Grommet, a versatile piece of material that comes in many forms. While most of us don’t know it by its name, almost everybody has made use of it. Well, the professionals who work in the engineering world and industrial experts know about this piece of material from A to Z. Many people have asked us the question, “What is a Grommet,” and that is why we thought of writing this article for you today. This item comes in many forms and different materials are being used to produce it. Each type is designed to fulfill a purpose in the fashion, industrial, or the engineering world. Some experts call this item, “Eyelet.” Well, an eyelet is also a similar piece of material, but differences are there.
Where can you see a Grommet in today’s world?: Well, you don’t need to step outside from your home to witness a one. The shower curtain, curtains, and even the dress you are wearing has this piece of material fixed on it. The plastics rings that protect your shoelace holes is the best example of an eyelet. OK, we can explain its purpose with the shoelace hole. Why should an eyelet be there for a shoelace hole’s protection? Let’s say the shoelace holes don’t have eyelets for protection. Every time when the shoelace passes through the hole, the hole can get damaged by it. But, thanks to the plastic eyelets, the shoelace can pass through the holes smoothly without damaging either of the things.
We can explain the purpose of a Grommet by explaining how banners are hung. Take a look at this picture and get the big picture As the picture explains, a banner has four or more holes to hang it outside. The ropes or whatever you use for hanging the banner should pass through the holes to secure the banner from the wind. If not, the banner will not stay in one place. What would happen without the four grommets? Simply, the movements caused by the wind will tear the banner from the holes. So, the purpose of the Grommet is acting as a reinforcement that protects the hole. Most banners have four holes to hang, but some have more.
The above example was an outside banner. Now, you can understand the required properties of a Grommet that you will use for outside applications. Corrosion-resistance, weather-resistance, durability, rigidity, and look are the essential properties of a piece of material that you will use for any outside application. Can you use plastic pieces for applications such as a banner? Well, plastics may not be strong enough to deal with applications such as on an outside banner. The wind exerts a larger force than you ever imagined on your banner. So, a plastic Grommet can fail under that much greater force. As shown in the picture, metal pieces are widely being used for outside, robust applications. Metal pieces also come in various grades and strengths to fit for different applications. So, choosing the right piece of material is important to fulfill your specific requirement.
Comparing an Eyelet with a Grommet: As mentioned, some people call the eyelet, a “Grommet.” And some call it the other way. Even though both the items have many similarities, one major difference is there to highlight. An eyelet is a one-piece material and t-shaped, and you have to punch it through the material (fabric, leather, and so on.) A Grommet is a two-piece material that the pieces should be compressed to form a solid piece of material. In other words, grommets are an advanced version of general eyelets. Eyelets are widely used for decorative purposes such as on dresses, handbags, and shoes. Grommets are widely used for robust applications such as industrial and engineering. In facts, grommets are much stronger and versatile than general eyelets. On the other hand, you can’t use grommets for decorative purposes such as for in the fashion world.
Grommet types: Depending on your application, you should choose the right piece of material to fulfill your specific requirements. Each type comes with advantages and disadvantages. For example, metal products are strong, but cannot be used for applications such as electrical wiring (metal is a conductor of electricity.) Anyway, metal pieces are more durable than plastic ones. So, you should understand the strengths and weaknesses of each type and choose the right one for your application. Below is a list of top material choices for this versatile piece of material:
1) Rubber: Rubber is a versatile material that comes with unique properties such as light-weight, weather-resistance, resistance to electrical flow, and ability to change and regain the original shape. Also, rubber doesn’t produce any sharp edges as metal might do. And, that is why rubber products are widely being used in the electrical industry such as for wiring applications. A metal Grommet can cut or damage a wire that passes through it, opening doors to electrical leakage and fires. Round, strip, and edge grommets are the common types you can buy in the rubber form today.
2) Plastic: Same as rubber, plastic offers resistance to electrical flow, smooth surface, weather-resistance, and so on. Anyway, plastics have limitations in terms of strength and versatility. For example, you can’t use a plastic Grommet for applications such as outside banners, as the movement/force caused by the wind can ultimately damage or break plastic pieces. Because you can create plastic pieces of different colors, shapes, and sizes; plastic grommets are widely used for decorative purposes.
3) Metal: The best type for robust applications such as outside banners, boats, tarps, and shower curtains. Brass, stainless steel, copper, and alloys are the widely used metals here. Resistance to weather, high-strength, durability, and different grades are the top advantages of metal pieces.
Some final words: So, now you have understood what a Grommet is, don’t you? This versatile piece of material is cheap to buy. You can buy it as individual pieces or in bulk amounts. Well, we don’t comment anything about the price here as it can vary on several factors such as size, material, manufacture, robustness, and so on. Choosing the right type is critical though. Talk to an expert in the industry if you are not sure of the type that will suit your application the most.
Also, never use metal grommets for electrical applications such as wiring. Let’s meet again with another useful article!
