Since the ancient times of the invention of navigation, humanity has known such a thing as eyelets, which have become an integral attribute of sails used by sailors. Externally, this device consists of two rings of equal diameter, fixed into a hole in the target material and serving to strengthen and hold the entire structure on the base.
Eyelets are the basic method of attaching awning canvases
What it is?
In the modern world, the use of eyelets has expanded many times, and they can be used:
- in the production of banners for outdoor advertising;
- for tarpaulin awnings;
- in tents for tourism;
- in the manufacture of awnings for cars;
- in clothes and shoes;
- in the manufacture of curtains;
- in accessories and much more.
At their core, eyelets are the edging of a hole, embedded in the material, serving to strengthen it and allowing cables, ropes, harnesses and other guides to be passed through them without causing mechanical damage to the material during use.
The awning can be secured with eyelets using a cord passed through the holes
Or with a strap passed through the staples
In designs that require quick and convenient assembly, eyelets with swivel brackets are used
Eyelets for an awning allow you to give the entire structure the necessary shape and tension, which distinguishes them from other fastenings.
The main characteristics that eyelets have are the following:
- Diameter that must match the hole in the material.
Eyelet parameters - Strength depends on the material from which the eyelets are made (plastic or metal).
- The appearance of the eyelets is usually made in the shape of a circle or oval.
Round eyelet
Oval grommet
Grommet with teeth
Eyelet with screws
Depending on the material from which the eyelets are made, they can be divided into two types:
- Plastic.
- Metal.
Plastic eyelets are secured by soldering two halves using special equipment
Undoubtedly, metal eyelets are more practical and reliable, because they are less susceptible to deformation under constant physical stress, and their installation does not require special devices, as for plastic ones.
Metal eyelets are most often made galvanized or nickel-plated
Types of grommet rings
The materials from which this type of fastening is made are varied - from metal to plastic of various shapes and colors.
Installation methods also directly depend on this. A plastic eyelet is much easier to install, but a large load on it is unacceptable! If desired, you can remove it and use it again, but the fixation of the edges of the fabric will be very poor - they crumble and become deformed, and the product looks sloppy.
Colored metal eyelets are much more reliable than plastic ones - they hold the fabric perfectly, preventing it from tearing.
Steel fasteners are considered the most reliable for fastening fabrics, leather parts, and cardboard. But before you install eyelets without tools on clothes or shoes, you will need to practice on unnecessary pieces of material. This is necessary to understand how the work is going and not to spoil the thing.
The most popular way to use eyelets is to attach them to curtains. To do this, you additionally need grommet tape, which is sold in specialized stores. It is used to glue the edge of the fabric, creating rigidity.
The mount itself can have a completely different shape - from circles to animals. The color palette is also huge.
Curtain eyelets will help to form smooth, interesting and neat folds. In order to move such a curtain on the eaves, you do not need to apply any force. The fabric does not wear out on the cornice, and, accordingly, its service life is longer.
Eyelets for tarpaulin awnings
The article contains all the necessary information for installing grommets on a tarpaulin awning yourself and the features of a tarpaulin with grommets. For such dense and heavy material as tarpaulin, it is recommended to use metal eyelets, which can extend the service life of the entire product.
Eyelets for tarpaulins are marked with the letter L and the internal diameter. For example, L-22 is a grommet with an internal diameter of 22 mm.
Chemical treatment of metal eyelets with zinc, nickel or special paint prevents the effects of corrosion on the metal, and also ensures smoother sliding of the guides through the hole of the eyelets, which in turn reduces friction and ensures longer operation and compares favorably with plastic eyelets.
The grommet includes a washer that clamps it on the other side of the material
A metal eyelet consists of two mandatory elements - blocks and rings, connected to each other with special tools that ensure reliable and durable fastening on any material:
- textile;
- leather;
- tarpaulin;
- pvc products.
