Grommet Rubber Tools

• A rubber grommet is basically a rubber wall for a hole. It can protect, waterproof, absorb shock and aid in noise control. Small ones are called spacers and hold screws in place. They come in standard, military standard, vibration mount, mounting hole, compressor and insulation types and can be sorted by shape, such as oval, horseshoe and extended-neck. Rubber grommets need tools both for insertion and extraction.

Inserters

• Inserters are tools that slip through the hole, grab the rubber grommet and pull back through the hole, leaving the grommet in place around the hole.

Pliers

• Different types of pliers are used to insert and extract rubber grommets depending on the job. For instance, small needle-nose pliers can pull small rubber-mounting grommets through tiny holes in clock parts or insert or extract small grommets in trailer lights. Long-nose pliers pull the rubber flange on the side of some larger grommets out enough to insert the grommet into the hole. To get even larger rubber grommets off car muffler hangers, wide-jaw pliers or channel locks can be used.

Pullers/Removers

• Although a little lubrication will usually enable most rubber grommets to come right out, a grommet pulling tool may be needed to extract stubborn grommets. The shape and size of the tool differs according to the type of rubber grommet that is removed. One type, used to remove a rubber grommet from a sensor, is a 2-oz. unit with a flat surface that has a U-shaped end to extract the grommet and a hole in the other end to install the new one.

Mallet

• When rubber grommets refuse to slide easily into the intended holes, mallets made of hard rubber can tap the culprits into place.

Cutting Instruments

• Scissors, razor blades or a sharp knife may be used to slice the grommet from the outside edge to the inside to slip it through the hole. Special glue is applied afterwards to reseal the grommet edge. Also, if the grommet is too large for the intended hole, to enlarge the hole use the sharp implement to cut an "X" over the spot or hole before inserting the grommet.

Flatblade Screwdriver

• To remove a rubber grommet, insert a flatblade screwdriver between the rubber grommet and the hard surface underneath it to raise the grommet up for it to be extracted through the hole or to twist it to break the seal first and then extract it through the hole.