fitting Plastimo stanchion and socket...

[matt21]

I have some Plastimo sockets and stanchions to fit.

On looking at them the stanchion protrudes past the base of the socket so the socket isn’t flush with the deck (with a gap of 3-4 of millimetres).

Do I need to fit some sort of gasket between the socket and deck, or is this just sealed ?

I will ultimately be bolting through the deck and using a back plate but must be missing something on the socket mount.

Can anyone help ?

Thank you.

 

[PCUK]

Re-drill the stanchion so that the bottom is flush with the base.

 

[nigelmercier]

Re-drill the stanchion so that the bottom is flush with the base.

Surely not? Isn't the idea to drill a dip in the substrate?

 

[Frankie-H]

Surely not? Isn't the idea to drill a dip in the substrate?

I think I would rather not re-drill the stanchion. This might weaken it and a lot of people lean on their 'SAFETY' lines.

If you do not want to drill a dip in the deck. I would mark and cut the base off the stanchion. It will not make it any lower after all.

 

[matt21]

Thanks.

Thanks for the replies so far.

I know this is plastimo, but I can't understand if they where meant to be flush why they wouldn't supply them like that in the first place ? I guess the other option is to put them on a pad with a cut out.

 

[VicS]

Very Odd.

The mounting plates of my stanchion sockets are solid plates. The stanchions rest on them in the bottom of the sockets rather than passing right through.

Like wise for the aluminium alloy sockets used on Westerlies IIRC but they are castings of course

Personally i would not have bought the ones pictured. Maybe they are intended for some special application. Or they are the wrong stanchions for the sockets

If stuck with them I would cut the ends of the stanchions off flush with the underside of the bases.

 

[PCUK]

Don't be daft. A tiny drill hole is not going to weaken the stanchion in any way. Sometimes the best solution is also the easiest!
Fitting pads, cutting bits off - Why?

 

[matt21]

odd to me to...

Hopefully there is a school boy error somewhere.

There is another hole drilled in the stanchion lower down which would allow it to be flush - problem is its at a right angle to the gaurdwire holes.

The Scokets are raked so can only be fitted in one orientation.

flush, but the guardwire holes face forward...

I've dropped the chandlery a note to see if they can point me to my error. With the Plastimo gear, this appears to be the only socket (appart from the standard 90 degree version - this one is at a 84 degree angle).

 

[VicS]

Don't be daft. A tiny drill hole is not going to weaken the stanchion in any way. Sometimes the best solution is also the easiest!
Fitting pads, cutting bits off - Why?

You are right about another hole not weakening the stanchion I am sure but drilling stainless steel tube is a PITA unless you have a bench/ pillar drill and a cobalt bit.

OTOH It saws as easily as a loaf of bread !

 

[PCUK]

Good point Vic!

 

[matt21]

Update

Seems from talking to Plastimo in the UK that the combination I have may not actually go together! They are going to investigate which socket I should have - on the phone for 4o minutes and It wasn't obvious. I guess this is a case of buyer beware, just because two products are listed as plastimo on a online chandlery its far from guaranteed that they will go together without some mangling. Credit to Plastimo for responding.

Looks like the best option is going to either buy a different set of sockets or drill a new hole. I was put off drilling a new hole as the existing hole in the stanchion would be close to the 'new' hole. I think to get round that I could put a circular spacer under the stanchion to lift it up a couple of mm.

What a PITA.

 

[Simonpk]

I think I'd use a hardwood pad for the base to sit on, this can be drilled out, for the stanchion end to sit in, so it's flush & through bolted to the deck.

 

[VicS]

Seems from talking to Plastimo in the UK that the combination I have may not actually go together! They are going to investigate which socket I should have - on the phone for 4o minutes and It wasn't obvious. I guess this is a case of buyer beware, just because two products are listed as plastimo on a online chandlery its far from guaranteed that they will go together without some mangling. Credit to Plastimo for responding.

Looks like the best option is going to either buy a different set of sockets or drill a new hole. I was put off drilling a new hole as the existing hole in the stanchion would be close to the 'new' hole. I think to get round that I could put a circular spacer under the stanchion to lift it up a couple of mm.

What a PITA.

Why not cut the projecting bottom parts off the stantions. I'll be far far easier than drilling new holes. Stainless steel hacksaws almost as easly as mild steel. As I said above drilling them will be a pig of a job unelss you have a drilling machine and a cobalt bit.

 

[VicS]

I think I'd use a hardwood pad for the base to sit on, this can be drilled out, for the stanchion end to sit in, so it's flush & through bolted to the deck.

Why introduce chunks of wood unnecessarily?