The Internet search gods are not helping me today...

"Eric @ opposite-lock.com" (theyrerolling) 04/15/2018 at 21:30 • Filed to: Houselopnik, Home Improvement, Bollard Fail

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I have a bollard in my garage that appears to be intended to protect my furnace (and possibly water heater) from cars. It is a super oddball size.

I need at least a cap and base cover for safety, but can’t find anything that is the correct size to match this one. It’s 3.5” OD, 3” ID, with a 4” square (on center) of posts it bolts down to and I can’t find a similar one at McMaster-Carr, Grainger, Amazon, or on a basic google search. Everyone apparently makes them smaller and bigger, but not this particular size. I can’t figure out where they hell they even obtained this thing. However, I can’t have a dangerous object like this where someone falling off the stairs could be seriously injured if they land on it.

Thoughts? Ideas? This is deeply frustrating.

daender > Eric @ opposite-lock.com 04/15/2018 at 21:36

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https://www.launch3direct.com/products/l3-fp-cap-35 Would this work as a cap?

winterlegacy, here 'till the end > Eric @ opposite-lock.com 04/15/2018 at 21:37

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This might work? Just specify the length or something and fab something weird together with this... https://store.mocap.com/mocap_en/rvc.html?Item=RVCC9054-10&Inside_Diameter=3.00000&Length=1.500&Material=BLACK

Noah - Now with more boost. > Eric @ opposite-lock.com 04/15/2018 at 21:38

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+

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Nom De Plume > Eric @ opposite-lock.com 04/15/2018 at 21:39

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Check bolt pattern against larger or smaller options?

I’d just make something to cover it with and then glue something to the front to acts as a bumper.

LOREM IPSUM > Eric @ opposite-lock.com 04/15/2018 at 21:50

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I’d probably just fab up a wooden box. Ok, actually I’d just leave it as is and make sure my home owners insurance was up to date. Middle ground might be to paint it orange and post a “be careful” sign.

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > daender 04/15/2018 at 21:51

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Correct size, but I hoped for something plastic/rubber that would be less likely to result in injury if someone fell on it. It would be better than the ragged edge it has, though.

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > winterlegacy, here 'till the end 04/15/2018 at 21:58

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This could work... It needs to go over the 3.5” OD, but it could work.

XJDano > Eric @ opposite-lock.com 04/15/2018 at 22:11

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Available in construction zones near you.

Or remove it.

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > Nom De Plume 04/15/2018 at 22:16

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It’s an incredibly usual size as far as I can tell, even down to the bolt pattern, so this might be my easiest option... I’m seriously considering wrapping it in some foam and sliding a bigger tube over it so I can use more commonly-sized parts.

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > LOREM IPSUM 04/15/2018 at 22:26

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I’d rather avoid an injury than invoke my homeowner’s insurance or umbrella insurance. Sure, you might get a payout, but you can never truly fix an injury that could be avoided. It’s at the end of the short staircase from the house to the garage, which adds to my fear of someone falling and hurting themselves.

We hope to have children soon, which means there could be unstable little ones walking around where they could fall and land on the exposed hardware and later possibly fall hitting the top of the pole... It’s the scariest thing in my house beside the main staircase and falling from the top floor.

My bird IS the word > Eric @ opposite-lock.com 04/15/2018 at 22:30

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To cover the hole? cut and weld a plate. cover it in.... something? moving blankets and bungee cords?

cbell04 > Eric @ opposite-lock.com 04/15/2018 at 22:32

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Stick a traffic cone on top of it. Cheap easy and makes it even more visible.

merged-5876237249235911857-hrw8uc > Eric @ opposite-lock.com 04/15/2018 at 22:32

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Fill it with concrete and dome the top to get rid of that hazard. Then you can add a concrete/grout wash at the bottom over the bolts if you like, or just cutoff the bolts flush with the nuts on the bottom. We normally just fill bollards with concrete and leave the base alone as that’s not normally a big deal.

