Shorten sofa legs. How,where?

Oct 20th, 2019 11:41 pm

#1

redflag5050 [OP]: Deal Addict; Nov 5, 2009; 1027 posts; 224 upvotes; Montreal

Oct 20th, 2019 11:41 pm

Just bought a couch from Structube. Very happy with it except for the height. I want to take off 3 inches from the legs. How can I do that? Is there a way I can do it myself or is there somewhere I can have it done. Precision cut is important. The legs are metal, chrome maybe, so I'm guessing a machine is required. Your help is appreciated.

Share:

Oct 21st, 2019 12:24 am

#2

hdom: Deal Fanatic; Aug 29, 2006; 7737 posts; 1626 upvotes

Oct 21st, 2019 12:24 am

A hand hacksaw with a metal cutting blade plus time and elbow grease may work. Just need to tape up the piece, especially at the cut to protect the finish and may be easier to build a jig to assist the cut and keep them all at the same level.

The Devil made me buy it - RFD.

+1

Oct 21st, 2019 8:33 am

#3

Owbist: Deal Addict; Nov 9, 2003; 1471 posts; 282 upvotes; Grimsby

Oct 21st, 2019 8:33 am

If you cut those feet how will you protect the floor from the bare metal? Not impossible but thoughts need to be addressed before any action happens.

+1

Oct 21st, 2019 10:16 am

#4

redflag5050 [OP]: Deal Addict; Nov 5, 2009; 1027 posts; 224 upvotes; Montreal

Oct 21st, 2019 10:16 am

Side problem but fixable with rubber furniture pads.

Oct 21st, 2019 10:47 am

#5

teoconca: Deal Fanatic; Oct 16, 2008; 9457 posts; 3765 upvotes; Vaughan

Oct 21st, 2019 10:47 am

Will the sofa look funny after cut? Shorter legs and closer floor?!

I hate to speculate. I hate to forecast. I am just proactive.

+3

Oct 21st, 2019 12:24 pm

#6

torontotim: Deal Addict; Nov 17, 2012; 4279 posts; 3557 upvotes; Toronto

Oct 21st, 2019 12:24 pm

Return it and buy the right couch (if it exists).

Otherwise, you need to know what those legs are made out of. If it's chrome plated steel, cutting it is going to be challenging and you'll need to trim out the cut ends. It won't be clean.

If they're polished aluminum (likely) then it's much easier. Cut, file, polish. Put on furniture pads to protect the floor and move on.

Or take the seat cushions somewhere and have them customized to be 3" thinner.

+2

Oct 21st, 2019 12:29 pm

#7

torontotim: Deal Addict; Nov 17, 2012; 4279 posts; 3557 upvotes; Toronto

Oct 21st, 2019 12:29 pm

It looked like those feet were part of a fully connected system, but are they actually four separate feet that bolt onto the bottom of the sofa?

If that's the case, just replace the legs with shorter ones. Lots of furniture legs at Lee Valley and other places.

Or, remove them, take them to a machine/welding/polishing shop and ask them to remove 3" and re-finish.

Mayfair Plating on Carlaw is my go-to place for chrome plating.

+2

Oct 21st, 2019 1:14 pm

#8

Jerico: Deal Guru; Jan 25, 2007; 11546 posts; 6707 upvotes; Paris

Oct 21st, 2019 1:14 pm

torontotim wrote: ↑
Mayfair Plating on Carlaw is my go-to place for chrome plating.

Not to hijack, but how much chrome plating does one have to do to have a “chrome plating guy”?

Oct 21st, 2019 2:13 pm

#9

torontotim: Deal Addict; Nov 17, 2012; 4279 posts; 3557 upvotes; Toronto

Oct 21st, 2019 2:13 pm

I've spent a few thousand over the years on chrome plating. Probably spanning 15+ years and 5+ motorcycle restorations. So I guess about that much.

+1

Oct 21st, 2019 7:38 pm

#10

redflag5050 [OP]: Deal Addict; Nov 5, 2009; 1027 posts; 224 upvotes; Montreal

Oct 21st, 2019 7:38 pm

Separate from the couch, I screwed them on. I was gonna say what is Lee valley because I never heard of them but whadda ya know, there is one in the Montreal area. Thanks!

