Did you know? A bit of hand press information!

[justtobeme2]

When you get your press, wipe it down. They came dusty and with a very thin layer of oil.Place the part of the die with the pointy thing on the bottom and tighten the screw. Place the other part in the top and tighten the screw. You see the screw under the handle? This is so you can set it not to crush your grommet. This setting is what you figure

Comments

[urbankunoichi]

From what I know, punching the grommet down simultaneously punches the fabric and sets the grommet (at least, that's what most of the corsetieres here do). Do your grommets come out differently at all? Punching/setting at the same time avoids fraying and stretching, no?

[justtobeme2]

No, you are incorrect. Most people pre make their holes with an awl then set the grommets through the pre made hole. Only certain grommets punch the holes themselves, they are called self piercing. I have never heard of a corsemaker using self piercing grommets. The grommet dies that were ordered split a hole not punch out a hole.

[urbankunoichi]

All of the different grommet setter threads I've seen, the setting of the grommet punches the hole simultaneously. An awl is only necessary for the small hammer in kits, where the grommet needs to be added then.

Grommet setter sites say the same.

Surely you've tried both?

[justtobeme2]

Perhaps you need to re-read those posts. I think you have misunderstood. MOST probably 95% pre-make their holes with awls as to not cut the fibers of the corset so that there is no weakening at the grommet site (the proper way technically), if you don't believe me make a posting on corsetmakers asking that question..Surely I've tried both? Absolutely I own at least 4 hammer type setters and 2 hand presses. I remember reading where someone posted they either tried or wanted to try the hole punch, set kind but I know that you must buy the grommet setting dies for that kind specifically. Check out siska.com and this link http://www.grommetmart.com/_store/index.cfm?fuseaction=category.display&category_ID=17&CFID=58591&CFTOKEN=40027340... )