Grommet needed

[wds]

Does anyone know a good source for these grommets?  I need about 50 - 100 to hang some wood phones.  The barrel is about 3/16", by 5/8" long.  Wouldn't mind some a little shorter also.  I found them at the usual phone supply shops, but the price at $1 each is a bit high.  Any help is appreciated.

[DavePEI]

Does anyone know a good source for these grommets?  I need about 50 - 100 to hang some wood phones.  The barrel is about 3/16", by 5/8" long.  Wouldn't mind some a little shorter also.  I found them at the usual phone supply shops, but the price at $1 each is a bit high.  Any help is appreciated.

Once upon a time, Odis used to sell them. But he sold out to Don Woodbury, so I would contact Oldphoneworks to see if they carry them.

You could also make a reasonable facsimile using brake tubing and a flare tool.

Dave

[wds]

Yes, I already checked with them $1.25 each.  I'm sure these are available somewhere at a more reasonable price.  Just need to find a cheaper source. 

[HowardPgh]

That grommet looks like the insert used in plastic tubing when used with compression fittings.
Usually available at a good hardware store. Try McMaster-Carr they seem to have everything.

[wds]

Bingo!  compression fitting for plastic tubing.  25 cents sure beats $1 each plus the high shipping charges. 

[DavePEI]

Bingo!  compression fitting for plastic tubing.  25 cents sure beats $1 each plus the high shipping charges. 

Post a link when you find a source, please?

Dave

[wds]

Local Zettlers, Ace, Home Depot and Lowes.  They only had 4 at the first hardware store I hit, so I will make my rounds and let you know which store had the best part and price.  The correct size is 5/16" for future reference

[wds]

An update to the Grommet hunt.  Found a nice insert at Ace Hardware.  Part # 4033270.  Part # is off the box, but it doesn't come up on a search at the Ace Hardware website.  5/16", 59 cents each.  I cleaned out all 25!  This one is a little different than the one at Phoneco.  Smaller head, and 1/2" long so it fits some of my wood boxes better.  Also, the smaller head is a lot closer in size to the original brass inserts on a lot of my phones.  2nd picture is the new grommet, 3rd picture is the original. 

The hunt continues for the perfect grommet.

[wds]

I finally found the exact brass insert that I've been looking for.  I found two sizes to use, depending on the size of the hole in the wood box.  I originally went to Lowes for $1.53, then found them cheaper at Home Depot and Menards for 99¢ (for qty 2).  I've noticed lately that Lowes prices have really gone through the roof. Unfortunately the brass inserts come as a kit, so you throw half the parts in the trash.  I'm still trying to find out if I can buy the brass inserts separately from Watts for a cheaper price.  But even as a kit, they are cheaper than the phone supply stores.  Plus no shipping costs!  

[Sargeguy]

Those should be fairly simple to fabricate from brass tubing, I will give it a shot and post the results.

[cihensley@aol.com]

Use the proper size (depends on screw size) of decorative washers. There is no need to sleeve the hole itself.

Chuck

[wds]

I like the sleeve.  When you drive the screw, the sleeve takes all the pressure instead of the 100 year old wood.  In most cases the sleeve is the same length/thickness as the wood, so there is no pressure on the wood.  Unfortunately these sleeves are a little too long for some of the wood phones, like the backs of the fiddleback, so for those I have to use a grommet.  But they work great on most of the wood phones.