Here's how I shortened the steering shaft. It was also stripped to bare metal, but I didn't have any hose clamps small enough to fit around the shaft tightly. I used a framing square and masking tape to get the tape on exactly 90* to the shaft, so the tape edge would make for a straight cut line.
3" cut out and the edges beveled. I cranked the welder up and burned the welds in pretty good, don't want this thing coming apart!
Welds ground down and smoothed out.