Installation on paper products
The easiest way to install eyelets yourself is on paper or cardboard. Those who have never installed such accessories are recommended to practice on paper before attaching the ring to fabric or leather.
Algorithm of actions:
- Use a ruler to measure the distance between the staples that will pass through the holes. According to the result, mark the location of the rings on paper.
- Use a hole punch to punch holes in the sheet. If the hole punch blade is too narrow. You can widen the hole by twisting the tip of a stationery knife in it. Excess paper needs to be cut off.
- Insert the fittings with the foot on the wrong side. Cover the top with a washer.
- Secure the eyelet with pliers or a press.
Since the small paper rings are made of thin metal, they can be secured by hand. To do this you will need some kind of cone-shaped object, such as a nail. It should fit in diameter. Using a small hammer you can secure the grommet. However, you will have to get used to it. The first attempts may be unsuccessful.
Installation instructions yourself
Having all the necessary materials and tools at hand, anyone can independently make an awning or canopy with eyelets at home, which can be used on the farm. This product can be used in various areas, from a tarpaulin curtain at the entrance to a garage to covering an outdoor pool from foreign objects and dirt.
Eyelets are great for securing canvas curtains to gates
Regardless of the area where you plan to use an awning with grommets, first of all, you should acquire high-quality blocks and rings; the overall strength of the grommets will depend on them. Experts recommend purchasing ready-made kits in specialized stores.
Typical eyelet sizes
As for tarpaulin, its choice should be made based on its intended purpose, based on the characteristics of strength, moisture resistance, frost resistance and the like. The shape and size are selected individually.
Preparing the tarpaulin for installation of eyelets
Having prepared all the necessary components and selected a tarpaulin for installing eyelets, you can move on to the next stage - punching holes in the tarpaulin, for which you will need the following tools:
- Ruler.
- Pencil, marker.
- Punch.
- Hammer.
Using a pencil and ruler, you need to find and mark the areas on the tarp where the eyelets will be placed. The mark should be made according to the diameter of the ring, evenly, at the same distance from each other. After this, using a punch and a hammer, holes are made in the tarpaulin in accordance with the marks.
It is necessary to accurately determine the location of the eyelets so as not to make unnecessary holes
Note! Before punching holes, it is recommended to fold the tarpaulin in half to more securely attach the grommet to the material.
If the tarp is thin, you can use a piece of durable fabric or use plastic or brass washers
Before punching holes, a wooden board is placed under the tarp to serve as a shock absorber when the hammer and punch collide.
Installing eyelets on the awning yourself
Having completed all of the above manipulations, all that remains is to secure the grommet in the tarpaulin awning, which, if all conditions are met, will not be difficult.
To do this you will need the following tools:
- Flaring.
- Hammer.
A block and a ring are placed in the previously prepared holes on the tarpaulin on both sides, opposite to each other, after which they are securely fixed to the material using a flaring tool and a hammer.
A furniture bolt with a wide head is suitable as a flaring tool.
This method allows you to quickly and efficiently install eyelets on the awning for further use for their intended purpose.
As you can see in the photo, flaring can be done quite efficiently even without a special tool
In addition, there are special manual presses for installing eyelets, which allow you to install eyelets on any type of material as quickly and easily as possible. This method is more suitable for installing grommets for commercial purposes.
Advantages and disadvantages of application
Why eyelets are considered a good invention:
- Curtains with eyelets glide well on a special round curtain. They open silently and easily. The same can be said about paper with eyelets. Such sheets are easy to turn over in a folder.
- Reliable fastening. If curtains on hooks can be accidentally touched and the loops broken, then the eyelets will withstand such a load.
- Aesthetic appearance. Thanks to the fittings, the holes look neat. You can choose eyelets by color, to match the tone of the product, and also choose an unusual shape.
- Clothes and curtains can be washed in a machine without removing the accessories.
The only drawback is that the material on which the eyelets will be installed must be chosen correctly. Many fabrics shrink after washing, as a result of which the hole is deformed, and threads or the edge of the cut material come out from under the fastening of the fittings.
