Sliding 50mm box inside 60mm box - spacers ?

[CompoSimmonite]

I want 50x50 box to slide inside 60x60x3 box. Both pieces will be hot galv'd.
Obviously the internal size of the 60x60x3 will be 54x54 so there will be a 2mm gap all around between the two pieces. Allowing for notional thickness of galv and sliding fit there is still probably, say, 1mm gap all round to fill.
I don't want to shim with steel (plug welded before galving) and am after something like plastic strip or similar.
What do people suggest ?


Thanks.

Paul H

 

[owas]

I always thought you could get steel box section that was made to slide into each other so no shimming required?
Im never actualy looked for it though

 

[breezer]

what about using 2" square box, and 60x60mm box?

 

[Wendelspanswick]

I made a yacht trailer which had adjustable stays made from box sliding in box and this was galvanised after manufacture:

It's 40mm box inside 50mm by 2.5mm wall and for packers I tacked on washers every 150mm on all four sides, this 150mm spacing coincided with every other adjustment hole.
You can see the washers in the pic.
From memory I had to grind down some of the excess zinc from a few of the washers after the galvanising process but no sign of rust at all and it's been in the sea numerous times and lives outside 365 days of the year.

 

[BrokenBiker]

get some plastic end caps for the 60x60, use a hot knife to cut out enough from the centre to allow the smaller box to slide, cut a bit small and file out for a nice finish

 

[kier]

you could use polyurathane thats very durable

 

[fatfranky]

I attended an agricultural show with a friend and noticed that a lot of machines had some form of 'slop adjuster' on 2 sides of the outer box section with this arrangement, usually one near the end and one at the point that the end of the inner tube would be at full extension.

I believe the adjuster has some form of urethane pad on the wearing surface and could be adjusted as it wears, granted the box section in question was 100-200mm, but perhaps a similar arrangement could be constructed.

I Also like 'Wendels washers' neat simple solution

Regards

 

[CompoSimmonite]

The washer idea appeals to me. The 60mm box will be "static" with the 50mm box sliding in it. Only approx. 300mm of the 60mm will be needed but it'll extend another 400mm to the rear anchor point. To reduce the weight of the 60mm I intend cutting lightening holes so it'll be easy to use such hole as access to weld washers on the opposite side of the box in the 300mm part.

Paul H

 

[T0rnado69]

why not just get 4mm wall. then the 60x60 inside size will be 52x52
time u get it dipped ........ it should be a lovely fit.

 

[sardine]

If I need a small nice fitting pair of square tubes I slit the outer into two angles, and clamp them, and fit them up onto the lnner tube, Then tack up, and weld low amps to cut down on shrinkage.

You'll find square tube is less than square.