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Sawdust Girl®

Sawdust Girl®

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Marking correct location for an electrical outlet in built-ins

All Posts, Cabinet Making 101, Cabinets, Remodeling 101

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!***

Custom built-in dsign at SawdustGirl.com

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.

Cara's office built-ins-044

 

This gave us our jumping off point.  We drilled four holes inside to where the toothpaste was and cut out a small rectangle.

Custom built-in dsign at SawdustGirl.com

 

Then we trimmed it until the junction box fit in its hole.

Custom built-in dsign at SawdustGirl.com

 

Perfect fit!

 

And still minty fresh!  🙂

July 22, 2017 · 12 Comments

« How to build a hanging file folder drawer
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Comments

  1. Susan Rodriguez says

    July 22, 2013 at 8:21 am

    Awesome!! What a clever idea!

    Reply
  2. Lisa E says

    July 22, 2013 at 9:59 am

    Love it. Simple and effective, ha!

    Reply
  3. kristin says

    July 22, 2013 at 10:35 am

    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:)

    Reply
  4. AYISHA says

    July 22, 2013 at 12:56 pm

    Clever, ive seen this done with lipstick.

    Reply
  5. Teresea says

    July 22, 2013 at 2:29 pm

    Good idea. I’ve actually used old lipstick to do the same. Just outline the box. Messy though, but it works.

    Reply
  6. Deidre says

    July 22, 2013 at 3:47 pm

    Fantastic! I’m getting ready to instal some beadboard and this will save me some time for sure. Thanks!

    Reply
  7. Dale Rose Stream says

    July 22, 2013 at 4:22 pm

    GREAT idea!

    Reply
  8. Marilyn says

    July 22, 2013 at 9:23 pm

    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!

    Reply
  9. Margaret says

    July 22, 2013 at 11:13 pm

    Fantastic: guessing toothpaste washes off better than lipstick…

    Reply
  10. kim massa says

    July 23, 2013 at 3:06 pm

    toothpaste IS better than lipstick which I have used also. Good job Cara!!

    Reply
  11. Kristen @ Pink Toes and Power Tools.com says

    July 25, 2013 at 12:05 am

    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??

    Reply
  12. Billy Bookcase says

    April 19, 2022 at 5:13 am

    9 years later and your post is still helping people!
    Thank you (and Cara) from this man, who was going to try and do it with a measuring tape… and probably would still have got the hole in not quite the right place 🙂

    Reply

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