Grommet Press for Smaller Shop Techs

[AGinVT]

Hi Everyone. We have a pretty standard grommet press that was probably bought 30 years ago when the business started. I was wondering if anyone has found a press that is easier for smaller folk. We have a handful of guys that can easily use our press, but they are usually called away for more advanced projects, leaving other staff to produce the banners. They find it difficult to work with and require step stools and rubber mallets etc to operate it.

Any suggestions? I think the units most of us use have been around since the invention of the printing press, and they still work great, but something more user-friendly for less heavy members of our team would be nice.

Thanks,

 

[JBurton]

Have you adjusted it any? Bought new dies? Post a picture of what you're working with. Ours isn't hard to operate, but my kids wouldn't exactly use it with ease.

 

[BigNate]

you mean something like this?

 

[electricfly]

I replaced one with a Hiker and like it.
Search other posts as i remember seeing a few about it b

 

[Bxtr]

Hi Everyone. We have a pretty standard grommet press that was probably bought 30 years ago when the business started. I was wondering if anyone has found a press that is easier for smaller folk. We have a handful of guys that can easily use our press, but they are usually called away for more advanced projects, leaving other staff to produce the banners. They find it difficult to work with and require step stools and rubber mallets etc to operate it.

Any suggestions? I think the units most of us use have been around since the invention of the printing press, and they still work great, but something more user-friendly for less heavy members of our team would be nice.

Thanks,

View attachment 170596 View attachment 170597 We got this grommeter from YESCOM it comes with 10,000 grommets! It's been cheaper to buy another one of these instead purchasing the grommets. It only uses the top of the self piercing grommets so multiple layers of banner are tougher to get through (Corners) It has wheels to move sideways down the banner which is nice.

 

[petepaz]

we have a couple of these. they work well and aren't hard to use. we have men, women, small and large all use it with no problem

 

[AGinVT]

we have a couple of these. they work well and aren't hard to use. we have men, women, small and large all use it with no problem

This looks like our model. We have 3-4 staff that don't have the strength/weight necessary to operate it. Could probably use a new die and spring. That could be the issue. At that point, maybe just a entirely new unit is the best option and we can keep the old one as a second.

 

[AGinVT]

you mean something like this?
View attachment 172149

That's very cool. $1k is a pretty big bite, but could we worth it for the volume we produce. Thanks for showing me this one.

 

[myront]

...We have 3-4 staff that don't have the strength/weight necessary to operate it...

Ha, we have some of those type of folks too!
Same problem with our metal shear that requires one to step on a bar that brings the blade down.

 

[Dan360]

We attached a 2 foot pipe to our cheap backup grommet machine handle for more leverage, makes it much easier to use.

 

[JBurton]

We attached a 2 foot pipe to our cheap backup grommet machine handle for more leverage, makes it much easier to use.

Yeah, but doesn't that just tend to tip the press? I wish ours weighed a little more, but it is a fine size to grab and move around the table for me, less so for the vinyl girl. Perhaps I ought to get wheels and add a slightly heavy frame to it.

 

[Dan360]

Yeah, but doesn't that just tend to tip the press? I wish ours weighed a little more, but it is a fine size to grab and move around the table for me, less so for the vinyl girl. Perhaps I ought to get wheels and add a slightly heavy frame to it.

It does normally, we put a wood base on our grommet machines, just needs to be long enough to account for the handle. Aluminum square tubing skis would work if weight is a concern

 

[bdw99]

Knew a girl that cut a pool noodle and put it on the handle. Put the handle in her pit and used her body weight. Just an idea i guess