Best tool to trim top of pine cabinet?

[John]

I've got to trim a quarter inch off of the top of a pine cabinet to make room for a new refrigirator. The cabinet sits above the refrigorator. I've got the cabinet section off, and before I have at it with my circular saw, I thought I'd like to hear suggestions on how to make the cleanest cut. I'm looking for a very straight line, with no chips on the edge of the cut. Just to make it difficult, I can't find an exact match for the original stain so it will be difficult to hide any cutting chips or splinters.

I was thinking of using my circular saw with a new blade (what to get?) and clamp a long level to use as a fence, then pray!

Any suggestions woule be most welcome.

-john

[BillyBob]

It sounds like you're looking for the safest, surest and cleanest way to trim it. A circular saw might come out fine, but it makes for a high speed "oops" if anything goes wrong. Since you have an orginal finish you want to preserve, I think the safest surest way would be to use a hand plane. It will definitely give the cleanest edge. It won't take long at all to plane off a 1/4" on pine.

Bob

[Max]

Quarter inch? Router with a flush trimming bit. Preferably down cutting. Fast, easy, clean.

Max D.

[Max]

Check that. Use a pattern bit. Follow a straight edge clamped to the cabinet. (I'm still a little sleepy this morning after staying up late working on some cabinet doors)

Max D.

[Juergen Hannappel]

[...]

... but since this planing would be on end grain it takes longer *and* he risks breaking of large splinters at the end of the plate...

[Pat Barber]

[Pat Payne]

I had to do the same thing when we bought a new refrigerator. I used the flush trim method and that worked except I couldn't get to the ends because the router didn't have enough room. So I finished up on each end with one of those Japanese pull saws very carefully. It looked very nice and the only thing I had to finish was the bottom of the cut. Then it wasn't noticeable.

After I pushed in the new refrigetor no one could see my pains taking work because the refrigerator sticks out 10" farther than the cabinet. I am 6-3 and I am the only one in our house that can see it when I stand up on my toes.

[no(SPAM)vasys]

I'd take the doors off and run it through the table saw using the fence as the guide. It would be similar to cutting the top off a large box.

[Dave Jackson]

(snip)I'd take the doors off and run it through the table saw using the fence

How many guys do you think it would take to run a refrigerator over a table saw? ;) --dave

[Patriarch]

"Dave Jackson" wrote in news:8AU8e.8981$ [e-mail]:

And would that justify an upgrade to a cabinet saw? ;-) - Patriarch

[Mike]

I'd use the table saw too. I might put a piece of 1/4" or something under the finished front to protect it.

Mike O.

[John]

My tablessaw is not that good anymore. I think I may try the router bit on some scrap wood first, see how that goes.

Good suggestions from everyone. Thanks.

[Phisherman]

[Charles Krug]

It's Tuesday in Italy. Time to upgrade to a cabinet saw.

I'm looking at the Powermatic with the 30" fence option. (right now I can rip about 12", so 30 seems like a pipe dream.)

[BillyBob]

not a problem breaking things off if done properly. I find it hard to believe the whole top of the cabinet would be all end grain ... strange construction.

Bob

[woodworker88]

I would use a hand plane, but not just any plane. I would use a long plane, a jointer or jack plane if you can find it. These planes are usually about 12 inches long, and can be as long as 20 inches. This would prevent a problem with the straightness of the line.