# Advice sought on cutting a large sofa for disposal **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 12, 2007, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-sought-on-cutting-a-large-sofa-for-disposal/399863 "2007-04-12T21:51:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Wee\_Bairn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/90db22/32.png) [@Wee\_Bairn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wee_Bairn)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2007, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-sought-on-cutting-a-large-sofa-for-disposal/399863/1 "2007-04-12T21:51:10Z")
Anyone ever done this? How long did it take? What are the minimal least expensive non-electric tools needed to do the job? Any concerns I might not have thought of? Removal in one piece is unfortunately not an option. Thanks all! ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2007, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-sought-on-cutting-a-large-sofa-for-disposal/399863/2 "2007-04-12T21:57:49Z")
Chain saw. If that is not an option, you will need a large hammer or hand sledge, several screwdrivers of a size, and maybe a set of tin snips to cut apart the upholstery. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2007, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-sought-on-cutting-a-large-sofa-for-disposal/399863/3 "2007-04-12T22:15:27Z")
[QUOTE=silenus] Chain saw. If that is not an option, you will need a large hammer or hand sledge, several screwdrivers of a size, and maybe a set of tin snips to cut apart the upholstery. [/QUOTE] I think a chainsaw is a bad idea. Hitting any metal whatsoever is going to ruin the blade instantly or result in kickback. Nails + chainsaws = very dangerous. Can’t you just find someone to take the whole thing away? ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2007, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-sought-on-cutting-a-large-sofa-for-disposal/399863/4 "2007-04-12T22:19:37Z")
A Sawsall or [Reciprocating saw](http://images.google.com/images?svnum=50&um=1&hl=en&safe=off&sa=X&oi=spell&resnum=0&ct=result&cd=1&q=Reciprocating+saw+&spell=1) is probably the best choice for a sofa. For most De-struction projects these are the best. If you cannot borrow a Reciprocating Saw, you will need some utility knives to exposes the frame, then some pry bars & hammers. It will be a quick job with the saw and a slow job with hand tools. If the Sofa is metal framed, you might need wrenches and a socket set. ETA: I agree with **Shagnasty** , a chainsaw could be very dangerous. Good Luck, Jim ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2007, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-sought-on-cutting-a-large-sofa-for-disposal/399863/5 "2007-04-12T22:27:54Z")
I cut one up once with a regular [Hand saw](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hand_saw). Had to whack some bits a few times with a [claw hammer](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claw_hammer) to get the frame to fall apart. Also did some prying on the springy bits with [electrician pliers](http://www1.istockphoto.com/file_thumbview_approve/947213/2/istockphoto_947213_electrician_pliers.jpg). The sofa frame was constructed something [like this](http://www.furniturefind.com/img/buyers/1sofa.gif), so there wasn’t really a lot of cutting to be done. If the fabric covering is tough, you’ll need [scissors](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scissors). In my case, the stuff ripped pretty easily. A few well placed kicks will remove the arm rests. It took me about twenty minutes to reduce the sofa to hunks small enough to fit out a second floor window. ---
**Author:** ![Wee\_Bairn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/90db22/32.png) [@Wee\_Bairn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wee_Bairn)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2007, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-sought-on-cutting-a-large-sofa-for-disposal/399863/6 "2007-04-12T22:32:38Z")
This one is over-oversized and required removal of the door frame to get it in (or so I was told), which I would rather not mess with. Mainly the oversize padded arms are the problem, the seating part itself is no problem. Thanks again. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2007, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-sought-on-cutting-a-large-sofa-for-disposal/399863/7 "2007-04-12T22:40:29Z")
if it is just the padded arms… do you have a carving knife? those are wonderful to go through soft bits of furniture. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2007, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-sought-on-cutting-a-large-sofa-for-disposal/399863/8 "2007-04-12T22:43:36Z")
I bust them up and burn the wood in the fireplace. A hammer does almost all the work. Then kicking and jumping on it. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2007, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-sought-on-cutting-a-large-sofa-for-disposal/399863/9 "2007-04-12T23:09:11Z")
I would attempt to deconstruct the sofa. If you remove the fabric from the arms, you may be able to get at the bolts that attach them to the main part of the sofa. I think disassembly would be neater than cutting the thing up. ---
**Author:** ![boytyperanma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4491bb/32.png) [@boytyperanma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boytyperanma)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2007, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-sought-on-cutting-a-large-sofa-for-disposal/399863/10 "2007-04-13T02:03:45Z")
Hitting them with a sledge hammer usually works. Sometimes you have to cut the fabric with a razor knife to get them apart. Chainsaw is a really bad idea. Saw-sals work but they often get jammed up with thread. I’ve gotten to demolish a number of them. The last one was the easiest. I went to my friend’s house to smash it up and take it away, The gas company had a backhoe in front of the house digging up a line in the street. I said ‘hey can you guys hit this thing’. They said ‘sure’ minutes later it was a pile of debris . ---
