How to cut cabinet

[AndyL]

Hey folks,

Need some advice... Having one of those weeks... My brain no longer works... (blown faucet, requiring full rework of the kitchen sink; wife blew engine in truck; now the oven goes)

built in oven gave up today... Found replacement (craigslist) - but minor cabinet change needed to accommodate, replacement is a double (so will take up existing, plus whole cabinet above or below - conveniently).

Question is - how the heck do I trim out the plywood top or bottom of the cabinet, flush to the edges... To accommodate the new oven? Every saw I've got has at least a 3/4" foot keeping it from the edge of the cabinet...

What am I not thinking of - there's got to be an easy'ish way to do this...

thanks in advance

 

[garboui]

Maybe a little tedious, but a hand saw followed up with a file would do the trick.

 

[shannonw]

I'm not a wood working guru but wouldn't a router and flush trim bit work? Though i'd probably just jig saw it and put a piece of trim around it

 

[Gary S]

A router won't cut into a corner any better than a power saw. Try garboui's advice and do it with a small hand saw.

 

[rickyboy]

reciprocating saw or "saws all" ??
Just as long as you have a fine wood blade.

 

[AndyL]

Even my sawzall has a 3/4" foot, I need to cut right flush to the edge, router is much bigger- it'd only get within three inches of the edge - I need to get right up against the side walls...

Maybe its time for one of those new reciprocating tools (dremel et.all.) they have those flush cut blades don't they?

 

[D.J.]

HF has them cheap and they don't have largefeet on them or use cheap handsaw or drywall or copping saw and file as suggested above!

 

[jtw5339]

how about an oscillating saw, like the Fein Multimaster or one of the much less expensive clones? they have a zero offset wood cutting blade that should snug right up to the side of the cabinet.

 

[kellymc]

Fein tool or HF knock off with a Fein blade

 

[Rusty Musket]

I do this all the time during installs. The Fein multimaster is my tool of choice but since their patent expired you can now get a similar tool from many manufacturers as stated above. Another trick is to use a long 12 - 16 inch sawzall blade and bend it into a slight curve. With careful cutting you can place the apex of the curve right at the back of the cabinet where you need it. Once bent, the blade set up will only allow you to cut in one direction so think about that before bending it or you will need to bend the opposite curve to finish up the cut. Good Luck

 

[mtnwalton]

oscillating tool mentioned above works well but is slow. there is a tool made to trim door jambs prior to installing hardwood flooring (i don't know the name) but they can be rented. good luck

 

[shoot summ]

+1 for oscillating tool.

 

[onewaydave]

1+ hand saw.

Dave, well unless you've considered a chain saw.

 

[Gary S]

1+ hand saw.

Dave, well unless you've considered a chain saw.

With a chainsaw he could cut it from outside the house right through the wall.

Of course, that would require some other repairs to keep the mice out.

 

[trainer]

A sharp handsaw.
New tools are fun, but it sounds like you aren't in the position to go shopping for specialty power tools right now

 

[nmk_61802]

Toekick Saw?

http://www.harborfreight.com/3-3-8-eighth-inch-blade-toe-kick-saw-94626.html

 

[ctb]

Pick up a japanese flush cutting hand saw from Lee Valley Tools. Costs about 33 bucks.

 

[Steevo]

Just cut one slot, front to back in the center of the cabinet floor, and bend the two pieces down/up and pull toward the center to remove them from the sides.
Why go to all the work of flush cutting when it will be hidden along the sides of the oven anyway.

Maybe we're all talking about different things?

A pic goes a long way.

 

[MoonRise]

You're trying to cut out an existing horizontal shelf or part of the cabinet case to make room for the replacement double-oven, right?

Couple of ways to do so.

If removing a shelf, check to see if the shelf is removable, with or without some cutting or such (see if you can just nip/cut/remove the fasteners holding it in place).

Oscillating multi-tool (aka Fein or clone/copy).

Rough-cut out most with powered saw of your choice (circular saw, sawzall, jigsaw, etc), then finish off with router and a mortising bit (end cut not 'side' cut). Think end mill in a milling machine. Set the depth of cut to be flush with the existing sidewalls and you will end up flush as can be. May need a bit of hand-work to get all the way back in the corners (maybe), depending on just how far/deep the oven reaches.

Could do a similar sequence but using hand saws (flush-cut saw make it pretty easy, but will take a while to get through a 3/4 inch thick plywood shelf/carcass).

Could rough cut and remove most of the shelf/carcass, and then finish off with paring cuts with a nice sharp chisel or chisel plane.

Use a sawzall with a long(er) blade and hold it 'away' from the side panel and just let the blade curve/flex sideways as needed. It's just a rough cut that will be hidden once the oven is installed, right?

Shark with laser on its head.

 

[John in OH]

Not sure that the amount that you need to cut justifies buying a special power saw (although I'm always one to try and justify any new tool possible!!). This sounds like a case of going "old school" and using a hand saw. There are numerous hand saws that are specially made for making flush cuts, or, depending on the clearances, you may be able to use a basic cross-cut saw.

 

[AndyL]

Meh, buying new tool, i'm sure I can come up with a reason to call it a business expense It's all about the time at the moment...