We tested a variety of eyelets to see which have the best grip strength, impact strength and break strength. Check out the results!
Carr Group supplies eyelets (grommets) in a variety of sizes, materials and styles. Our customers often ask us which are better. To definitively answer this question, we have performed in-house testing on break strength, holding strength and impact resistance of various eyelets.
Items tested:
| 1 | Carr | #2 Stainless Steel sheet eyelet & toothed wash |
| 2 | Carr | #2 Stainless Steel sheet eyelet & neck washer |
| 3 | Carr | #2 Brass sheet eyelet & toothed washer |
| 4 | Carr | #4 Stainless Steel sheet eyelet & toothed washer |
| 5 | Carr | #4 Brass sheet eyelet & toothed washer |
| 6 | Carr | 12mm Plastic Eyelet & Washer |
| 7 | Alternative Brand | 12mm Plastic Eyelet & Washer |
Eyelet Strength Testing Summary & Key Take Away Points
- From our ‘Break Strength Test’ we found the opposing force break strength of all eyelets tested is higher than the holding strength of eyelets set in any material combinations we tested.
- The most likely failure point for eyelets set in material, are when the eyelet tears out of the material they are set in, our ‘Holding Strength Test’.
- Less likely failure of an eyelet set in material would be from impact. From our ‘Impact Resistance Test’ we found the ‘Alternative brand 12mm Plastic’ is the only eyelet tested with the potential to break from impact.
- Comparing the two plastic eyelets, ‘Carr 12mm Plastic’ seems to be the better of the two, performing closer to metal equivalent. The material used in ‘Alternative brand 12mm Plastic’ is more brittle and under stress could crack, split or shatter. Where ‘Carr 12mm Plastic’ is more likely to bend under the same pressure.
- The size of the eyelet does not impact noticeably on the holding strength, nor does metal make up (Brass or SS), all performing similarly.
- The most noticeable difference in holding strength is seen when settings are made into mesh alone, in this case metal sheet eyelets with toothed washers will perform the best.
- Holding strength of neck washers are similar to toothed washers when set in at least 1 layer of solid banner material. However when set in mesh alone, the holding strength of neck washers is less than toothed washers.
- In general the holding strength and impact resistance of Brass & SS eyelets is better than Plastic options.
Break Strength Test
Method:
Single eyelet and washer setting, no fabric. Using a Tensile Strength Testing Machine, (10kg weight/1kg counter weight/Cap 30kg measurements) attach 2 solid metal hooks to eyelet, pulling in opposing directions. Record the measurement when the eyelet breaks.
Summary:
Using the same weight settings as used in the ‘Holding Strength Test’, the machine does not have enough force to break set eyelets and washers in any of the 7 items we tested.
Holding Strength Test
Method:
Single eyelet set into one end of material sample (40mm wide strips x 150mm long PVC over Polyester base fabric material). Using a Tensile Strength Testing Machine (10kg weight/1kg counter weight/Cap 30kg measurements), clamp material at one end and solid metal hook through eyelet, pulling in opposing directions. Record the measurement when the eyelet pulls through the material.
Material to test:
- 2 x layers of 510gsm Banner (20×20, 1,000D x 1,000D Polyester base fabric with PVC coating)
- 1 x layer of 510gsm Banner + 1 x layer of 260gsm PVC Mesh
- 2 x layers of 260gsm Mesh (12×12, 1,000D x 1,000D Polyester base fabric with PVC coating)
Summary:
Set in 2 layers of 510gsm Banner, all eyelets held strong and similar. The #2 sized were best, #4 sized & ‘Alternative brand 12mm Plastic’ slightly lower. Lowest hold strength was ‘Carr 12mm Plastic’. However the lowest result was still equal to the highest hold strength result in 1 layer of 510gsm Banner & 1 layer of 260gsm Mesh. Top performing (‘#2 SS sheet eyelet & toothed washer’ & ‘#2 SS sheets eyelet & neck washer’) were only 20% stronger than lowest performer (‘Carr 12mm Plastic’). Compared to settings made in 1 layer of 510gsm Banner & 1 layer of 260gsm Mesh, on average settings have 15% more holding strength.
Set in 1 layer of 510gsm Banner & 1 layer of 260gsm Mesh, hold strength was similar between all eyelets but not as strong as when set in 2 layers of 510gsm banner material. Top performing (#2 SS neck washer & #4 SS toothed washer) these were only 16% stronger than lowest performer (Alternative brand 12mm plastic). Compared to settings made in 2 layers of 260gsm Mesh, on average settings have 22% more holding strength.
Set in 2 layers of 260gsm Mesh, overall hold strength was lower than anything with banner, also more varied results were seen. ‘#2 SS toothed washer’ held almost 25% stronger than ‘#2 SS neck washer’. Alternative brand 12mm plastic had the weakest hold strength, compared to Carr 12mm plastic which was over 50% stronger. Compared to settings made in 2 layers of 510gsm Banner, on average settings have 34% less holding strength.
Impact Resistance Test
Method:
Drop a 10kg weight from 600 mm high, onto a single set eyelet, face down. Same test again with single set eyelet standing in groove, impact to the edge. Record physical damage to eyelet, e.g. dent, split, crack, shatter, bend etc.
Summary:
In the face drop test most items performed similarly, for the most part being flattened on impact. The exclusion is the ‘Alternative brand 12mm Plastic’ eyelet which tended to split, crack or shatter on impact.
In the edge drop test #4 size brass and SS performed the best by only bending. Closely followed by the #2 Brass (mix of bent, crushed and split open), & Carr 12mm plastic (mostly bent, 1 split & 1 shattered). Lower performing were the both #2 SS (all crushed), and worst performing was the Alternative brand 12mm plastic (most shattered, 1 cracked, 1 split open).