When it comes to wiring, and the equipment that’s needed in order to set up a properly wired system, there is no denying that Rubber Grommets are one of the most useful and widely used items.
For those of you who might be unfamiliar with the term “Rubber Grommets”, we are going to explain everything that you need to know in just a moment.
Rubber Grommets – What are they?
Rubber Grommets are small, most of the times circle-shaped items, that are used in order to protect the wires from cutting or being damaged by sharp edges and corners. We say most of the time circle-shaped because there are tons of different shapes and sizes as well, but most of the times they are made in the round form. Also, they don’t have to be made out of rubber, there are metal and plastic versions as well, but once again, the rubber ones are the most widely used in the industry.
Img source: amazon.com
Some of you may already know these items by a different name, which is “Eyelets”. Although the most common use for the grommets is in the wiring industry, there are tons of different uses for them as well. We can see them in places such as shower heads, bathroom curtains, shoes etc.
Are all Grommets made out of rubber?
Although the most popular Grommets are the Rubber Grommets, there are tons of other materials that they can be made from. And it all depends on what the customer wants. Many companies that specialize in the production of grommets, will allow you to choose from different materials when you are ordering from them. Some of the more famous materials that are used for the production of grommets are the Rubber, Buna-N, FKM, Silicone, Stainless Steel, Aluminum, Brass, Nickel, and Neoprene. Metal and plastic are on the list as well. You can read more here.
In order to choose what kind of a grommet you need at the moment, you need to carefully observe your current situation. For example, if you are doing something that is more heavy-duty, you might need to go with the ones made out of metal. If you are trying to minimize the vibration of something, you might have to go with something that will make less noise on impact, so a silicone or rubber one might just do the trick.
Img source: amain.com
The Aluminum ones are lightweight and also durable, while being resistant of any corrosions. They are not really strong as the brass or steel ones however, so most of the times they are picked for lighter uses.
Are there different shapes and sizes?
Grommets definitely come in more shapes and sizes than just the standard circular ones. Any decent company or local hardware store will have at least a few different variants of grommets in their supply. In the world of wiring, different situations require different solutions, and you sometimes need a pretty uniquely designed grommet in order to solve your problem. Luckily, people came up with tons of different ideas and designs for our much-needed grommets.
Some of the most widely used types of grommets are the Plain Grommets, Rolled Rim Grommets, and Self-Piercing Grommets, etc.
