Kitebuilder.com

paul horner · Posted: Wed Mar 24, 2004 11:55 am Post subject: grommet press

Hello all i am new to this forum.
Can anyone who took Kevin Sanders' class at Ft Worden give me an idea of where to obtain (in North america) a press similar to the one he brought? I confess I am a tool junkie. Razz

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Paul Horner
Quadra Island
British Columbia

KiteSquid · Posted: Wed Mar 24, 2004 12:21 pm Post subject:

Can you post a photo? or at least describe it?
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VR/
KiteSquid
AKA TakoIka
AKA Harold
King George VA

P.S. Yet another post by the Squid..... Shocked

Doesent he ever shut up???

P.P.S. The wind is like the air, only pushier.

paul horner · Posted: Thu Mar 25, 2004 1:10 am Post subject:

Cast iron body mounted on a piece of plywood
Manual spiral thread driven with spring return

I think Kevin is away from home another two weeks or so....then i'll see about getting in touch.
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Paul Horner
Quadra Island
British Columbia

Dennist3 · Posted: Thu Mar 25, 2004 6:34 am Post subject:

Welcome New Guy!!!!!!!!!
Twisted Evil

I see you have already met the other "tool Junkie"

I hope you find it....

Dennis

KiteSquid · Posted: Thu Mar 25, 2004 8:47 am Post subject:

Go

HERE

and look at the bench top elelet setting machine page.... anything like that?

If it is ask Steve if he can get you one. I think there is sometihng simular from one of his supplyers. They are not cheep but good if you are setting a lot of gromets. BTW you have to buy the anvil for the size of grommets you are setting.......

look at the hand setting tool page. They can be had for around $60 each

you can get that kind a most boat stores. Think boat covers and tarps.

IF you are doing thousands of gromeets look at their powered units....

BTW I have used a unit that looks like this:

It takes sepperate dies to set diffrent size grommets
_________________
VR/
KiteSquid
AKA TakoIka
AKA Harold
King George VA

P.S. Yet another post by the Squid..... Shocked

Doesent he ever shut up???

P.P.S. The wind is like the air, only pushier.

stevef · Posted: Thu Mar 25, 2004 10:18 am Post subject:

correct - they are not cheap and you need sperate dies for each size grommet which again are not cheap.

These guys have been after me to distribute their supplies:
http://www.clipsshop.com
Check them out for ideas - they are in Turkey. I do not own one but I do have sources in the USA if you are interested further.

In our shop, we use manual hammer type tools for our grommets. They looks like this:

That will cost you around 50 bucks - depending on the size. I would stay away from the cheaper hand held "pliers" type insertion tools. All too often, you need to put a grommet in the middle of a kite and you cant do it with the plier type. Same can be said for those heavy duty tools like the one in squids post. The hammer type is the best..... for kite applications IMO.

-Steve
_________________
Steve Ferrel
Go Build a Kite!
Measure once, buy twice!

Stan · Joined: 18 Nov 2003 Posts: 592 Location: San Diego

Harbor Freight sells a good Chinese knockoff of the tool Steve displayed above, with a big supply of poor quality grommets. I get SS grommets for it at a sailing chandlery.

Stan

KiteSquid · Posted: Thu Mar 25, 2004 3:21 pm Post subject:

IMHO...

Harbor Freight, Cheap tools and also some inexpensive ones mixed in too…Caveat Emptor.

I buy disposable tools etc from them, but if I want something to last I go elsewhere.
_________________
VR/
KiteSquid
AKA TakoIka
AKA Harold
King George VA

P.S. Yet another post by the Squid..... Shocked

Doesent he ever shut up???

P.P.S. The wind is like the air, only pushier.

Stan · Joined: 18 Nov 2003 Posts: 592 Location: San Diego

I have to keep up the payments on my Hummer somehow Cool

Stan

dpb · Posted: Thu Mar 25, 2004 6:19 pm Post subject:

Ah yes, Harbor Freight. I believe it was Harbor Freight who briefly opened a store in Beaverton, Oregon. Bought a 1 hp grinder from them. Took it home and turned it on; it sounded like someone was pouring b-b's in a blender. Took it back immediately , and at first they said no return. So I made them hook it up. They grimaced and said I could have another. I made them hook it up as well and it did the same thing. After 4 or 5 grinders, they just gave me my money back (other customers were starting to come over to watch and listen).