**Author:** ![wolf\_meister](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf_meister/32/15202_2.png) [@wolf\_meister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolf_meister)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2007, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-sought-on-cutting-a-large-sofa-for-disposal/399863/11 "2007-04-13T05:02:22Z")
The proper tool for the job is the aptly named [wrecking bar](http://www.turtle.com/turtle_tools/category.php?item=03710311872&sub_cat=20150) I can speak from personal experience on this one. When I was about 10, my parents wanted to throw out an old sofa. I said I could do it myself, and went to work with a wrecking bar. I was finished in about 30 minutes. 😃 Just some hints: hold it by the straight end like a baseball bat and “swing” the hooked end. If you want to rip the upholstery, hold it so that the hooked end catches and rips it. For breaking apart the wooden frame, turn it so the flat part of the hooked end makes contact. (You’d be surprised how easily those pieces of wood disassemble). For really tough joints, use that small angled end. The leverage of a wrecking bar is phenomenal and if you are into serious destruction, I highly recommend it. (I’d also get the 24" one in that link). ---
**Author:** ![Uncommon\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Uncommon\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncommon_Sense)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2007, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-sought-on-cutting-a-large-sofa-for-disposal/399863/12 "2007-04-13T13:02:19Z")
[QUOTE=boytyperanma] Hitting them with a sledge hammer usually works. Sometimes you have to cut the fabric with a razor knife to get them apart. Chainsaw is a really bad idea. Saw-sals work but they often get jammed up with thread. I’ve gotten to demolish a number of them. The last one was the easiest. I went to my friend’s house to smash it up and take it away, The gas company had a backhoe in front of the house digging up a line in the street. I said ‘hey can you guys hit this thing’. They said ‘sure’ minutes later it was a pile of debris . [/QUOTE] A friend of mine needed his junk motor lifted out of his boat so he could install the new one. He asked a crew working down the street if they’d mind removing the old motor for him so he could clean up the engine bay and get it ready for the rebuilt unit. All it took was a $20 bill and they saved him all kinds of hassle. I think all it took was a lifting strap and a bobcat/skidloader and about 5 minutes of their time. I naturally assume that the $20 went for beer money sometime around 3 pm. ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2007, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-sought-on-cutting-a-large-sofa-for-disposal/399863/13 "2007-04-13T13:10:16Z")
I have no idea how to do it, but it sounds like fun! I’ve always wanted to destroy a piece of furniture… Um, wear safety goggles if using the chainsaw or other saw. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tastes_of_chocolate/32/3232_2.png) [@Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tastes_of_Chocolate)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2007, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-sought-on-cutting-a-large-sofa-for-disposal/399863/14 "2007-04-13T13:53:14Z")
Poke around at the sofa first. With some, you can remove the feet and the back with just a couple of bolts. ---
**Author:** ![butler1850](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@butler1850](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/butler1850)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2007, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-sought-on-cutting-a-large-sofa-for-disposal/399863/15 "2007-04-13T14:31:00Z")
Fire. Stay upwind. ---
**Author:** ![solkoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/919ad9/32.png) [@solkoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solkoe)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2007, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-sought-on-cutting-a-large-sofa-for-disposal/399863/16 "2007-04-13T20:32:49Z")
I have done this. It was messy but there was no other option. First, I tore as off as much fabric and sponge as I could. This went into garbage bags. Next, I unscrewed as many bolts as I could find. The metal springs are attached by clips and are easily removed. Evenutally, after a lot of fabric pulling and cutting and after the frame joints had been pounded apart, the job was done. No power tools. The wood is quite nice maple and it burned very well in your backyard burner. ---
**Author:** ![Scruloose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e68b1a/32.png) [@Scruloose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scruloose)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2007, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-sought-on-cutting-a-large-sofa-for-disposal/399863/17 "2007-04-13T20:38:57Z")
[QUOTE=wolf\_meister] The proper tool for the job is the aptly named [wrecking bar](http://www.turtle.com/turtle_tools/category.php?item=03710311872&sub_cat=20150) [/QUOTE] Pfft. What you need is a [Hooligan Bar](http://www.firesafetyusa.com/cart/images/hooligan-bar.jpg) . _Hooligan Bar: Destroy it. Destroy it with extreme prejudice._ ---
**Author:** ![wolf\_meister](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf_meister/32/15202_2.png) [@wolf\_meister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolf_meister)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2007, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-sought-on-cutting-a-large-sofa-for-disposal/399863/18 "2007-04-13T23:13:09Z")
**Scruloose** Well, now I know the name for that tool. It is tremendous for opening doors (even steel doors I believe). However, I will still stand by my first choice of a **wrecking bar** because: • It was designed specifically for destruction. (I guess that’s why it’s called a _wrecking_ bar). • The hooked end of the wrecking bar is symmetrical and is a “neat” compact mass when it is swung at its intended target. The hooligan bar doesn’t have that symmetry (or that much mass at one end). Basically it is meant for prying and not for wrecking. • Did you see the _price_ of the hooligan bar? :eek: **solkoe** There’s something satisfying about destruction without using power tools isn’t there? 🙂