In case you're still deciding about this I vote don't bother with any of it but if you absolutely must then yes hite rite. Anything else would be excessive work for something, in my opinion, marginal. A lathe could potentially take it down to the right diameter but it is just hassle isnt it? And you would have to source a post with a good amount of thickness to take down in size. Too much effort. But I suppose it depends on what you're intending to ride on it.