Tools for installing grommets on a tarpaulin yourself
Today, there are several known methods for installing eyelets on various materials, divided depending on the tool used. At home, of course, it is preferable to use a manual type of tool.
For home use, it is enough to purchase a set of good quality hand tools
The ideal option for installing eyelets on an awning would be to use tools specially designed for this, sold in specialized stores: a flaring punch and an anvil.
Professionals use a hand press to install eyelets
A set of press attachments consists of a punch, a punch and a matrix
However, in almost any household there are suitable tools that replace them. The flaring can be replaced with a ball from a bearing, a product made from improvised means, provided that its diameter is of the appropriate size and it cannot cause mechanical damage to the grommet.
A good tool can be made on a lathe
The punch can be replaced with a metal thin-walled bushing of the required diameter, which can be found on the farm. Also, a piece of metal pipe, slightly sharpened along the inner diameter on one side, may be suitable for a punch.
It is acceptable if the inner diameter of the tube is 1–2 mm larger than the grommet size
As a last resort, you can use sewing scissors or a stationery knife, but this method is more labor-intensive and takes much longer.
Types and materials
Eyelets can be classified according to several criteria.
The table describes in detail the types of fittings and their characteristics:
| Distinctive features | Description |
| Magnitude | From 4 mm to 8 cm in diameter. Small eyelets (up to 2 cm) are used for sewing clothes, for making shoes, and also in office supplies. Large rings are installed on curtains and awnings. |
| Form | The outer edges may have an unusual appearance. For example, for children's rooms and bathrooms, you can purchase accessories in the shape of a flower or animals. Triangular and square grommets are sold for living rooms. For ribbons and flat laces, you can purchase oval eyelets. |
| Material | The fittings are made of metal, wood or plastic. |
| Color | The rings should be in harmony with the shade of the product on which they will be attached. You can buy matte or chrome metal eyelets. A special coating protects the metal from corrosion. Plastic fittings come in a wide range of bright colors, and wooden rings come in dark and light colors, usually coated with a layer of varnish to ensure good glide over the curtain. |
It is important to select the size and color of not only curtains, but also cords or ribbons. For example, shoe fittings should either match the base material or be the same color as the laces.
Examples and photos of installing eyelets on a tarpaulin awning
Installing eyelets on a tarpaulin may seem like a rather labor-intensive process and requires certain knowledge and skills, as well as special tools. However, using simple tips and following instructions, anyone can install grommets on a tarpaulin awning themselves at home.
An example of a quality installation on a tarpaulin - great job using a factory made hand punch
An example of a satisfactory installation of a grommet on a rug, especially considering what was used for flaring
And they used a spanner wrench - set it, hit it, rearranged it and hit it again
An example of what not to do. And the problem here is not at all in the tool, but in carelessness - even with scissors the cut could have been better
As they say, “the first pancake is always lumpy” - the flaring tool had to be held strictly vertically and the force of the impact should be calculated, at first examining the degree of bending of the side after each blow
Installation technique for curtains or tulle
Before purchasing fabric and curtain rings, you must correctly calculate the material consumption. Considering the fact that when installing eyelets, the canvas will not hang evenly, but will become wavy, more fabric will be required than the width of the window.
Since the standard distance between eyelets on thin fabrics is about 15 cm, to calculate the width of the tulle, you need to multiply the result of measuring the width of the window by 3. A narrow and often repeating wave hides a lot of material.
Thick curtains will require less fabric because the eyelets will be far apart and the wave will remain large and sparse. The width of the window must be multiplied by 2.
Further procedure:
- Calculate the required number of rings.
- Install grommet tape if the fabric is not stiff enough.
- Punch holes and install eyelets.
- Thread the rod from the cornice through the holes.
If the curtain or tulle fabric is elastic, but there is no grommet tape at hand, you can install the rings without it. You should make the holes a little smaller than necessary, then the fittings will not fall out.
