How To Remove A Fixed Cabinet Shelf

Mikey

Aspiring Old Fart, EE, computer & networking geek

• #1

This may exist a stretch for a "remodeling" forum, but WTH. I've got about 30 lineal anxiety of what announced to be very-well-built-on-site oak cabinets in the kitchen. Unfortunately, they were built with fixed shelves at virtually exactly the wrong height. I'd like to remove these shelves and install some kind of adjustable-superlative shelves. I would similar to remove them without totally destroying the cabinetwork, obviously. I do not have access to the rear of the cabinets.

They are attached in with countersunk finishing nails, and glued every bit well, based on preliminary research and destruction of a vanity cabinet already removed and replaced. If I could get the nails out, I call up there'd be promise for removing the shelves without besides much damage. A gazillion-Tesla magnet comes to listen, but a more practical tool might be a very small holesaw, say 1/four" in bore or then, which I could use to cutting effectually the smash and thus become at the head with some kind of puller, and fill in the pigsty with a dowel afterwards. Unfortunately, they don't seem to make holesaws this minor. Or skinny blast pullers, for that matter, just first things start.

Some other problem is that all these shelves are at the same level, so I can't effigy out how bordering shelves were both nailed into the same vertical divider, although I'm well-nigh certain they are.

Any ideas?

jadnashua

Retired Defence Industry Engineer thirty

• #2

You sure these aren't installed in a dado (a slot)? Keep in listen that when mucilage is used, the nails are often just there every bit glue clamps...they may non be providing much forcefulness except in shear. A good glue joint will break the wood before it breaks loose. You might be able to cutting these out, but it would exist tough with something like a toekick saw. Yous'd have to utilise a blade capable of cutting the nails, or you'd ruin the bract. If you don't care about the existing shelves, you should be able to cut nearly of it away with a saber saw. If y'all use a affluent cutting blade, you can cut up to the sidewalls. If y'all fabricated a bunch of parallel cuts, y'all might get enough where you could use something like a flexible cutoff saw in in that location and so saw the remainder out. Y'all may just surrender, go along the doors and drawers, and maybe the face frame if possible, and just replace the residual of the carcass.

Mikey

Aspiring Old Fart, EE, reckoner & networking geek

• #3

One cabinet I disassembled used dadoes, but they supported space dividers, rather than shelves. One of the kitchen cabinets partially disassembled didn't apply dadoes on its shelves. All in all, it's a crapshoot. I'm going to start on ane shelf in a narrow chiffonier that I have admission to on both sides. One side used 6d common nails (at present removed), the other side uses finishing nails, probably 6d as well. I'g bold the back (inaccessible) uses 6d commons. Current plan is to manufacture a holesaw out of some 4130 tubing, cut around the finishing nails, requite the shelf a whack, and see if it moves. Dado or not, I'm sure I'll have to sacrifice the shelves and take them out in pieces.

• #4

Roto zip the majority of the cabinet out and pry the residue abroad (the sides seperate from the dorsum piece) leaving the nails intact. Then pull the nails out the "wrong" manner with some angled diagonal cutting pliers.

Or possibly merely Roto nil or sawsall the shelf in half, front end to back. This may give enough play to wiggle/pry them out.

• #6

Mikey said:

... countersunk finishing nails, and glued besides ...

Like Jim said, the nails are there only to help hold things in place 'til the glue sets.

To deal with those nails, I would attempt using a pin dial to just drive them on in and out of the mode.

Mikey

Aspiring Erstwhile Fart, EE, computer & networking geek

• #seven

Good thoughts, all -- I especially like the Sawzall adapter stuff (any alibi to buy a new tool). At worst, information technology might scar the interior of the cabinets, but I could reface them without as well much problem. Their website leaves a bit to be desired, so I've got some telephoning to do when the globe wakes upward.

• #viii

Would you consider removing a section of the shelving in the center creating a center shelf of the top you lot want. This would leave cubby hole type store areas on both sides of you new shelving area. Practise y'all follow? Kind of similar a california cupboard.

Tom

Source: https://terrylove.com/forums/index.php?threads/removing-shelves-from-built-on-site-cabinets.14188/

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