Sawdust Girl®

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downsizing your drawers (nope, this is not a dieting post)

All Posts, Cabinet Making 101, Drawers

On rare occasion,  I’ve found myself needing to cut down a drawer that is too tall.  For interest sake, I’ll give you a couple examples:  a drawer might not close because of a cleat in the back of a cabinet or a new cooktop ends up being deeper than the old one and the drawers no longer fit underneath…for example…for interest sake!

 

What does one do when one finds oneself in a situation like that?  Trim that baby down!  If your drawer is small and you have access to a table saw,that would be the easiest solution.  If you don’t own a table saw, or your drawer is HUGE, a circular saw and Kreg RipCut will do the trick.

 

rip down cabinet that is too wide

 

1.  Set the guide to cut the drawer to the size you want

cut down a drawer that is too tall

 

2.  Make sure there are no screws where you are going to cut.  **If there are any screws in the way, move them!

how to cut down a cabinet that is too wide

 

3.  Start cutting.  Cut each side, then rotate the drawer and cut another side.  *The saw should be resting on the part of the drawer that is NOT being cut away.

using Kreg RipCut to trim down an assembled cabinet

Cut down wide drawer

 

Voila’.
trim a cabinet that is too deep

You could also use this same technique if you built a cabinet too deep and wanted to make it a bit more shallow without taking it all apart or starting over…if you change your mind mid project like that…like me.  😉

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Comments

  1. what to do if your cabinet is a smidge to tight for the drawer to glide smoothly? Sand the drawer sides before attaching the glides or build new drawers?

  3. I love this.
    I have the Rip Cut, but haven’t put it together yet. I have a 36″ drawer to cut down on its back, to go under a garbage disposer. I’ve just procrastinated. Now…. I have have the impetus to face it! I just hate loud noises…. Other than the earphones, got anything for that! LOL!

  4. Hey Sandra, I’m in the market for a good circular saw. I have a table saw and a miter saw so I would only use it to rip down big boards. I’ve heard many peopls say that the Kreg Rip Cut does not fit their saw. Do you think you or your awesome readers could give some insight on saws that the Rip Cut certainly fits.

    • I have only tried it on my saw. If I were in the market for a new circ saw and wanting to make sure it fit with my RipCut, I’d take my RipCut plate with me when I went shopping for the saw. 😉

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