[quote=klozhald]Honestly, if the grommets are holding and they are just ugly, then clean them up and sail!
[quote=from the web]Cut a fresh lemon into two halves and de-seed it. Sprinkle some table salt over the pulp of the half lemon and rub it on the surface of the brass item. Within no time, you can see the brass material getting back its natural shine and brand new look. This cleanser is particularly good if the brass surface is in a badly corroded condition.[/quote]
It sounds like vinegar and salt would give the same result. Neither will hurt the tramp unless you leave it on for weeks. Brush everything off you can first, then use the vinegar or lemon. Overnight should be enough. Maybe twice.
If you are determined to replace them, pay a pro to do it, [i]if[/i] it can even be done in your situation. Solid vinyl tramp material is more tolerant than mesh.
[quote=Don't even read this unless you are as poor and stupid as I was when I tried it...]Removing the old grommets is tricky.
You need a drill bit big enough to remove the inside metal, but the grommet still won't come off. A correctly placed spur grommet has layers and layers of folded metal holding it together [i]and[/i] [b]teeth[/b] that grip the fabric internally. Getting one of these off without causing more damage is not easy. You will have to work the two sides apart and then assess the damage.
You will probably need bigger ones as replacements. Brass grommets will work fine. Stainless ones take much harder pounding to set correctly, are more expensive but will not corrode as fast. Nickel grommets are NOT stainless and are seldom seen in marine applications. Either way, unless you work with an anvil every day, it will take you more than all weekend just to pound in the new ones.[/quote][/quote]
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