Removing plug from legs

[Roger Crawford]

What is the best way to remove the threaded plug from a leg? It’s aluminum, if that matters. I’ve tried a using a dowel that’s longer than the leg portion and sliding it hard against the floor, but so far, it hasn’t budged.

[Bobby D. Jones]

If the Leg is aluminum, And the plug is aluminum.
Can you see a clear separation line between the leg and the plug.
To make a strong dependable attachment between the plug and leg tube. They may be heli/arc welded. and machined smooth, And can't be removed.
If there is a visible line between the plug and leg tube. The plug may be glued in with some type of epoxy. Which would mean using heat to soften the epoxy.
The plug would need to be epoxied back in tube when replaced.
Good Luck on this project, Happy Steelin.

[Roger Crawford]

Bobby, the leg is aluminum, but the plug appears to be steel. There is a clear separation between the two. I’m looking to shorten two legs. If I can’t get the plugs out, I may cut the tube with the plug still attached and buy a couple of plugs to replace them. Heat may be an answer, just need to find the best way to do that.

[Tim Rose]

Use a solid steel rod and pound on concrete floor harder ....watch for where it flys off to.

[Bobby D. Jones]

If you know someone with a lathe, Protect the leg with copper strips. Lathe cut the tube off the insert, Till the insert is free. Cut leg to length, Bevel inside of tube, Reinstall the plug.
If doing it the hard way, Using a rod and hitting on the floor to remove the plug.
Put a sock over the insert and tie or tape it to the leg. If necessary, Some heat to the aluminum and degrade glue or epoxy if it was used.
If you cannot get the insert out, And cut the legs to length.
Cut the piece of leg with the insert, Long ways with a hack saw, Up to insert. Then file a grove long ways over the insert. Screw a proper nut on thread, Clamp the nut in vice, And convince the tubing to release the insert. With a hammer and vice grips. Then reinstall the insert in the leg.
Good Luck on project, Happy Steelin.

[Brian Lee]

All great ideas! A little variant to Bobby’s last suggestion: Once the threaded end is cut off and the insert held in a vice clamping the nut threaded on to it, you could carefully file off the remaining outer aluminum stub by hand. Easiest if it’s mounted horizontal in the vice. Since aluminum is soft and steel is harder, you can file through the aluminum pretty easily and take it slow when you get close to the glue joint - sneak up on the glue joint and you should be able to break through the aluminum into the glue without messing up the steel. Once you are through at one spot, you may be able to pry it up and peel the rest off without messing up the insert using a sharp cold chisel to separate the glue joint. Wear safety glasses when banging on the chisel. Good luck with it!

[Tony Glassman]

Which 2 legs are you wanting to shorten?

If you want to shorten the REAR legs, you can just disassemble the smaller diameter lower leg insert from the larger upper leg and cut off its top end to the desired length

Re-assemble the 2 leg parts and the lower insert can be set further up into the upper leg for an overall shorter leg length.

[Doug Earnest]

After disassembling the leg, I turn it upside down and spray a generous amount of lubricant such as PB Blaster (my favorite), WD 40, anything like that and let it set for 30 minutes or so. It's a great help. Then use the steel rod and hammer, method to knock out the plug. Once the plug moves a little you can give it another little squirt and let it set just a few more minutes. They will usually come right on out.

[Mark Perrodin]

this what i did to a set of legs that had an odd thread pitch. i cut the leg past where the insert was. then i silver soldered a nut to the correct threaded bolt. turned it in a lathe to an interference fit and pressed it in. worked good.

[Jerry Overstreet]

A length of straight scrap re-bar of the smaller diameter works good. There's always a few pieces laying around construction sites.

Slammed against a hard surface or driven out with a hammer. Just be careful not to pinch your hand if you use a hammer.

[Erv Niehaus]

Roger,
Just bang a little harder.

[Donny Hinson]

Roger,
Just bang a little harder.

Yes, throw a towel over the end (so the plug doesn't fly off and break something) and bang it smartly on concrete or an anvil.

BTDT

[Donny Hinson]

Roger,
Just bang a little harder.

Yes, throw a towel over the end (so the plug doesn't fly off and break something) and bang the rod smartly on concrete or an anvil.

BTDT