telewis
New Member
Any clever ideas how to release a stainless steel table leg that has become stuck in its metal base unit?
Stuck table leg
- Thread starter telewis
- Start date
CaptainMike1970
Well-Known Member
Assuming you have given it a good wiggle, try tapping the post near where it joins the base with a leather faced hammer or rubber mallet. If the post is stainless steel and the base alloy you may have some sort of corrosion, so you will need to try to free that bond, a good squirt of some form of release agent or release oil / WD40 / GT85 etc and let it soak, careful not to get it on the teak deck if you have teak.
rafiki_
Well-Known Member
If in doubt, give it a clout! You could also try a bit of heat too.
Caliban
Well-Known Member
Assuming this is the tubular type of leg you could try using one of those tools they employ to remove oil/fuel filters from engines. No clue what they are called, sort of a strap attached to a handle.
lanerboy
Well-Known Member
or if you don't have one of these just put a ratchet strap around it and tighten onto the leg this will give you more leverage than just trying to twist with your hands
DAKA
Well-Known Member
Hold the top of the table or top of the pole and firmly holding with both hands and a bit of your weight try to make the seized pole top turn a big circle. Obviously you will not make a very large movement but keep going and it will twist out in the opposite direction to the circle you are making.
henryf
Well-Known Member
Don't apply any heat, don't try and grip the leg with anything and don't hit anything with anything else.
The leg will be a hollow alloy which has a coating on the surface which is easily damaged.
Apply penetrating fluid around the joint where the 2 parts meet. allow to soak in for an hour or so and repeat. Allow to soaking in for an hour or so, have a little wiggle and if necessary repeat. Leave overnight. Have a little wiggle and repeat until it pops free.
There will be more than enough leverage with the base fitted to the floor and the inset attached to the table top not to require any gripping devices.
Be patient.
It only takes a moment to feck it up but ages and lots of money to repair afterwards.
Henry
The leg will be a hollow alloy which has a coating on the surface which is easily damaged.
Apply penetrating fluid around the joint where the 2 parts meet. allow to soak in for an hour or so and repeat. Allow to soaking in for an hour or so, have a little wiggle and if necessary repeat. Leave overnight. Have a little wiggle and repeat until it pops free.
There will be more than enough leverage with the base fitted to the floor and the inset attached to the table top not to require any gripping devices.
Be patient.
It only takes a moment to feck it up but ages and lots of money to repair afterwards.
Henry
Alpha22
Well-Known Member
If the legs are the stainless ones with a slight taper on each end then this is the best way. I think they are called Desmo legs.
On a previous boat, a previous owner rigged them up as seat posts. Surprisingly(?) they were forever getting terminally stuck. The big circle technique worked every time - eventually!!!!! Slamming them up, down, left and right on the top end with your hands can encourage a little movement.
Failing that, remove the base from the boat and hacksaw it from the leg. The bases are cheaper than the legs. We had to replace a base each year using them as seat posts.... but they were never designed for such extreme use.
Poignard
Well-Known Member
telewis
New Member
Thanks folks - lots of really useful ideas. I see a weekend of oil, rotating and a boa constrictor ahead!
telewis
New Member
Very helpful - Thank you
