6 Best Brass Grommets For Market Garden Tarps That Old Farmers Swear By

There’s nothing quite like the sound of a tarp shredding in a 3 a.m. windstorm to ruin a good night’s sleep. You run out to find your low tunnel plastic flapping wildly, not because the tarp itself failed, but because a cheap, flimsy grommet pulled right out. The truth is, the anchor points are everything, and investing in quality grommets is one of the cheapest forms of insurance on a small farm.

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Why Strong Grommets Matter for Your Farm Tarps

A grommet is more than just a metal-lined hole; it’s the load-bearing connection between your tarp and your anchor. Every time the wind gusts, it pulls on that small ring of metal. When rain pools and adds weight, the grommets bear the strain. They are the single point of failure that can render an expensive, heavy-duty tarp completely useless.

Think about the forces at play. A rope cinched tight to a T-post creates constant tension. A flapping corner in a storm generates incredible shock loads. Cheap grommets, often made of thin, brass-plated steel, will deform, tear the tarp material, or simply pull out under these conditions.

A quality brass grommet, on the other hand, distributes that load across a wider, stronger area. It resists deformation and, most importantly, it won’t rust and stain your canvas or degrade from UV exposure like plastic can. Choosing the right grommet isn’t just about preventing rips; it’s about ensuring your shelters, covers, and windbreaks actually do their job when you need them most.

C.S. Osborne #1 Plain Brass Grommets for Durability

When you want hardware that will outlast the material it’s set in, you look to the old-school brands. C.S. Osborne has been making professional-grade tools and hardware for ages, and their plain brass grommets are the standard for a reason. They are thick, precisely formed, and made from solid brass that won’t rust through.

The key here is that you are buying just the grommets and washers. This is a feature, not a bug. It means you aren’t paying for a flimsy, one-time-use setting tool that comes in a cheap kit. You pair these with a proper C.S. Osborne setting die (or another quality tool), and the result is a connection you can truly depend on.

These are the grommets you use for semi-permanent installations. Think of the tarp you use for the end wall of a high tunnel or the heavy canvas cover for your firewood pile that has to endure years of sun and snow. The initial investment in the separate setting tool pays for itself the first time you don’t have to replace a tarp mid-season.

Lord & Hodge Grommet Kit: A Reliable All-in-One

Not everyone wants to buy professional-grade tools separately. If you need a complete, reliable kit that you can pull out of the toolbox and use for years, the Lord & Hodge kits are a solid choice. They bridge the gap between disposable hardware store kits and professional upholstery tools.

The difference is in the quality of the included tools. The hole punch is properly hardened and stays sharp, and the setting die is machined to correctly roll the grommet’s edge without splitting it. The grommets themselves are a good-quality brass, far superior to the paper-thin, plated ones you find in blister packs.

This is the perfect kit for a serious hobby farmer who needs to add or replace grommets on a few projects each year. Whether you’re making custom-sized cold frame covers or reinforcing the corners of a new shade cloth, this kit provides everything you need to do the job right without breaking the bank. It’s a dependable workhorse.

Stimpson Rolled Rim Grommets for Easy Installation

Look closely at a Stimpson grommet and you’ll see the edge of the barrel is smoothly rolled over. This small detail makes a huge difference. That rolled rim creates a chafe-free surface for your ropes, significantly reducing wear and tear on your tie-downs over time. It also helps prevent the sharp edge of the grommet from cutting into the tarp fabric itself during installation.

These grommets are incredibly popular in marine applications for a reason—they are designed for constant movement and friction. On the farm, this translates perfectly to tarps that are frequently adjusted, like a roll-up side on a greenhouse or a temporary cover for equipment. The installation is also a bit more forgiving, as the rolled edge helps guide the metal as you set it.

The tradeoff is that they might not have the raw gripping power of a spur grommet for extreme, static loads. But for any application where ropes will be sliding or the tarp will be moving, the longevity gained by reducing friction is a massive advantage. This is the grommet you choose to protect your ropes as much as your tarp.

General Tools 1260 Kit for Quick Tarp Repairs

Sometimes, the best tool is the one you have with you. The General Tools grommet kit is the one you can find at almost any decent hardware store, making it the undisputed champion of emergency field repairs. While it may not be the absolute heaviest-duty option on this list, it is a significant step up from no-name brands and is more than capable of saving the day.

This is the kit you throw in the truck’s toolbox or keep on a shelf in the barn. When a surprise gust of wind rips a corner out of your compost cover right before a week of rain, you can fix it in five minutes. The tools are functional, and the brass grommets are sturdy enough for most common farm tasks.

Don’t mistake its accessibility for weakness. For reinforcing a chicken run cover or adding a few tie-down points to a hay tarp, this kit is perfectly adequate. It’s the practical, no-fuss solution for the 90% of tarp problems that don’t require military-spec hardware.

Heavy-Duty Brass Spur Grommets for High-Stress

For the most demanding jobs, a plain grommet just won’t cut it. A spur grommet is a different beast entirely. It has small metal teeth, or spurs, on the washer that bite into the tarp fabric. When set, these spurs provide a mechanical grip that is far superior to the friction-only hold of a plain grommet.

This is the hardware you use when failure is not an option. Think about the corners of a massive silage tarp holding down hundreds of pounds of feed, or a custom-made canvas windbreak on the exposed side of a barn. These grommets are designed to handle extreme, sustained tension without pulling out.

Installing them properly requires a matching spur grommet die set and a bit more care. You need to ensure the spurs engage the fabric correctly. The result, however, is the strongest possible anchor point you can create. For high-stress, long-term applications, nothing else compares.

Hilitchi Solid Brass Grommets for Weather Resistance

The word "brass" gets thrown around a lot, but it often means "brass-plated steel." Once that thin plating scratches or wears away, the steel underneath begins to rust, weakening the grommet and staining your tarp. Hilitchi is one of several brands that offers affordable solid brass grommets, and the difference is critical for wet environments.

Solid brass will not rust. It will develop a patina over time, but it will not corrode and fail. This makes it the obvious choice for any tarp that will be consistently exposed to moisture, animal manure, or salty air in coastal regions. The slight extra cost upfront is easily justified by the extended life of the grommet.

Consider a tarp used to cover a compost pile that is always damp, or a cover on a water tank. In these situations, a plated grommet might rust out in a single season. A solid brass grommet will remain structurally sound for the entire life of the tarp, ensuring your investment is protected from the slow, silent killer of farm hardware: corrosion.

How to Properly Set a Grommet for a Longer Tarp Life

The best grommet in the world will fail if it’s installed poorly. A great installation can make even a decent grommet last for years. The secret isn’t brute force; it’s proper technique. A well-set grommet is a permanent, structural part of your tarp.

First, always reinforce the area. Never set a grommet in a single layer of a standard poly tarp. Fold the edge over to double the thickness, or better yet, glue or sew in a patch of canvas or webbing. This gives the grommet something substantial to bite into and spreads the load.

Second, use the right tools on the right surface. Use a sharp hole punch and place a solid block of hardwood underneath—never concrete or steel, which will dull your punch instantly. When you’re ready to set the grommet, use a heavy mallet or a ball-peen hammer and strike the setting tool squarely and firmly. It should only take two or three good strikes. You want to roll the metal over, not smash it flat. Check your work; the back of the grommet should be a smooth, even roll with no sharp edges or splits.

Ultimately, the grommets on your tarps are a classic example of a small detail making a big impact. Spending a few extra dollars on solid brass or a heavy-duty spur grommet isn’t an expense; it’s an investment against future headaches. A properly chosen and well-set grommet gives you one less thing to worry about when the wind starts to howl.