This does not truly answer your question but I have found it cost effective to have stanchions repaired. It comes out to be about 1/2 the price of new and you could not see where the fixes were. 10 years of salt water sailing and there are no corrosion problems, and re installing was a snap. For one folded over stanchion and one broken off I was charged 30 minutes labor each, including polishing to perfection.