Oct 21st, 2019 7:43 pm

#11

fdl: Deal Fanatic; Dec 5, 2009; 5740 posts; 3568 upvotes

Oct 21st, 2019 7:43 pm

It would be more helpful to see a couple photos of the legs removed from the couch.

I suspect cutting might be easy enough, but it more a question of how to fasten them back on again.

+1

Oct 21st, 2019 7:47 pm

#12

redflag5050 [OP]: Deal Addict; Nov 5, 2009; 1027 posts; 224 upvotes; Montreal

Oct 21st, 2019 7:47 pm

fdl wrote: ↑ It would be more helpful to see a couple photos of the legs removed from the couch.

I suspect cutting might be easy enough, but it more a question of how to fasten them back on again.

The legs came separate with the sofa. Very easy to install (4 screws). Very easy to remove (unscrew).

Oct 21st, 2019 8:37 pm

#13

fdl: Deal Fanatic; Dec 5, 2009; 5740 posts; 3568 upvotes

Oct 21st, 2019 8:37 pm

redflag5050 wrote: ↑ The legs came separate with the sofa. Very easy to install (4 screws). Very easy to remove (unscrew).

Right but what if you chop the tops off ?

Oct 21st, 2019 11:00 pm

#14

Zamboni: Deal Fanatic; Oct 19, 2008; 7166 posts; 2768 upvotes; GTA

Oct 21st, 2019 11:00 pm

fdl wrote: ↑ Right but what if you chop the tops off ?

LOL, you're right..... OP should drill holes in the floor and forget this crazy nonsense of cutting couch legs!

+2

Oct 22nd, 2019 2:50 pm

#15

onlineharvest: Deal Fanatic; Jul 14, 2008; 8312 posts; 1896 upvotes; Ontario

Oct 22nd, 2019 2:50 pm

fdl wrote: ↑ Right but what if you chop the tops off ?

My guess is the top of the leg is one piece with the vertical leg, like this:
https://www.leevalley.com/en-ca/shop/ha ... niture-leg

My vote is to just remove the legs and buy another set that fit and are the size you need - and as mentioned in the thread, Lee Valley is a nice place to start:
https://www.leevalley.com/en-ca/shop/ha ... iture-legs
https://www.leevalley.com/en-ca/shop/ha ... corner-leg - steel corner one, if lucky hole pattern matches?

I've cut wood feet myself but finished metal of any kind is going to be more difficult to look presentable, or likely come at a higher cost.

Oct 22nd, 2019 7:05 pm

#16

torontotim: Deal Addict; Nov 17, 2012; 4279 posts; 3557 upvotes; Toronto

Oct 22nd, 2019 7:05 pm

If the legs are aluminum, like the ones at Lee Valley, it's no big deal at all to cut them. Hack saw or take them somewhere. Lots of machine shops, welding places etc. that can chop 3" off the bottoms, and then smooth the edges with simple tools and polish to a mirror shine again.

But this is all easy to do at home if aluminum.

Oct 22nd, 2019 10:30 pm

#17

killoverme: Deal Fanatic; Oct 8, 2006; 5627 posts; 643 upvotes; Toronto

Oct 22nd, 2019 10:30 pm

take a picture of the legs. those in your picture look wooden. It should be easy enough to cut with a band saw or something similar. Then grinded and polished smooth. Other easier option is just get different legs.

Oct 23rd, 2019 7:08 am

#18

PointsHubby: Deal Expert; Feb 7, 2017; 21342 posts; 19710 upvotes; Eastern Ontario

Oct 23rd, 2019 7:08 am

Construction techniques aside ...

My first question is WHY ?

3 inches is a fair bit of a decrease, when the standard in the industry is a seat height that’s DESIGNED to be so many inches off the floor so it’s comfy when one is in a seated position (the upside down L shape) that knees to feet make when resting on the floor.

Unless one is quite short in stature, altering this makes no sense ... and will only bring discomfort to the average user

+1

Oct 23rd, 2019 12:17 pm

#19

jm1: Deal Addict; Jan 5, 2003; 4710 posts; 4418 upvotes; Toronto

Oct 23rd, 2019 12:17 pm

If you want to do this to match an ottoman, side table, coffee table, etc. then it will be easier to raise the table than cut the sofa's legs.

Also, give the cushions some time to settle, you may find yourself eventually sitting lower once the cushions are worn in.

Shorten sofa legs. How,where?

Shorten sofa legs. How,where?

Thread Information

Trending Hot Deals