That's a loaded question - Brace yourself...
Hello all. I've read all of the previous posts and think I can be of some assistance here. This post will probably be one of the longest in history, but it should give you all the information you desire.
For those of you who don't want to read the whole thing and want the fast answer - Get the HIKER press and forget the rest. I assure you that you won't be disappointed if you go with the HIKER, but you very well may be disappointed with another brand.
For those of you who are thirsty for information: All grommet machines are definitely not created equal. There are basically 2 types used in the sign industry. The ones that use only straight leverage and the ones that use a cam system (technically a crank).
Straight leverage only presses:
These presses are the no-name Asian brands you might find on e-bay, the Fasnap, the Image One Impact, the Micron, etc. The easiest way to notice this type of press is the handle is not connected to the main shaft. You'll also know you have one of these if you instinctively grab the handle with both hands due to the force required to use them. The only mechanical advantage of these types of presses is provided by the length of the handle. The shorter the handle, the less leverage gained, the harder it is to use. The operation and principle of these presses is like applying force to an object with a crowbar. When you push the handle down, the handle hits the shaft and then forces the shaft downward. These presses require a great amount of physical effort to insert and close the grommet properly. I've seen average sized men hanging off the handles of presses like these (feet off the ground), in order to get enough pressure on the handle to close the grommet tightly. Many people just end up leaving the grommet loose because it requires too much effort to close them tightly. All suppliers of these types of presses that I know of supply grommets that are either of a thinner gauge metal and/or of a softer metal composition, which are easier to close and the presses are still difficult to use. The only advantage of these types of presses is they should (but don't always), cost less - but not enough of a savings to make them worth it in my opinion. They are basic pieces of equipment that are easy and cheap to manufacture as they don't require much precision. I would not recommend this type of press to a professional (someone in business).
Cam system (crank) presses:
There are two main suppliers of this type of press. HIKER and Stimpson. The main shaft of this type of press is connected by a linkage to a cam at the end of the handle. The mechanical advantage of these presses is derived from the cam, which is a force multiplier, ON TOP OF the force generated from the length of the handle (the lever). This makes the press much easier to use and allows people to close grommets properly without having to strain themselves. For example, a 110 lb. female absolutely could not close a grommet with one of the more common straight leverage presses mentioned above, but she could easily close a grommet completely using only one hand on the HIKER H-901. That particular instance is one of the reasons Fastsigns International specifies HIKER products for all new franchises. The cam system type of presses are the only type I recommend for professional use.
HIKER vs. Stimpson:
So that leaves one to choose between the HIKER or the Stimpson. The Stimpson press is a decent press and is the only other press I recommend should you decide not to choose HIKER. However, there are several reasons to choose the HIKER over the Stimpson.
* Although the Stimpson press requires less effort than the leverage only presses, some still find it not as easy as they'd like it to be. The HIKER H-901 has a longer handle and other design features that make it easier to use than even the Stimpson.
* The HIKER press is the only press on the market with an easy dial adjustment on the bottom die, which allows you quickly increase or decrease the gap between the die to adjust for various material thicknesses. Once you set the die height to match your material you push the handle down until it hits the stopping bolt. There is no guessing when to stop pushing the handle down and you don't have to crush thick sign material like Coroplast or Sintra. The Stimpson press can be adjusted, but you have to get out a wrench to raise or lower the stopping bolt, which hinders its performance. This is one of the design features I was referring to in the first bullet. On the Stimpson press, if you have thick material, you need to raise the stopping bolt. Raising the stopping bolt stops the handle earlier, which prevents the cam from hitting peak pressure. Cams (cranks), produce exponentially more force the closer they get to dead center veritical, so the further away you get (the higher the stopping bolt), you get exponentially LESS force from the cam. In essence when you are grommeting your thickest material, which could also be the most difficult, you will have the least amount of force available.
* The HIKER press is the only one that comes with a base. This keeps the press stable and portable. After seeing many sign shops with their press bolted to a large piece of plywood or to their work table, we decided to offer the base as an added benefit.
* Without getting more technical than I already have, HIKER presses and die are made with more precision than any other brand on the market. This is part of the reason HIKER brand grommets are known to cut better through even heavier material than other brands.
Self-Piercing Grommets:
* Everyone needs to know there is NO standard for grommets. Most people know the #2 as a 3/8" id grommet. This is only a general reference meaning the inside diameter is approximately 3/8" after the grommet is closed. There is a wide variation in dimensions between manufacturers for various reasons. The biggest example of this is the Stimpson and Fasnap #2 self-piercing grommets are not 3/8" id. They are smaller. HIKER brand #2 self-piercing grommets are exactly 3/8" id. Stimpson has been around for more than 100 years so their brand of grommets are the only grommets many people have ever encountered. Since they have been around so long, they are also the most copied brand of grommets. This all leads people to the notion that all grommets are the same. The reason Fasnap grommets and Stimpson grommets look the same and work on each other's equipment is because Fasnap's grommets are copies of Stimpson grommets (Stimpson grommets are better than Fasnap grommets).
* For the best possible results you should use the same brand of grommets that matches the die set you have in your press. This is because most die (from reputable companies anyway), are machined to fit all of the specific dimensions of the grommets and washers they were designed to set. This is especially important for self-piercing grommets. The barrel of a self-piercing grommet works in conjunction with the die sets like the blades of a pair of scissors. If the blades are too far apart the scissors won't cut well. If the blades are too close together the blades will bind. If a grommet id is larger than the die set was made for the grommets won't cut as well and could collapse. If the grommet id is smaller than the die set was made for the grommet could just hit the center of the die and collapse. This is all in addition to whether or not the top die will hold the grommet for you. Issues with mismatched or poor die sets and grommets are damaged or deformed grommets; smashed backsides vs. a nice, smooth roll-over; cracks in the roll of the backside of the grommet; poor cutting efficiency; puckering material, etc.
* Grommets are not all created equal. Unless you are able to compare grommets side by side you likely won't realize there can be a large difference in grommet quality. You may have noticed though that some grommet brands, like Fasnap's, look darker with almost a greyish-green hue than brands like HIKER and Stimpson. This is usually because they are made from a cheaper brass that has a higher tin content (60/40), whereas brands like HIKER and Stimpson are made from a more pure brass with less tin (70/30). Many grommets imported from Asia are made from metal sheets that do not have tightly controlled thicknesses or metal compositions. We have seen grommets from the same manufacturers vary in material thickness as much as 20% within the same batch. HIKER brand #2 self-piercing grommets, and Stimpson brand grommets for that matter, are made from high quality, well controlled raw material. Lastly, the metal spec used for HIKER brand #2 self-peircing grommets is about 22% thicker than Stimpson brand grommets and about 34% thicker than Fasnap brand grommets. All of these factors contribute to HIKER brand grommets cutting better and through tougher material than other brands.
Prices:
Though HIKER brand products are at the top of their respective classes they are priced lower than other major brands and many times are competitively priced when compared to the "bargain" brands. We are able to accomplish this with lower overhead and being involved in the design and manufacturing of our presses, die and grommets.
Availability:
HIKER brand products are available through more than 100 major sign supply distributor locations in at least 36 states and more than 11 countries from North America to Europe.
Whew. There are additional benefits of choosing HIKER over other brands, but I'll provide those later if necessary. Feel free to email or call me if you have any questions I haven't answered (info. on our website). I'll also be glad to post responses to questions on the forum. I hope this information helps! Take care.
Christopher
HIKER USA INC.
:Big Laugh
