Non-standard telephone wall plate

Hi,

I am looking for a wall plate *similar* to this:

The actual plate would be:

- stainless

- support a "keystone" connector "insert"

- recessed connector area

- "mushrooms" onto which to mount the phone

The "zinger" requirement is that I need the mushrooms to be located

2.75" apart instead of the nominal ~4". [To put this in perspective, imagine those in the illustration being located just *inside* (vs. "outside") the faceplate mounting holes. They don't make such a beast.]

I can probably approximate the traditional mushrooms with a regular rivet. Or even a #8 PHMS.

But, fastening it to the stainless plate is the challenge (and doing so in a cosmetically appealing manner!).

There's no meat (thickness) to the plate so you can't really tap a hole. As such, a screw would need nuts front and back to wedge it onto the plate. The nut on the front would interfere with the back of the "phone".

A rivet could work if I turn down the shank to a smaller dia thus making a shoulder to rest against the front of the wallplate. Then, peen over the turned portion that protrudes through the plate to the backside. E.g.,

| | || |) ||========_)) ||======== )) || |) | |

A copper rivet (soft) would probably not be objectionable.

Welding would be a cosmetic mess.

Any other approaches I could consider? Or, a source for the mushrooms/rivets with that sort of side profile? (which would obviously be targeted towards this sort of application -- to ensure the shoulder was at the right height!)

Or, a way of removing the rivets from an existing plate that would allow them to be "reused"?

Reply to
Don Y
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or button-head cap screw (english or metric)

You could use thick stainless (or rivet/glue an aluminum plate behind the stainless) and drill/tap the plate for that screw, using epoxy or loctite to fasten. Why, though, do you care if the plate is stainless? It'll be covered by whatever you mount to it, after all is done.

Pimfg.com has stainless wall plates with XLR openings, that take an XLR/Keystone adapter insert.

Reply to
whit3rd

Den onsdag den 25. februar 2015 kl. 01.51.51 UTC+1 skrev Don Y:

with TIG it would take 2 seconds, and look perfect

drill two holes, insert the "mushrooms", fuse it together from behind pickling paste to remove the bluing

drill and tap the rivet, attach with screw from behind?

button head screw, thin tube as spacer a nut on the back?

-Lasse

Reply to
Lasse Langwadt Christensen

If the head profile fits your needs (or can be ground to fit your needs, for a one-off), then something like

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only needs one nut on the back.

Standard disclaimers apply: I don't get money or other consideration from any companies mentioned.

Matt Roberds

Reply to
mroberds

Rivet turned down and then threaded to take a nut on the far side?

I presume the rivet is out of sight when the phone is on it...

--
Regards, 
Martin Brown
Reply to
Martin Brown

The standard plates I've been buying... the "mushrooms" are basically shouldered screws.

So just buy a standard plate, drill some holes, move the "-shrooms", add nuts.

Or just use the "-shrooms" from a standard plate with whatever new plate you have.

...Jim Thompson

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| James E.Thompson                                 |    mens     | 
| Analog Innovations                               |     et      | 
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Reply to
Jim Thompson

[snip]

Found a unit not yet installed...

I think I bought them at Lowe's. ...Jim Thompson

--
| James E.Thompson                                 |    mens     | 
| Analog Innovations                               |     et      | 
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Reply to
Jim Thompson

Yes, but the issue becomes one of screwing it *into* something. (the rivet could be peened over *as* a rivet would, normally -- if I could put a shoulder on it at the right point)

Or fasten a *nut* (and save the tapping step)

It will only be covered *when* it is covered. If the equipment is removed, the plate is visible. There are currently 4 other wall plates in the same area (within a few feet) -- all stainless. Plus, two large (~1 sq ft ea) stainless boxes. A COTS "ivory" plastic wall plate would look tacky (and *still* require modification).

Finding the wall plate is easy (with or without mushrooms; with or without recess; with or without keystone opening). The issue is arranging for the mushrooms to be in the proper location.

Reply to
Don Y

Ah! That might work! I didn't realize they were available in a "low profile" (and *ultra* low profile) configuration. The "nominal" mushrooms have a rounded top profile (like an oval head screw) and either a flat bottom profile *or* the taper of an oval head wood screw. (appears to depend on manufacturer... I imagine the tapered underside gives some additional benefit in "wedging" it into the underside of the "phone" which receives it)

Thanx!

Ah, you might have made a 1c commission on that 10c sale! :>

Reply to
Don Y

Some have plain heads (like a rivet). Others appear like a screw (typ Phillips).

Side profiles are either that of a rivet (round top, flat underside) or oval head wood screw (tapered underside, rounded top).

The "shoulder" is fairly short: O(1/8") -- roughly the same dia as the shank.

Already tried that. :<

The threads on the back of those from a "standard" (plastic) plate are not those of a regular machine screw. Instead, they are much coarser -- like the threads you typically encounter on something that "mates to plastic" (I suspect they are effectively self-tapping).

Those present on *metal* plates are riveted in place. I've yet to find a reliable way of removing a rivet FOR REUSE. :<

Reply to
Don Y

You might want to take a look at "binding screws"- just like the ones used to screws old books and manuals together.

Reply to
Cydrome Leader

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