Best way to cut a hole in webbing ?

[kelemvor]

I used a nail and a lighter to mount my knife on some webbing. Pair of pliers to hold the nail. worked perfectly and easily. I wouldn't use the soldering iron because it's just morally wrong to waste a good iron like that! lol. You don't have to get the nail red hot. Just 20 seconds over a lighter and it goes through webbing easily.

 

[blueguppy]

If you want a clean hole with reenforced edges (i'm not sure what you plan to clip to the new hole) Id use a grommet cutter and install a metal grommet. It's cheap (well, not as cheap as a lighter and an upholstery nail) it's more durable, and you can reproduce the exact same results time and time again.

 

[Nemrod]

Cheap soldering gun. To make the hole neat you can use a washer to act as a guide of the ID you want. However, most people just punch the heated iron through the webbing with a steady push.

N

 

[Rooster59]

You can heat an empty .30 caliber cartridge case with a torch / gas stove held in vice grips. Push and twist the neck end through the webbing, perfect hole.

 

[flots am]

You can heat an empty .30 caliber cartridge case with a torch / gas stove held in vice grips. Push and twist the neck end through the webbing, perfect hole.

Empty you say?

Crap. I knew I was doing something wrong. It wouldn't cut worth anything, but I kept beating it with a hammer until I got a hole. It sure was loud.

Note for the humor-impaired: This above was meant as a joke and not as instructions. Don't try this at home. Do not look into laser with remaining eye.

 

[JohnN]

Don't mean to hijack the thread but maybe my question will help the OP.

Does anyone have experience with these inexpensive grommet tools and kits available on Ebay? Is there a 'best' way to apply them when working w. webbing?

I've used the equivalent from my local ACE hardware. No problems works great

 

[GrumpyOldGuy]

I have a cheap grommet kit, they work fine (also from ACE). The secret is to heat the punch so you cut and bond the edges in one motion.
A cheap alternative is a pipe nipple in the appropriate diameter (about a buck). Use a grinder to bevel a cutting edge, then heat and punch.
The punches / nails / soldering irons work fine for small holes, but larger holes end up messy but functional.

 

[Guba]

I'm going along with the .30 cartridge idea, but with some modifications. I placed a live .30-06 round in a M1 Garand, backed off, took careful aim at the webbing and fired. Voila'! Perfectly round hole. Where I messed up was in using that flamethrower in searing the edges. Only found a flaming puddle of plastic where the webbing once was. I'll continue to work on it and get back to you.

(put same disclaimer as flots am here...)

 

[gypsyjim]

You can heat an empty .30 caliber cartridge case with a torch / gas stove held in vice grips. Push and twist the neck end through the webbing, perfect hole.

Empty you say?

Crap. I knew I was doing something wrong. It wouldn't cut worth anything, but I kept beating it with a hammer until I got a hole. It sure was loud.

Note for the humor-impaired: This above was meant as a joke and not as instructions. Don't try this at home. Do not look into laser with remaining eye.

Damn, I missed that one word: EMPTY.

My beer drinking buddy, lawyer says I can sue everyone

 

[PfcAJ]

I'm going along with the .30 cartridge idea, but with some modifications. I placed a live .30-06 round in a M1 Garand, backed off, took careful aim at the webbing and fired. Voila'! Perfectly round hole. Where I messed up was in using that flamethrower in searing the edges. Only found a flaming puddle of plastic where the webbing once was. I'll continue to work on it and get back to you.

(put same disclaimer as flots am here...)

Use a tracer round next time!