When Cara told me her technique for marking and cutting the electrical outlets in her built-in cabinet I giggled …and then asked her to please document it with some pictures to share. So this “Sawdust Diary” update is also a tutorial for what I think is a smart tip for marking outlet location. Unusual but very smart!
Here are Cara’s tips for cutting outlet holes in EXACTLY the right location because after you spend months building them perfectly, the last thing you want to do is cut a big hole in the wrong spot during installation.
***Just make sure that before attempting any electrical work you make sure the electricity is off!***
June 1,
After putting so much sweat, blood and tears (YES, ALL THREE OF THOSE) into building these cabinets, I really didn’t want to screw up cutting a 2 ½ by 3 in box in the back of the cabinet, only to have it in the wrong place.
Enter stage left, Colgate toothpaste.
I honestly cannot remember who told me about this, or if I dreamed it or what, but it worked like a charm for us and it was minty fresh. What I did was put four little dabs of toothpaste on the outlet front, and then I jammed the cabinet into the wall, where it was going to be positioned. Then I pulled out the cabinet and these four little dabs had transferred to the back of the cabinet.
This gave us our jumping off point. We drilled four holes inside to where the toothpaste was and cut out a small rectangle.
Then we trimmed it until the junction box fit in its hole.
Perfect fit!
And still minty fresh! 🙂
Awesome!! What a clever idea!
Love it. Simple and effective, ha!
LOVE IT! Will use as I hope to be seeing a new garage (with bonus room) and old garaage turned mudroom and indoor storage in the next year or two 🙂 We are thinking have just the basics done and we can do all the enhancing–wood trims, source out the flooring, board and batten work…This could be very helpful–thanks! I was the
“contractor” for a bathroom redo (simple one) but assured my husband something of this magnitude is over my head! But we can do the finish work:)
Clever, ive seen this done with lipstick.
Good idea. I’ve actually used old lipstick to do the same. Just outline the box. Messy though, but it works.
Fantastic! I’m getting ready to instal some beadboard and this will save me some time for sure. Thanks!
GREAT idea!
I have also used lipstick that I didn’t like after I bought it… just put some one the outlet and do the same thing. Have used it to mark where to put the strike plate on a door handle to works great!
Fantastic: guessing toothpaste washes off better than lipstick…
toothpaste IS better than lipstick which I have used also. Good job Cara!!
Yet another commenter that has used lipstick here! And I’m with whoever said that the toothpaste would come off easier…why doesn’t it stay on my lips as well as it does the electrical outlets??