LOREM IPSUM > Eric @ opposite-lock.com 04/15/2018 at 22:33

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I was mostly being cheeky, but this may or may not prove helpful:

https://www.mcmaster.com/#push-on-caps/=1cfizvd

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > XJDano 04/15/2018 at 22:34

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There are bolts embedded in the concrete that it is connected to.

merged-5876237249235911857-hrw8uc > Eric @ opposite-lock.com 04/15/2018 at 22:35

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Or something like this to cover it.

nFamousCJ - Keeper of Stringbean, Gengars and a Deezul > Eric @ opposite-lock.com 04/15/2018 at 22:36

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To show the oddities of regulations and such when my new hot water heater was installed, because it’s gas it needed a post-inspection done. I inquired about the lack of a bollard and apparently in Chesapeake if a HWH is up on a pedestal it doesn’t need a protective bollard.

Granted I’m the only one that will be parking in my garage *and* I have some stickie placement bumps on the ground I dont see much concern. But still just an odd lack of requirement.

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > LOREM IPSUM 04/15/2018 at 22:37

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Oooh. This should work. Somehow I thought I’d only find a plug/cap of this diameter specifically for a bollard. I see one that is a nice soft material that will fit right over it.

merged-5876237249235911857-hrw8uc > Eric @ opposite-lock.com 04/15/2018 at 22:40

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Or this one.

http://www.emedco.com/bollard-sleeves-ebsr2.html

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > nFamousCJ - Keeper of Stringbean, Gengars and a Deezul 04/15/2018 at 22:45

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Mine are on a platform and still have the bollard. Interestingly, we did a lot of house hunting so we saw a lot of houses and these bollards in the garage are basically universal in developments around here.

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > merged-5876237249235911857-hrw8uc 04/15/2018 at 22:49

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It isn’t 4” OD. Covering it with something bigger may be my easiest solution to bringing it to a size I can work with. It’s not like it is out in public where someone will mess with it.

nFamousCJ - Keeper of Stringbean, Gengars and a Deezul > Eric @ opposite-lock.com 04/15/2018 at 22:52

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Thats how my parents’ is - platform with a bollard. However in the next city its platform without bollard.

But back to your previous question, what about https://www.amazon.com/Flush-Mount-Black-Plastic-Sheet/dp/B011HCCRAK

XJDano > Eric @ opposite-lock.com 04/15/2018 at 22:59

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Well, anchors, yes.

Cut them off flush.

If you were around me I’d do it for you.

shop-teacher > Eric @ opposite-lock.com 04/15/2018 at 22:59

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You might be able to find a rubber drain cap. I’d probably just make something out of a piece of wood.

You can tell a Finn but you can't tell him much > Eric @ opposite-lock.com 04/15/2018 at 23:10

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That is just a piece of pipe welded to a plate. Look for pipe caps and you should be able to find something the right size. The problem with that is they will be threaded or weld on. I suspect you don’t have the ability to thread pipe with a 3.5” od, and you probably don’t have a welder handy either.

Wacko > Eric @ opposite-lock.com 04/15/2018 at 23:33

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For the bottom find a black 20 gallon bucket, cut a hole in the bottom of the bucket and cut to desired height.

winterlegacy, here 'till the end > Eric @ opposite-lock.com 04/16/2018 at 00:26

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There’s ones that have the 3.5 ID, I don’t think the URL copies out right though.

just-a-scratch > Eric @ opposite-lock.com 04/16/2018 at 04:03

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It’s a 3" schedule 40 pipe with a plate on the bottom.

Jayvincent > Eric @ opposite-lock.com 04/16/2018 at 19:47

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I know I’m late to the party, but why not PVC drain pipe?

https://www.homedepot.com/p/VPC-4-in-x-2-ft-PVC-Foam-Core-Sch-40-Pipe-2204/202300523

local DIY store or plumbing supply will have 4” and 5" dia pipe, plus glue-on caps. Check ID before purchase, but you should find a combination that works

https://www.homedepot.com/b/Plumbing-Pipes-Fittings-PVC-Pipe-Fittings/4%22/N-5yc1vZbuf5Z1z0x2cu

good luck and park carefully