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I have a table that I want to cut the hollow steel legs down to coffee table height.

These are the table legs I have:

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/70217973/

What's the best tool and method to do this simply? A hack saw? Some special bit for a drill?

Brad Mace
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danlatorre
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4 Answers4

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A hack saw is a fine tool to cut fairly thin gauge tubing (which this seems to be). You may want to use a jig of some sort, such as a miterbox, to keep your cut square to the piece.

Tape around the diameter to minimize chipping of the finish. File down the cut edge to remove the burrs from sawing, using a metal file, followed by emory paper.

If there is a finishing cap on the bottom, you may be able to pry it from the cut off section and reinsert it in the shorter leg.

There are alternatives for cutting tubing, such as a tubing cutter (but not especially well suited to steel - save for softer metals, such as copper), Dremel-type tool (small grinding system with "cutoff wheels", basically abrasive disks - slow, better for smaller items), abrasive grinding tools (somewhat crude and messy) and metal cutting miter saws (a bit of overkill unless you have it at hand).

For all of these cuttings (especially motorized ones) use safety glasses! It's all fun and games until someone gets a metal shaving in the eye.

bib
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NOt as High Tech as Bib's answer but its still popular and only requires a bit of elbow grease.

A hand held hacksaw with a blade designed for steel.

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TIPS

  • The blades sharp edges need to curve/point towards yourself (called a pull-cut orientation). So it will cut when you pull back. Otherwise you will have a really hard time doing this.
  • Apparently a push-cut orientated blade cuts easier as pointed out by AJMansfield
  • The blade should be tightly tensioned and if cutting for an extended time tighten it more when the blade heats up.
  • You can use a metal file to straighten out your edge.
Piotr Kula
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My favorite technique (if I don't care to load a 12" metal cutoff blade in my miter saw) is have a helper slowly rotate cylinder (works well with large PVC, too) away from me while I hold a 4 1/2 angle grinder with a metal blade.

Start by wrapping blue tape around the leg. The same rotation technique with a pencil will yield a cut line. A tight string is another way to mark.

The usual safety gear: eye, hand, hearing, dust mask.

HerrBag
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Small angle-grinder.

Or failing that, a large hacksaw.

Or failing that, a small hacksaw.

Each will be slower and more annoying than the one before. All will need filing/evening etc. afterward. Watch out for sparks with the angle-grinder.