Heavy-Duty Tarp Clip – Grommet Replacement

Project Overview
This is a three-part, heavy-duty tarp clip system, specifically designed for woven PE tarps (the kind commonly used for covers and shades).
Factory-installed metal grommets often tear under stress – this DIY solution is stronger, reusable, and easy to install.

Perfect for:

Shade installations (on fences, pergolas, etc.)

Sun sails and canopies

Camping and tent setups

Temporary covers or tarp shelters

I’ve personally tested this on a 2x3 m tarp, mounted on a fence for shading.
It’s been outdoors for over 4 weeks, exposed to wind and sun – and it's holding up perfectly.
Two galvanized support wires run across the top and bottom, and the clips easily hook onto them.

 

 Clip System Breakdown
The tarp clip consists of three parts:

Hooked Base Piece

Center thread for the locking bolt

Sharp spikes to grip the tarp from underneath

Circular ridge that matches the top plate

Hook for easy hanging on wire or carabiner

Top Plate ("Disc")

Features the matching groove to the base's ridge

Spreads out the compression force evenly

Locks the tarp between the two pieces

Threaded Bolt

Requires a 6 mm hex key

Pulls the top and bottom together

Simple to install and reuse

 

Printing Recommendations
Material: PETG is recommended; ASA is ideal for extended outdoor use

Infill: 100% – needed for strength under stress

Layer Height: 0.2 mm

Support:

Only required for the hooked base part

Unfortunately, unavoidable due to geometry

After many design iterations, supports are now easy to remove

 

 Design note: Threads were modeled with slight offset to ensure smooth operation  no post-processing needed.

 

Installation Guide
Place the hooked base on the desired tarp location

Mark the inner circle using a permanent marker

 

Cut the hole – I recommend using a soldering iron

This melts the tarp fabric and prevents fraying

Reposition the base, align the top plate

Insert and tighten the bolt with a 6 mm hex key

 

Field-Tested
Installed on a 2x3 meter PE tarp

10 clips used

Outdoor test for 4+ weeks – wind, rain, UV

No loosening or tearing – extremely stable

 

Note for Makers
This is a DIY design, not a factory-made part.
Support removal on the hooked base requires a bit of patience, but it’s part of the fun 🙂
Feel free to remix or improve it — I’d love to see what you come up with!

 

 

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