The BEST way to remove seats in a Skoolie Conversion

There are so many ways to remove school bus seats, so I wanted to figure out the best way. Any method is exhausting, but I experimented with several different strategies to discover the fastest, easiest, and most economical approach.
The most straightforward approach seems to be using wrenches and/or impact drivers to remove the nuts. This approach world best for two people: one inside the bus and one underneath. However, for most of this process, I was by myself. Moreover, the nuts were so rusty on the bottom that I doubt they would have come off anyway.
Second, I tried snapping them off by cranking them extra tight with an impact driver (amzn.to/2u1kBNH) powered by my 8-gallon compressor. In 10 attempts, I only managed to break off one bolt. Onto strategy #3!
Using a 4 1/2 angle grinder (amzn.to/2GLZu4q) and a cut-off wheel, I cut the heads off a couple of bolts. I averaged about 1 1/2 minute per bolt...7 minutes per seat. While this worked, it also presented a couple of challenges. First, I began chewing through cut-off wheels at an alarming rate. Living in the woods, I really didn't want to lose a couple of hours of bus work driving into town for more tools. Second, I found it difficult to get under the bolt head. I would cut through the head leaving 1/8 or 1/16 of an inch of the head which made it difficult to snap the seat out.
So, I next tried cutting a groove into the head and attacking the bolt with an air chisel. No luck. I don't know if I needed to sharpen the (brand new) chisel blade even more or if air chisels with 8-gallon compressors just aren't powerful enough to get the job done.
Which brings me to the method I found the best: grinding a starter groove at each bolt with a grinding wheel, then finishing it with a cut-off wheel. Even with a 2-step process, it only took a few more seconds per seat and I managed the entire job on one grinding wheel and two cut-off wheels.
Best of luck! Please post questions or your strategies in the comments!
Check out the blog! eddy-line.com/2019/12/30/the-...

[@lisabianco1282]

Hahaha we are burning up cutting wheels! Great videos (love the rafting vids too) So happy to have met y’all and look forward to learning more. -your Katahdin neighbor, lisa

[@River-Channel]

That's why I started the cuts with grinding wheels! Great to connect; reach out anytime!

[@TroyDeanOnTheRoad]

I am about to head out and do my seat demo, so glad I watched this as I am solo as well. Thanks for the video.

[@River-Channel]

Glad it will help! Good luck!

[@kozmictv2519]

Thank you SO much for this video. I used the technique with two angle grinders (I bought two initially expecting one to die) and it went by so fast!

[@River-Channel]

Glad it was helpful!!

[@jacobnferguson]

Good video, thanks.

[@River-Channel]

No problem...hope it was helpul!

[@juliescrazybuslife]

This was really helpful! And the funny part LOL my name is Julie 🤣 I can't lie, my work has definitely kept me from doing any demo on my bus here in town, that and procrastination!I am pretty much going to be doing this myself aside for some people who may help me with it here and there. I will watch as many videos as possible. But for now I do believe even though it's a little bit a pain in the neck, I prefer to use the ratchet method and of course lots of WD-40 and elbow grease! I was thinking if there was a tool or device that had a very strong magnet on it and adjustable sizes that can fit around the nut on the underside, then you wouldn't need two people? I don't know if there is such a device but if there isn't hell I need to create it right?! Maybe put something in it so you can turn off the magnet... To get it to release from the undercarriage of the bus? I don't know somebody help me with this. I can't turn off the MacGyver in me, there's got to be a way to figure this out :-) why not right!! necessity is the mother of invention

[@River-Channel]

Bus conversion certainly brings out the creative forces in us! Maybe an earth magnet on a ratchet might hold it on and then maybe a ratchet strap to keep it from spinning. You's still have to keep getting in and out of the bus, though! I liked using a grinder...and I used that grinder for so many things in this process! Good-luck, Julie! Thanks for watching!

[@perfectpeacetaichi1232]

Does this affect the sale of the seats?

[@River-Channel]

I suppose it could! I don't know a lot of people (or seen in social media posts and forums) of people who've been able to sell them, though. It didn't affect me "selling" them...I took them to a scrap metal yard and got $25!

[@River-Channel]

Free bus seats available!

[@siryukoncorneulius4986]

Dude , have someone else hold the camera. Youre describing stuff and can't see a thing

[@River-Channel]

You're right, something to work on. Tough when you're by yourself. Thanks for the feedback!