Grommets

[Devo]

I’m making bags and need grommets about 1” inside diameter. Haven’t had any luck finding press to cut the holes and dies that large. 

I can hammer grommets but How do you do you cut the hole neatly?

 

[Dwight]

Buy a short section of 3/4 inch EMT (eletro metallic tubing), . . . better known as conduit.

It needs to be about 8 inches long.

Take a dremel tool and sharpen the outside edge of it, . . . by sanding a bevel into the inside edge.  This won't work as well for anything above 6 oz, . . . but for chaps, billfolds, purses, thin one layer belts, . . . it works great.

The same thing in 1 inch, . . . makes just over a 1 inch hole.  Sharpen it by running the outside against a belt sander.

AND, . . . it's like the little birdie, . . . cheep, cheep, cheep.

May God bless,

Dwight

[Devo]

Love this idea. Thank you. 

[Dwight]

Use a little ingenuity, . . . there are bunches of punches can be made from EMT.

Different size holes, . . .

Cut away 1/2 of the circle, . . . becomes a punch to round the end of straps

Cut away 3/4 of the circle, . . . rounds off corners

Flatten it somewhat, . . . becomes an oval punch

Have fun with it, . . . I've probably got a dozen punches made from EMT

May God bless,

Dwight

[Devo]

Thank you. 

[councilman24]

For occasional use I have a set like this.

https://www.amazon.com/Neiko-02614A-Interchangable-Hollow-10-Piece/dp/B0002T87E0/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1547123421&sr=8-3&keywords=hole+punch+set

I also have dedicated hole punches for number 0,1,2,5, and 8 grommets.

https://www.sailrite.com/Round-Hole-Cutter-1-8

Mine are actually this type.

https://www.sailrite.com/Hole-Cutter-1-8