Replies

1. 
   Sancho | Mar 10, 2003 01:24am | #1

   Not that I know of. I use a 3lb sledge and a pry bar/ nail puller.Not to mention the sawlzall.

    

   Darkworks:  We support the US military "We kick your #### and take your gas"

   
   

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   Edited 3/9/2003 6:25:29 PM ET by RonT

1. 
   patren61270 | Mar 10, 2003 01:32am | #3

   Hey Ron,

        Maybe this would be a good one for JenCar to answer!

2. 
   CAGIV | Mar 10, 2003 01:30am | #2

   Mike, you in Kansas City?

   If the counter top is off, why not run a recip saw between the cab and the wall.  can you see the nail heads?  If you can, you could probably pull the nails out and just patch the damage after your done.

   View ImageGo Jayhawks
3. 
   DaveRicheson | Mar 10, 2003 01:50am | #4

   Remove the countertop on the base unit first. Site built cabinets didnot ussually have backs in them, so you should be able to see the nails holding the back 1 x to the wall. Use a cats paw or nail puller to dig them out. Tug on the  cabinets after removing all the nails you can see. It (they) probably won't move very much. The bottoms are ussually nailed to a 2x4 base that is also nailed to the wall and floor. The bottoms are nailed to the 2x4s with finish nails. Drive them on through with a nail set. Same thing with the end panels. They are finish nailed to the base frame. Keep tugging at the units the whole time you are doing all of this. This will tell you were fasteners are that you haven't seen.

   Remove the doors from the wall units, and dig out the nails in the hanging rails in the back. Be prepared for a catostrophic release of the unit from the wall.

   What you end up with is basically a few end panels, some faces frames, and doors. If you want to refinish these have at it. The last phase of this project involves trying to make the pile of stuff you have removed back into something that resembiles a cabinet you can reinstall.

   Many of these site built jobs were made in large (8' or longer) sections. Man handeling what remains of these beast out of the kitchen is two man job, and many times you can't get them around a corner.

   If you have the skills and tools to rebuild them, it would be easier to build replacements than what you are proposing. 

   I forwarn customers that want to save site built cabinets for use elswhere, that they can buy new cheaper than it will cost them for me to salvage and rebuild them.

1. 
   MikeinKC | Mar 10, 2003 02:20am | #5

   We haven't begun the demolition yet. We're still in the planning stages and trying to figure out whether we can salvage and recondition the existing cabinets or if we'll have to bite the bullet and suffer the expense of new ones.

   I haven't emptied the base cabinets to crawl back and check out how they're attached, but I can see nail heads through both the framing and the plywood backing on the uppers. Rats, eh?!

   And yes, we're in Kansas City --- southeast, near Lee's Summit if you're familiar with the area.

1. 
   calvin | Mar 10, 2003 02:29am | #6

   Mike.  I have removed cabs to be reused later in the garage or basement.  The operation was done using all the methods above.  You have to try them all and often use a combination (ordered-a little this all around, a little that all around) of them.  Still, there is always one that won't fit outta the room or becomes demo'd because of the assembly steps taken.  Do you absolutely have to remove the cabs to get to the wall.  What are you going to do back there?  Wiring can be run in the space above/below the cabs.  Insulation could be blown perhaps.  Removing site builts is a crap shoot at best.  best of luck.__________________________________________

   Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.

   http://www.quittintime.com/

2. 
   BillHartmann | Mar 12, 2003 05:46pm | #10

   Mike

   I am just a few miles north of you at Lake Tapawingo.

   I am wondering how you know that the cabinets where site built.

   I built my house in 79 and the cabinets where shop built, but the faceframes where installed in the field after the cabinets where put up.

   I really like the look, with the contious rails, verses individual cabinets mounted next to each other.

   Not that it makes any difference. If I ever replacemine I would have the same problems.

4. 
   Piffin | Mar 10, 2003 02:50am | #7

   best advice you've had is to call in Jencar and her sledgehammer!

   LOL

   I rarely have any luick removing old cabs

   When site built, they are usually put up piece by piece. Here's what you will be likely to find;

   The walls were not perfectly straight and plumb when they were built. You will remove the cabs but after re doing the wall, they won't hang plumb anymore. They may have settled over time and "learned" this newer orientation and fight with you about getting straightened up. They outnumber you so they will win the argument.

   New or shop-built cabs will be integral and each unit will have the design and strength to remain square and united. This is not so with the pieced together units you have. It is more than likely that, without the wall as a structural part of the cabinet, it will fall apart or rack and loosen the joints significantly.

   If you do manage to pull it off, after spending much time on refinishing and rebuilding, you will spend a week or a month sitting back and feeling pretty good about yourself, then you will start toi say to your friends, "If I had it to do over again, I ..."

   get new cabinets if you can swing it - but get decent ones

   .

   Excellence is its own reward!

5. 
   dieselpig | Mar 10, 2003 05:46am | #8

   As you have read by now, removing site builts is a tall order.  I remodeled my kitchen last month and originally planned on saving and refinishing my cabinets.  Figured the "frames" were still sturdy, I'd just build new doors.  This was my home and my money so I painstakingly wasted my time pulling the cabinets off the wall....at first.  I got about half way through and looked at the pile of scraps on the floor and decided to brake out the 3lb sledge.  The rest was history.  Noble intention, but possibly not very practical.  Just my experience.

6. 
   hasbeen | Mar 12, 2003 03:36am | #9

   I'd recommend a chainsaw, crowbar, and new cabinets.

   Average Joe says:

   I'll wait here while YOU go wrestle the wild alligator.