Headrest Hardware

[James_Sugar Sand Mirage]

I am reupholstering seats on a 2003 Sugar Sand Mirage. There is some rusted out hardware which i am having a hard time identifying. They are steel plug/clips which were pushed into a hole. Then a plastic post is pushed in and gripped by it. The headrest has the plastic posts extending from it and the main body of the chair has the holes. I would appreciate help naming this piece of hardware so I can source it. Thank you.

 

[Speedling]

I know it's hard to find the parts for these boats. I don't think there is a diagram for the seats anywhere. It MAY be something your local upholstery shop can tackle for you even if it's a slightly different system to fasten them together. Sorry I couldn't be more help

 

[Ben Okopnik]

They're (obviously) retainer posts of some kind - but no way to know where they were sourced from, or if the company that made them is still in business. But they look like they've got plenty of meat on them - i.e., they haven't actually rusted away - so your best bet might be to borrow/rent a sandblaster, grab some really fine blasting media, and - voila, two minutes later, you've got brand-new widgets that you can hit with some appliance paint and call it done.

 

[James_Sugar Sand Mirage]

They're (obviously) retainer posts of some kind - but no way to know where they were sourced from, or if the company that made them is still in business. But they look like they've got plenty of meat on them - i.e., they haven't actually rusted away - so your best bet might be to borrow/rent a sandblaster, grab some really fine blasting media, and - voila, two minutes later, you've got brand-new widgets that you can hit with some appliance paint and call it done.

Thanks for the reply. Unfortunately, the plug pictured is one of the only ones that is still somewhat intact. Most of them were just rust stains with no actual part remaining!

One idea I've had is to use rubber grommets. Since there are 4 posts, I thought the friction might just hold them in. Probably use RTV to help secure the grommets in the hole during insertion.

I'm still working on the making patterns for the panels on the bucket seat and then have to sew. A lot harder then the rest of the more rectangular cushions! But I will update with whatever solution I end up with in case it might help others.

 

[Ben Okopnik]

Yikes. I guess I was looking at the wrong thing! Well, that being the case - now you've got me curious. What the heck are those kind of things called? "friction connectors"? "push latches"? Let's see what I can Google up...

OK, here's some interesting possibilities:

https://www.popco-usa.com/t/categories/small-sign-fasteners

"Xmas tree clips", "canoe clips", and "shelf push-pins". Amazon has all sorts, including ones that look strong enough to hold a headrest - and since they're all made of plastic, seems like the right kind of thing.

(I love it when I learn something interesting like this. )