Cabinet doesnt quite fit - 1/4 inch off?

[RichTJ99]

Hi,

I picked up a cabinet, it is an Ikea one & is 47.25" wide. The space I am trying to stick it into is 47" wide. Is there a way for me to shave down a 16" deep by 31" tall part of a wall to try to fit this cabinet in my garage?

I would be more comfortable altering whats there vs putting on new sheetrock. I think what i have there is 1/2", but its 40 year old sheetrock so it could be thicker.

I dont suppose there is some tool that would shave a large section evenly?

Any suggestions would be great.

Thanks,
Rich

 

[kbs2244]

Even 40 years ago, ½ inch sheet rock was just that, ½ inch.
Remove both sides and replace with 3/8 inch and you get your ¼ inch.

Or look over your Ikea.
You might be able to find a 1/4 inch in it.
They are pretty modular.

 

[cowboy73]

Does the cabinet have a face frame? Most face frames extend a little past the sides on a cabinet box. You could plane both sides of the face frame down to get the 1/4 inch.

 

[where2]

Rip the IKEA down.

I did this to a RTA base cabinet from HD once to fit it in my downstairs half bath. The two assembled base cabinets I special ordered, together with the RTA were 1/2" too wide for the space. I drilled all the dowel holes deeper and cut down all the horizontal pieces. Fits the space like it was made for it, because it was...

 

[Boomer343]

I assume you have a door on the cabinet and it probably isn't easy to resize it.

I have used a belt sander to thin out drywall, especially in built up corners but it makes a heck of a mess.

I would look at the wall and see if I could cut out a section of the drywall and replace it with thinner material like plywood. Do an area that will look like you ment to do it rather than an oops.

BTW have you actually tried the cabinet? sometimes a wall has a little give to it. On cabinet installs between two walls that were tighter than planned I have gotten cabinets in by putting the last two into a v shape and pushing them in flat. Bit of a trick to it and it won't work for big differences but has worked for me more than once.

 

[volvo]

...
Are you sure that the walls are true, meaning that they are truly parallel front to rear?
Measure front and rear at several levels to be sure. If not, this cabinet install trick just might work for you if the conditions are close to the same? Just a possibility.

One way to install a cabinet in a tight wall cavity or cove.

 

[JonBoehman]

If it has a face frame typically the standard lip is 3/16" you should be able to work an 1/8" off both sides.

 

[camarotoolman]

Much easier to just cut the dw,hang cab. , mud in around the the cabinet, touch up the paint, done deal. because of drawing screw up , I redid one where I had to cut part of the stud to make if fit.

 

[RichTJ99]

Great ideas guys! Thanks! I will let you know how I do.

 

[RichTJ99]

I ended up cutting the sheetrock off of one side & it just barely fits. So I stuffed in a bunch of insulation & am planning on using a 1.5" molding to cover up most of my mess. I will take some photos when its done. I am debating on if I should remove the sheetrock on the other side, then put in 1/8th or even just masonite & then cover it.

Sheetrock has no insulation value right?

 

[Angelfire]

1/2" Sheetrock has an R value of about 0.45. Not much but it has some insulating value.