How to Shorten a Cabinet
Shortening a cabinet is often done in a kitchen when a new appliance, such as a refrigerator, is being installed in the kitchen. Cutting down the depth of the cabinet is the recommended method and is used when shortening the cabinet so it does not hang out further than the front of the refrigerator. You should avoid shortening the cabinet on the width or height sides because the process may cause wall damage. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Screwdriver
- Pencil
- Measuring tape
- Nipper
- Hammer
- Nails
- Square
- Reciprocating saw
- Medium-grit sandpaper
Instructions
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1
Remove the screws that hold the cabinet door hinges in place as well as the screws from the cabinet's side panels. Place the screws, hinges and the cabinet door aside for later reattachment.
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2
Examine the front face of the cabinet to determine whether or not the cabinet has a face frame. The face frame is a rectangular frame that creates an opening for the cabinet itself and provides a resting place for the cabinet door. Remove the nails from the frame using a nipper, if a face frame is present. Do this slowly to avoid damaging the face frame. Dispose of the nails. In addition, remove any shelves that are inside the cabinet. These also need to be custom cut.
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3
Place the measuring tape on the cabinet, starting from the wall to the front of the cabinet. Determine how many inches you wish to shorten the cabinet and make a mark with the pencil. For example, if the cabinet depth measures 24 inches and you wish to shorten it by 4 inches, make a pencil line around the 20-inch mark. Use the measuring tape and square ruler to draw a line all the way around the cabinet, creating a line for cutting. Shorten the shelves the same amount by drawing a pencil line across where they need to be cut.
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4
Cut the cabinet using the reciprocating saw. Follow the pencil line drawn in the previous step. Cut the shelves as well, so they fit into the custom cut cabinet. Sand both the cabinet edges and the shelving sides lightly using the sandpaper. Do not sand excessively, as it changes the dimensions of the wood.
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5
Attach the shelves in the cabinet using the same screws and drill holes as when you removed the shelving. Place the full face frame up to the cabinet's opening and reattach it using new nails and the hammer, if applicable. Hammer nails around the perimeter of the face frame spacing the nails at least 1 inch apart.
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6
Reattach the cabinet door by screwing the screws back into the hinge installation holes. Open and close the cabinet door a few times to ensure you have installed the hinges properly.
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