Need to insert some eyelets in a Gazebo canopy we use. Purchased one on eBay which was a piece of ****e. The punch type cutter wouldn't cut the material and the eyelets and eyelet washers were like something out of a Christmas cracker. Light and flimsy.
Spotted an apparently better type of hand punch on Amazon but on enquiring about the diameter of the eyelet holes a previous customer responded to my query to say the tool was rubbish. His went straight into the bin.

Can't seem to source one locally where I might be able to asses the quality so can anyone suggest a good tool they have used.

To be fair I think punching a hole in the material is always going to be a problem. The fabric tends to stretch unlike leather or vinyl.

In message , fred
writes
Need to insert some eyelets in a Gazebo canopy we use. Purchased one on
eBay which was a piece of ****e. The punch type cutter wouldn't cut the
material and the eyelets and eyelet washers were like something out of
a Christmas cracker. Light and flimsy.
Spotted an apparently better type of hand punch on Amazon but on
enquiring about the diameter of the eyelet holes a previous customer
responded to my query to say the tool was rubbish. His went straight
into the bin.

Can't seem to source one locally where I might be able to asses the
quality so can anyone suggest a good tool they have used.

To be fair I think punching a hole in the material is always going to
be a problem. The fabric tends to stretch unlike leather or vinyl.

Hmm.. I made one.

Drill a suitable hole in steel rod and then grind down the outer edge to
make it cut.

The support is critical. Best might be a lump of solid copper or lead
but end grain Oak might do.

--
Tim Lamb

Need to insert some eyelets in a Gazebo canopy we use. Purchased one on eBay
which was a piece of ****e. The punch type cutter wouldn't cut the material
and the eyelets and eyelet washers were like something out of a Christmas
cracker. Light and flimsy.
Spotted an apparently better type of hand punch on Amazon but on enquiring
about the diameter of the eyelet holes a previous customer responded to my
query to say the tool was rubbish. His went straight into the bin.

Can't seem to source one locally where I might be able to asses the quality
so can anyone suggest a good tool they have used.

To be fair I think punching a hole in the material is always going to be a
problem. The fabric tends to stretch unlike leather or vinyl.


Likewise I bough one that was crap. It did work after a bit of sharpening,
but only with an oak block behind the canvas. The eyelets then rusted, it
seems they were "brassed" instead of "brass"

Mike

On Monday, July 21, 2014 11:44:04 AM UTC+1, Tim Lamb wrote:
In message , fred

writes

Need to insert some eyelets in a Gazebo canopy we use. Purchased one on

eBay which was a piece of ****e. The punch type cutter wouldn't cut the

material and the eyelets and eyelet washers were like something out of

a Christmas cracker. Light and flimsy.

Spotted an apparently better type of hand punch on Amazon but on

enquiring about the diameter of the eyelet holes a previous customer

responded to my query to say the tool was rubbish. His went straight

into the bin.



Can't seem to source one locally where I might be able to asses the

quality so can anyone suggest a good tool they have used.



To be fair I think punching a hole in the material is always going to

be a problem. The fabric tends to stretch unlike leather or vinyl.



Hmm.. I made one.



Drill a suitable hole in steel rod and then grind down the outer edge to

make it cut.



The support is critical. Best might be a lump of solid copper or lead

but end grain Oak might do.



--

Tim Lamb

But it came with a punch. It just happened to be useless. I did try sharpening it on a grinder but it made no difference. I was backing it up with a piece of oak. The punch just drove the material into the oak. It severed it in several parts but not completely. To work correctly the eyelets need a clean hole. But then the rest of the kit was ****e also. After 4 attempts I just gave up.

fred scribbled...


Need to insert some eyelets in a Gazebo canopy we use. Purchased one on eBay which was a piece of ****e. The punch type cutter wouldn't cut the material and the eyelets and eyelet washers were like something out of a Christmas cracker. Light and flimsy.
Spotted an apparently better type of hand punch on Amazon but on enquiring about the diameter of the eyelet holes a previous customer responded to my query to say the tool was rubbish. His went straight into the bin.

Can't seem to source one locally where I might be able to asses the quality so can anyone suggest a good tool they have used.

To be fair I think punching a hole in the material is always going to be a problem. The fabric tends to stretch unlike leather or vinyl.


Plenty of "Hollow Hammer Hole punches" on Ebay from £2.00

fred explained :
Need to insert some eyelets in a Gazebo canopy we use. Purchased one on eBay
which was a piece of ****e. The punch type cutter wouldn't cut the material
and the eyelets and eyelet washers were like something out of a Christmas
cracker. Light and flimsy. Spotted an apparently better type of hand punch on
Amazon but on enquiring about the diameter of the eyelet holes a previous
customer responded to my query to say the tool was rubbish. His went straight
into the bin.

Can't seem to source one locally where I might be able to asses the quality
so can anyone suggest a good tool they have used.

To be fair I think punching a hole in the material is always going to be a
problem. The fabric tends to stretch unlike leather or vinyl.

A proper punch needs a matching socket - a female part with a hole to
closely match the male punch.

Rather than brass or 'brass' I have had success with the plastic
eyelets. They come in two parts, and go together with a snap action.

