Help with eyelets
 

:confused: I love to use eyelets but it seems when I hammer them on the back they don't turn down very much and barely grab hold of the paper. Too much "mucking" with it and they fall out. Am I doing something wrong attaching them? Or do you think that they are poor quality? Is there a particular brand of eyelets that is best. I've started buying only brads instead but they just aren't the same.:confused:

More than likely you are doing nothing wrong. I too have started using brads instead. My main problem was/is that the eyelets split in one or two places on the back rather than folding over neatly.
BUT, I did get advice from a scrapbook store owner. She said to tap gently on the setter a couple of dozen times rather than whack it hard five or six times. It seems to help a bit, but I am still not always happy with the results.

I nearly gave up on using eyelets until I bought a crop-o-dile. It is awesome and does a great job (and it is SILENT!) It punches the hole too! Love it!

You might get the latest eyelet toy called the Crop-a-dile. It is fantastic. Punches holes and sets eyelets with just a squeeze of the handles. There are many threads going around about it.

HTH

some eyelets are definately harder to set than others. i have a TON of making memories eyelets and i gave up on using them because no matter what i used it was a PITA to get them to set. then i got a crop-a-dile and it sets them soooo easily. well worth the money.

Did you know that if you're using StampinUp eyelets, you can crimp them with the 1/16th inch hole punch? I learned this recently on SCS. It works great for me!

I just got the crop-a-dile and haven't had time to play with it. I bought some eyelets last weekend, but haven't been home long enough to try them. It's on my list of things to do tomorrow. Eileen

One thing I have noticed is that different brands really behave differently. I have pretty good luck with SU eyelets, less with JoAnn Fabrics store brand (but I'm frugal so use them anyway). I think part of it is the length of the tube part of the eyelet -- shorter tubes work a little better for me. One tip my demo gave me was to finish the setting by tapping the back of the eyelet firmly with the hammer to "finish" bending over the edges. I also find they often split in one or two places, but usually that doesn't show too much on the front. Hope this helps!

My first eyelet setter did what you are describing...my 2nd one is pointier and always does a great job. That said, I rarely use eyelets b/c it bothers my carpal tunnel to set them, but when I do, my 2nd setter does a perfect job. I be your using a setter that isn't "pointey" enough.

I am wondering.. Are you are using an eyelet setter with the hammer, or just the hammer by itself? You need the setter to spread the back of the eyelet open before you hammer it down over the paper. Without the setter, the back of the eyelet stays pretty much the same diameter and comes right out of the hole. I tried using only a hammer once when I just couldn't find my setter and it was awful. HTH!

I love my Crop-a-dile! I feel like my embellishments have been given new life! I was only using brads for a while, too, but it's so fun with the crop-a-dile!!!

I think it might be the material the eyelets are made of that has a greater effect on how easy they are to set. SU eyelets are made from aluminum, and the ones by Making Memories and the Jo-Ann house brand are made from steel or brass or something that is much more brittle and thus harder to set.

Yes, you must get the Crop-a-Dile. It's fabulous. I am setting 200 eyelets for wedding programs this week, and then another 300 next month. NOTHING TO IT. I can do it in the car (not driving -- haha). Take your Michael's/Hobby Lobby/whatever coupon and run! - Gay Howe

One other possibility is that the surface your working on isn't solid. I have folding tables from Costco and I have to put a tile down first because the table gives. Granted I now have COD and no more hammering for me. Just a possiblity.