Hi. I’m not a builder and spend most of my time over at Cooks Talk, but we’re in the middle of a bathroom re-model, and I have a question I’m hoping you can help with.
This is an old house (1870’s). There is a baseboard in the bathroom where the vanity will go. It’s 3/4″ thick, and about 9″ high. A piece of it needs to be removed so that the new vanity can be flush against the wall. Removing it, cutting it and then re-installing it, is not an option we want to pursue, because it extends behind a chase, and we don’t want to deal with re-building that. I should add that this is a low budget re-model, and I’m already looking at way more than I had planned because of various surprises. Cutting the vanity around the baseboard is also not an option, for reasons I won’t bother getting into.
My carpenter is hesitant to try to cut the baseboard, because he’s afraid of damaging the wall and possibly hitting some electrical wires. His solution is to put the vanity up against the baseboard, and add a face piece on each side, so that you can’t tell that it’s not flush. But this creates problems at the top, because the basin will not be flush against the wall either, and I think a face piece on top will look tacky. I guess I’m wondering if any of you have any other ideas about how to cut the baseboard.
Will try to attach photos of vanity and basin if you think that will help.
Sandy
Replies
most of us here would reach for the fien multi master...
gimme a sec and I'll ya link or two....
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming
WOW!!! What a Ride!
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
I was going to say the same!
“Some people wonder all their lives if they've made a difference. The Marines don't have that problem.” Reagan....
Failure is the condiment that gives success its flavor. -Truman Capote
Chisel, cheaper, one time job?
“Some people wonder all their lives if they've made a difference. The Marines don't have that problem.” Reagan....
Failure is the condiment that gives success its flavor. -Truman Capote
might as well use a dull axe...
the contractor needs to come up to speed....
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
the contractor needs to come up to speed....
I agree. But bet he won't buy it.
Beebs can and would have a tool that can do it all in the house! Could even get rid of the husband!
“Some people wonder all their lives if they've made a difference. The Marines don't have that problem.” Reagan....
Failure is the condiment that gives success its flavor. -Truman Capote
I don't think the guy should have to spend 400 for a multimaster he may only use a couple of times, with practice the baseboard can be cut in place with a hand saw, use to do it all the time, just go slow and if you think your going to scuff the wall protect it ..
"Beebs can and would have a tool that can do it all in the house! Could even get rid of the husband!"Does multi master make those kind of attachments?
Does multi master make those kind of attachments?
LOL! Depends how bad you would want them gone!
“Some people wonder all their lives if they've made a difference. The Marines don't have that problem.” Reagan....
Failure is the condiment that gives success its flavor. -Truman Capote
A flush cutting blade in a jig saw would work."Put your creed in your deed." Emerson
"When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it." T. Roosevelt
I'm with you. Lacking a multimaster, I would use a jigsaw.He should tilt the blade so it just barely cuts through the base. The fact that he is worried about hitting wires either indicates he is a rank amateur or else it's just a lame excuse.
Sounds to me that their so called carpenter might not be qualified to run a chisel.especially a sharp one!!One more time that the Multimaster earns it's keep !!!once you cut a baseboard with the MM you will be hooked.Heck that use alone probably makes it a must have tool for a remodeler..
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"After the laws of Physics, everything else is opinion" -Neil deGrasse Tyson
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If Pasta and Antipasta meet is it the end of the Universe???
once you cut a baseboard with the MM you will be hooked.
Don't sell it to me! I already have one! LOL
Just wish the pieces and parts were a little cheaper.......
“Some people wonder all their lives if they've made a difference. The Marines don't have that problem.” Reagan....
Failure is the condiment that gives success its flavor. -Truman Capote
Go on e-bay and search for the blades.I got a bunch for about 3/4 the price of the FiensI think it is buy 6 get one free..
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"After the laws of Physics, everything else is opinion" -Neil deGrasse Tyson
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If Pasta and Antipasta meet is it the end of the Universe???
Mister T,Just found this site on JLC. Don't know quality but the price is right.http://www.multiblades.com/KK
That is cheaper!
“Some people wonder all their lives if they've made a difference. The Marines don't have that problem.” Reagan....
Failure is the condiment that gives success its flavor. -Truman Capote
drill some 1/2" holes along your cut line to remove the bulk of material and then smooth out your cut with a sharp chisel.
Utility knife....chisel.....repeat.....10 minutes....done.
Bing
Tell him he needs a multimaster:
http://www.fein.de/fein-multimaster/us/en/main/
I've also seen the cabinet scribed around the base
here ya go...
http://forums.taunton.com/n/mb/message.asp?webtag=tp-breaktime&msg=103304.1
fien multimaster
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming
WOW!!! What a Ride!
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
My carpenter is hesitant to try to cut the baseboard, because he's afraid of damaging the wall and possibly hitting some electrical wires.
Since the vanity will be covering a large part of that wall, he could just open a hole to check for wires/plumbing. If it's clear, just cut the baseboard with a recip saw. It should be easy enough to repair the "slot" that the saw makes in the wall.
He could also use a pull saw which would leave a much smaller repair and reduce the chance of corollary damage due to vibration.
Your description of his idea makes me think you're not dealing with a real carpenter.
In lieu of the multimaster you can get a fairly decent finish cut using a sawzall with a fine tooth blade (metal cutting) holidng the saw vertically. Start the cut by kerfing it with a hand saw or chisel to give the SA a guide. Finish the cut with a chisel.
Cutting baseboard should be a no brainer for an experienced carpenter. We've been doing it for a century before there were power tools like a MultiMaster. It takes patience and careful workmanship, something that is lacking these days. You can get a very clean, straight cut and not have to worry about anything behind the wall with a knife and chisel. The problem is you have to know how to the sharpen the chisel. You score a line with a sharp knife then cut in on an angle with the chisel to the knife line. You can only go 1/16" or less at a time, score, cut in, score, cut in. It might take 30 minutes on a hard old piece of base, nibbling a little at a time. If you are impatient and try to cut too deep, you'll start breaking things. It can take 20 cuts to get through 3/4" base. If you start hammering to go deeper, you may crack the base or the wall. The chisel and knife could need re-sharpening during the process. A little work scares some people, they want to plug something in.
Beat it to fit / Paint it to match
A carpenter afraid to cut a piece of wood. Kinda like a mechanic afraid to get his hands dirty. Something wrong with this picture.
Have a good day
Cliffy
Spend $20.00 and buy a small back saw (Tenon saw)or one of the Japanese style pull saws.
Score the line for the cut with a sharp knife then cut it, 10 minutes maybe and he gets a new tool out of the deal.
You guys are great. Thanks so much for all your ideas. I'm tempted to try the low-tech ones myself. You've definitely convinced me that cutting the baseboard is very do-able.
It really is easy with a sharp utility knife and a sharp chisle. It just takes a strong hand and a patient heart
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I would absolutely go the Japanese handsaw route. Something like a piece of laminate (Formica) would protect the wall from incidental scuffing.I usually say "Bonzai!" a couple times when using one. I mean, c'mon, it's the perfect excuse - and you know you've always wanted to.
I score the cut line with a sharp knife, use a Japanese style hand saw to make most of the cut, then finish of the bottom corner with a sharp chisel. Make sure your tools are sharp and its a piece of cake.