2nd attempt to post to the correct thread :-)

--
Regards,
Harry (M1BYT) (L)
http://www.ukradioamateur.co.uk

On Monday, July 21, 2014 11:52:21 AM UTC+1, Muddymike wrote:

Need to insert some eyelets in a Gazebo canopy we use. Purchased one on eBay
which was a piece of ****e. The punch type cutter wouldn't cut the material
and the eyelets and eyelet washers were like something out of a Christmas
cracker. Light and flimsy.
Spotted an apparently better type of hand punch on Amazon but on enquiring
about the diameter of the eyelet holes a previous customer responded to my
query to say the tool was rubbish. His went straight into the bin.

Can't seem to source one locally where I might be able to asses the quality
so can anyone suggest a good tool they have used.

To be fair I think punching a hole in the material is always going to be a
problem. The fabric tends to stretch unlike leather or vinyl.

Likewise I bough one that was crap. It did work after a bit of sharpening,
but only with an oak block behind the canvas. The eyelets then rusted, it
seems they were "brassed" instead of "brass"
Mike

I think everything is now. Broke a brass coathook the other week to find it was really plated monkey metal.


NT

In message ,
writes
On Monday, July 21, 2014 11:52:21 AM UTC+1, Muddymike wrote:

Need to insert some eyelets in a Gazebo canopy we use. Purchased one on eBay
which was a piece of ****e. The punch type cutter wouldn't cut the material
and the eyelets and eyelet washers were like something out of a Christmas
cracker. Light and flimsy.
Spotted an apparently better type of hand punch on Amazon but on enquiring
about the diameter of the eyelet holes a previous customer responded to my
query to say the tool was rubbish. His went straight into the bin.

Can't seem to source one locally where I might be able to asses the quality
so can anyone suggest a good tool they have used.

To be fair I think punching a hole in the material is always going to be a
problem. The fabric tends to stretch unlike leather or vinyl.

Likewise I bough one that was crap. It did work after a bit of sharpening,
but only with an oak block behind the canvas. The eyelets then rusted, it
seems they were "brassed" instead of "brass"
Mike

I think everything is now. Broke a brass coathook the other week to
find it was really plated monkey metal.

Brass panel pins from Screwfix can be picked up with a magnet!

--
Tim Lamb

On Monday, July 21, 2014 3:17:24 PM UTC+1, Harry Bloomfield wrote:
fred explained :

Need to insert some eyelets in a Gazebo canopy we use. Purchased one on eBay

which was a piece of ****e. The punch type cutter wouldn't cut the material

and the eyelets and eyelet washers were like something out of a Christmas

cracker. Light and flimsy. Spotted an apparently better type of hand punch on

Amazon but on enquiring about the diameter of the eyelet holes a previous

customer responded to my query to say the tool was rubbish. His went straight

into the bin.



Can't seem to source one locally where I might be able to asses the quality

so can anyone suggest a good tool they have used.



To be fair I think punching a hole in the material is always going to be a

problem. The fabric tends to stretch unlike leather or vinyl.



A proper punch needs a matching socket - a female part with a hole to

closely match the male punch.



Rather than brass or 'brass' I have had success with the plastic

eyelets. They come in two parts, and go together with a snap action.



2nd attempt to post to the correct thread :-)



--

Regards,

Harry (M1BYT) (L)

http://www.ukradioamateur.co.uk

Yes Harry. I am leaning that way myself. My only concern is being able to cut a neat accurate hole. Not sure how much lee way the plastic ones leave for errors.

As usual the proper tool for the job is available but at too high a price to justify spending for 8 eyelets.

How about heating your "punch" and burning/melting a hole?

"fred" wrote in message
...

Need to insert some eyelets in a Gazebo canopy we use. Purchased one on
eBay which was a piece of ****e. The punch type cutter wouldn't cut the
material and the eyelets and eyelet washers were like something out of a
Christmas cracker. Light and flimsy.
Spotted an apparently better type of hand punch on Amazon but on enquiring
about the diameter of the eyelet holes a previous customer responded to my
query to say the tool was rubbish. His went straight into the bin.

Can't seem to source one locally where I might be able to asses the quality
so can anyone suggest a good tool they have used.

To be fair I think punching a hole in the material is always going to be a
problem. The fabric tends to stretch unlike leather or vinyl.

These might be of a better quality:
http://www.mailspeedmarine.com/screw...-1001437.bhtml

On Tue, 22 Jul 2014 08:24:17 +0100, Tim Lamb wrote:

Likewise I bough one that was crap. It did work after a bit of sharpening,
but only with an oak block behind the canvas. The eyelets then rusted, it
seems they were "brassed" instead of "brass"
Mike

I think everything is now. Broke a brass coathook the other week to
find it was really plated monkey metal.

That's a way of overcoming magnetism giving away that it's no brass.

Brass panel pins from Screwfix can be picked up with a magnet!

I've a little steel tape, small, light and, to be honest, a bit crappy, that
is useful to carry in a pocket. It has a bit of ferrite magnet on it so I
can test stuff.
I've noticed that "brass-plated" and "brassed" are getting rare. It is
misrepresentation to say an item is brass when it's only a coating.
--
Peter.
The gods will stay away
whilst religions hold sway