Cringles/grommets...where?

Greenheart

Greenheart

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I'm not sure why it seems so hard to find and buy the hardware for making these.

Two years ago when I needed a reef in my sail, Wilkinson Sails in Faversham was able to supply me with rings & brass turnovers, and the reef has been a great success.

Now I want another reef, so I need more of the parts. Sending a PM to Wilkinson Sails has not prompted any response...but I don't have to get the things from them...

...except, where else can I get 'em from? They seem to be curiously unavailable from chandleries, in sizes bigger than would be required for securing tarpaulins.

I guess sail-makers are the principal market, but why don't their suppliers offer these items for sale? I found just one online store in the States offering them.

I need the variety which won't require a massive robotic press to seal the thing in place...last time I just used a hammer and a couple of 25mm ball-bearings...

...I reckon 16mm internal diameter will suffice. Obviously they'll need to be more rugged than the cheap tarp-corner type. Anybody know where I can order them from?
 
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I had one type on an old sail that had a ring of brass or ss that was sewn all around to the sail cloth. It then had a thimble of SS which presumably was spread on on side fitted in then spread on the other side to hold it in place. The sewing meant that the thimble did not have to be a tight fit just enough to hold it from falling out. If you were really desperate you might acheive something similar with a piece of 25mm copper pipe which would be easy to flare out with a ball peign hammer. (is that how you spell it?) good luck olewill
 
Hmm, thanks Pete, et al...

...I'm only concerned that the cheapest and flimsiest type of cringle, available in polythene bags of 20, aren't likely to last long in the corners of my mainsail, in the conditions when I want to reef.

William H, the type you describe is exactly what I used previously, and what I'm seeking again - the ring sewn in, and the metal "flange" protecting the thread around the ring...

...what amazes me, is how hard they are to find, in high quality.

I wonder why Bainbridge, or other manufacturers, don't sell other than wholesale?
 
Any small sailmaker will press these in for you.
The proper ones need a serious hydraulic press tool.

A more DIY-able alternative can be to stitch on some webbing with a stainless ring.

Have you read J Howard-Williams book 'Sails'? It gives the old way of doing it.
Daresay it's on youtube for the younger generation....
 
Thanks Tranona, I'll look at Kayospruce. J Howard Williams too, thanks LW395.

The webbing idea sounds good...if it won't require a heavy lumpy corner in the sail. When I put the previous reef in, I used four neat triangular dacron panels, each larger, to spread the load to the sail...

...and I was thinking I'll do the same again. With regard to sailmakers, I realise they could help, but my old sail is hardly worth whatever they'd charge for the job, so I'd much rather find the metal bits and do a home-fix.

I'll try to find a pic of the finished job from two years ago, and anyone who cares to, can take the mickey. :encouragement:
 
The 'proper job' require a set of dies. And a hydraulic press.
The ones that don't, according to the man at Kayospruce, aren't up to much. And they sell them. I took his word for it, marked the eyelet points on our new dodgers with a permanent marker and got the local sail maker to do it. Probably cheaper too.
 
Ruffles said:
The 'proper job' require a set of dies. And a hydraulic press. The ones that don't, according to the man at Kayospruce, aren't up to much..
Click to expand...

GRO101-120.jpg


I admit they don't look very fine either...less well-made than the single-piece insert sent to me by Wilkinson two years back, to sit inside the stitched stainless ring, to be 'belled-over' by gentle tapping at the narrow edge. I wonder why these malleable but robust brass items are no longer manufactured and supplied? I had the feeling that Cindy at Wilkinson Sails had found the ones she sent me, in the back of a drawer...as if they're not still available. It's very irritating because they worked well, and are exactly what I still need.
 
Good grief...I just went through all the bits I've used for sail-repair over the years...and I've found one of the very things I've been complaining aren't available nowadays. Here it is:

Screenshot_2015-09-29-22-51-10_zpsozf8bwzm.png


Cindy at Wilkinson sent me an extra one to practice on, hence I had one left over...but I maintain that she seemed not to have any others left.

The flattened end sits on one ball bearing, while the other end is gently hammered out into a similarly flat surface. I'm sorry I had over-estimated the size, although the original corner-cringles in the sail are much larger and more substantial.

Looking at this thing, I'm starting to realise that the cut of fabric in the corners of the sail will effect the durability of the reef I'm planning to make, more than the actual cringle...

...I mean, if the reinforced corners spread the load well enough to prevent damage, the job is basically done...so even one of those crude plastic grommets would probably suffice. :)
 
Dan ,sorry not to get back to you
,.Had to check out our old stock packed away lots of boxes .
We do have a few Turns of the heavy type,they are not as big as the ones I originally sent you .
The only problem being lack of the ring to fit .
image.jpg
If you could find a stainless one to just clear the stitching and allow the insert to be pushed in ,that should do.
Cindy
 
Hi Cindy, thank you, I doubt a stainless ring of the right size will be as hard to find as the brass turns.

I'll be very grateful if you can quote me for the turns & other bits you think I'll need for the same purpose as last time. I'm sending you a PM with some specifics.

Thanks again.
 
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