/pubimage.asp?id_=1951431

Regards,

ace

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Clarification of Question by jelly888-ga on 26 Mar 2003 09:26 PST

So far so good everyone.  Ace I am looking at paying you for your
research.  I posted a couple new questions you might want to look at.

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Request for Question Clarification by aceresearcher-ga on 26 Mar 2003 09:51 PST

Thanks, jelly888, I am taking a look at your other questions.

Would you like me to post as an Answer the prices and ordering
information for the items in the picture link above?

ace

Howdy jelly888! 
 
Here are several places that have grommet and snap setting
machines as well as the grommets themselves.

The King Richard Co./SnapFastener.Com/DecorativeNails.Com web
site has the following page which pictures various hand, foot
and power grommet and snap setting machines:

http://www.kingrichard.cc/snaps/machines.htm 
  
The Campbell Bosworth Machinery Company has a set of midget
grommet setters by Osborne shown at:

http://www.campbell-bosworth.com/handtool/tools/grm-snap.html  

Northwoods Falconry has screw-type stainless steel grommet
setters, grommet pliers and grommets illustrated at:

http://www.northwoodsfalconry.com/index.cgi?cat=%2FGrommet%20Setters%20%26%20Grommets&rm=listitems
  
Farthingales Fabrics has a good variety of setters, etc. and
explains some of the sizing nomenclature.  It appears that a
#00 grommet is what might do best for you at a "finished hole
diameter of 5/32" or 4.5mm and a finished grommet diameter of
7/16" or 11mm.":

http://www.farthingales.on.ca/grommets.php

Farthingales Fabrics also has a grommet setting tips page at:

http://www.farthingales.on.ca/grommet_tips.htm
  
Pres-N-Snap has "the ultimate snap & grommet pressing tool": 

http://www.pressnsnap.com/pns.htm  
  
Talas has more supplies and images:
  
http://nt.bnt.com/talas/menu.html?category=136  

It appears that the #00 is the smallest "standard" size that's
available on a regular basis.  Even though your specification
calls for a 1/8" grommet, your task might be easier by going
with the #00 (5/32") sized grommet.
  

Search strategy:  
  
"1/8" grommet  
"grommet setters"  
"grommet setting"  
"#00" grommets

://www.google.com/search?q=%221%2F8%22+grommet
://www.google.com/search?q=%22grommet+setters%22
://www.google.com/search?q=%22grommet+setting%22
://www.google.com/search?q=%22%2300%22+grommets


If you need any clarification with this answer, please
do not hesitate to ask!

Looking Forward, denco-ga

How about these - round head brass fasteners:
http://www.business-supply.com/dept.asp?dept%5Fid=1601913

I'm pretty sure you'll find what you need at a craft store (like
Michael's).  Look in the scrap booking dept -- there seems to be
everything anyone would ever want for paper construction projects
there.

The problem of the grommet not allowing rotation can be alleviated by
placing a sacrificial layer between the two pieces of paper when
securing the grommet.  This intermediate piece will in all probability
be destroyed during removal, thus "sacrificed".

If you are going to make "a lot" of these, you probably want make a
metal "spacer".  Take two pieces of sheet metal, drill a hole slightly
larger than the grommet inside diameter (in each sheet), use tin snips
(shears for cutting metal) to cut slots from the edge of the sheet
metal to the outside of the hole (in each sheet).  To use:  insert the
undeformed grommet into the hole in the two sheets of paper, slide the
sheet metal pieces between the paper sheets from opposite sides, form
the grommet with the tool, remove the sheet metal pieces.  The limited
space created by the two layers of sheet metal should provide
sufficient clearance for rotation.

Small rubber grommets are also available at Lowe's, but their
insertion into holes in paper may prove problematic, i.e. you will
tear the paper putting them in the holes.

Plastic grommets can be "manufactured" by using a short piece of
plastic tubing and heating each end.  With some pressure, the
resulting "mushroom" would create a flange.  My guess is this would
not provide a "finished" look, and the holes would probably have to be
"reamed".

Thank You all for your input on locating the grommet and tools. Are
the diameters of the grommets 1/8"(the inside hole?) The grommets have
to be fairly small.  What materials are the grommets made from?  Thank
you again.

I am crossposting this from:

http://answers.google.com/answers/main?cmd=threadview&id=180806

to here as it might be more appropriate.


Howdy jelly888-ga!

Some places that has grommet and snap setting machines: 

http://www.decorativenails.com/snaps/machines.htm 
 
which appears to be a subset of products from: 
 
http://www.snapfastener.com/ 
 
Snap Fastener is also King Richard: 
 
http://www.kingrichard.cc/grommets.htm 
 
The following has "Midget Grommet Setters": 
 
http://www.campbell-bosworth.com/handtool/tools/grm-snap.html 
 
The following is a falconry (!) site but it has (with pictures): 
 
- Screw-Type Stainless Steel Grommet Setters 
- Grommets 
- Grommet Pliers 
 
http://www.northwoodsfalconry.com/index.cgi?cat=%2FGrommet%20Setters%20%26%20Grommets&rm=listitems
 
If the above does not work for you use:

http://www.northwoodsfalconry.com/

and click on Grommet Setters and Grommets on the left side menu.
 
The following has a good variety of setters, etc. and (finally, at 
least for me...) explains some of the sizing nomenclature; it appears
that a #00 is what might do best for you at a "finished hole diameter
of 5/32" or 4.5mm and a finished grommet diameter of 7/16" or 11mm.":
 
http://www.farthingales.on.ca/grommets.php 
 
The following claims to have "the ultimate snap & grommet pressing
tool":
 
http://www.pressnsnap.com/pns.htm 
 
More supplies and picture at: 
 
http://nt.bnt.com/talas/menu.html?category=136 
 
The Canadian company Farthingales Fabrics has an "ace" basic
grommet setting stips page at: 
 
http://www.farthingales.on.ca/grommet_tips.htm 

 
For whatever it is worth, it appears that the #00 is the 
smallest "standard" size you can get on a regular basis.
I realize  your specs are calling for a 1/8" grommet, but
I think  you might make your life easier by going with 5/32". 
 
 
Search criteria: 
 
"1/8" grommet 
"grommet setters" 
"grommet setting" 
"#00" grommets

Denco, wow!! thank you very much,  much appreciated.  Have a great
day. Thanks again.

My pleasure jelly888!

denco