just a quick comment on stanchion bases as I am dealing with this now in a recore project. All the stanchion bases on my 35-2 are 'closed'... as in the SS tube is welded all around onto the base plate with no drain holes. I have seen some open at the bottom with a bit of a fold in the base plate to allow for drainage. Without drainage, these will fill with water, freeze solid and split if not drained before the winter in northern climes. I am taking mine to a machine shop over the winter and having a 3/16 hole drilled in the sidewall of each near the base. A hole in the actual bottom does not work with the flat base plate.