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Tips for Cutting Seat Pedestal?
Posted: Wed Sep 07, 2022 3:01 am
by steve1313
I've got a couple of fishing chair style seats on my back bar and I want to shorten the pedestals. I think I'm going to have to cut them while they are still mounted to the floor of the boat because I'm guessing they mount with nuts and bolts which would be inaccesible from under the deck because of the underskin. I'll remove one mounting screw/bolt and if the seat bases just happen to be screwed in without nuts, then I can remove the mount and just cut them on a chop saw.
If I have to cut them while they are still mounted on the boat, does anybody have any tips or ideas on what the best saw to use? I've got a jig saw, sawzall (reciprocating), multi-tool, angle grinder, and of course a manual hacksaw. I just want to make sure that whatever I use, that I can have good control of the saw so I can do a straight cut that is parallel to the floor, otherwise the seats won't be level or sit properly.
Re: Tips for Cutting Seat Pedestal?
Posted: Wed Sep 07, 2022 5:59 am
by Marc K
My first reaction would be a wheel type pipe cutter? I would see if you can borrow/rent one made for thin wall steel, for a nice straight and clean cut.
Re: Tips for Cutting Seat Pedestal?
Posted: Wed Sep 07, 2022 2:44 pm
by Marc K
Wrap a piece of heavy tape around the post as a guide and go to town with your Sawzall using a fine toothed blade. Clean up the edges with an angle grinder or rat tail file. This will make a mess compared to a pipe cutter.
Re: Tips for Cutting Seat Pedestal?
Posted: Thu Sep 08, 2022 3:17 am
by steve1313
Marc K-
Thanks for your suggestions. I never even thought of a pipe cutter. That certainly would be a cleaner solution than using a sawzall, etc. I need to measure the diameter of the pedestal pipe because most of the less expensive pipe cutters I see handle up to 2" pipes. I'm pretty sure the pedestal is 2" so I'd be fine.
Re: Tips for Cutting Seat Pedestal?
Posted: Mon Nov 07, 2022 7:55 pm
by Rick McC.
steve1313 wrote: ↑Thu Sep 08, 2022 3:17 am
Marc K-
Thanks for your suggestions. I never even thought of a pipe cutter. That certainly would be a cleaner solution than using a sawzall, etc. I need to measure the diameter of the pedestal pipe because most of the less expensive pipe cutters I see handle up to 2" pipes. I'm pretty sure the pedestal is 2" so I'd be fine.
So how did it work out?
Re: Tips for Cutting Seat Pedestal?
Posted: Wed Nov 09, 2022 3:53 am
by steve1313
Life got busy so I never got around to doing it! But I certainly will let you know how it goes when I finally get it done. But despite being busy, I did take some time to order a new toy for next season!!
- seadoo.jpeg (75.87 KiB) Viewed 20247 times
Re: Tips for Cutting Seat Pedestal?
Posted: Wed Nov 09, 2022 6:25 am
by Steiner
Joining the ranks of the lake lice?
Re: Tips for Cutting Seat Pedestal?
Posted: Wed Nov 09, 2022 11:42 am
by Marc K
Steiner wrote: ↑Wed Nov 09, 2022 6:25 am
Joining the ranks of the lake lice?
Re: Tips for Cutting Seat Pedestal?
Posted: Thu Nov 10, 2022 6:43 pm
by Rick McC.
steve1313 wrote: ↑Wed Nov 09, 2022 3:53 am
Life got busy so I never got around to doing it! But I certainly will let you know how it goes when I finally get it done. But despite being busy, I did take some time to order a new toy for next season!!
seadoo.jpeg
Well congrats on that!
Re: Tips for Cutting Seat Pedestal?
Posted: Fri Nov 11, 2022 12:23 pm
by steve1313
Steiner wrote: ↑Wed Nov 09, 2022 6:25 am
Joining the ranks of the lake lice?
If ya can't beat 'em, join 'em!
And I think if you have a boat and a PWC, you aren't considered lake lice. LOL
We'll use it mostly on weekday evenings or early mornings for a cruise on the calm lake.
