STOP struggling to get level cabinets
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- Опубліковано 8 лют 2025
- This video will show you how to make a toe kick, level the toe kick, and install the cabinets on top of it. Follow these steps and you too can get perfect results every time.
#cabinets #cabinetry #builtins
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These videos are for entertainment purposes only. Bent's Woodworking is not responsible for any viewer trying to recreate something demonstrated in this video. Attempting any of the techniques shown are at the viewers own risk.
a 10 minute video and literally every second is good info... nice
This is Old School Carpentry, if the base is solid and level the rest falls in place . . .glad to see someone put the time in to show others Old School techniques +++ points for that
True, I've been doing this since the early 90's.
@dannyoktim9628 Couldn't agree more. Please to hear your another professional in this industry intentionally choosing to do things correctly Unfortunately this type of knowledge and skills are lacking and hard to find these days.
@@PennsPens
In my 20 years I've only seen plastic leveling legs/feet a handful of times. It's almost always plywood or pressure treated lumber toe kicks.
ladder box toe kicks have been SOP for us since the early 80's. solid and speeds up install. thumbs up
Regarding the laser, I find it's best to set the laser line 2 or 3 inches above the toe kick. Find the high spot then set a block of wood on the high spot on the toe kick, mark the laser on the block then shim up each section until the block shows level to the laser. Setting up the laser above the toe kick, offset, allows you to accurately level the front and the back of the toe kick using the laser. No spirit level is needed.
This is fundamental and I'm really surprised to see someone making a "how to level" video introducing another error factor and defeating the purpose of having a self-leveling laser line as a reference. SMH
@@DiffEQ
When I was an apprentice I found out the hard way that laser levels can go kerflooey. Since then I check them regularly.
Setting the laser a hair above the highest spot works too, so it barely grazes over the toe kick in the front and back.
@@PlatypusxOuroboros
2 to 3 inches above is better, then use a small block with a pencil mark.
@@thekinarbo ...mmm and you are 100% CORRECT ! during my 30 plus year on construction sites - I saw many construction workers relying on their laser to be perfect all of he time and they never ever checked them ! My boss bought a brand new self leveling laser and I checked it and it was only off 1/4 inch in 10 feet ! He was SHOCKED and returned it and made sure the new one read perfect before he left the store !
I've been doing this for the last 40 years, its absolutely the best way to install cabinets. Old home remodels where you have a 3" difference in floor from 1 side to the other. Glad to see someone else doing it this way. Have had quite a few contractors just look at me and shake their heads like I;m crazy!! Great video as always!!
' 3" difference in the floor ' Really?!? I would be concerned about some underlying structural issues before a kitchen remodel, unless their new Kitch Cabs are on a 3/12 roof 🤷🏾 whatever you say Boss!
Agreed on the method. Really dont like individually leveling. Never had anything 3" out but got close. Built a kitchen once that had around 2-1/2" of slope across 16' or so of cabinets. House was framed that way if you can believe that. In a luxury neighborhood too. I thought for sure something was going on with the foundation, maybe termites in the structure but nope.
@@W0J0SM0J0 You get that sometimes when a house has a hundred or more years to settle.
You have what it takes to be a great teacher, precise without BS.
I'm familiar with this method. When I worked for my brothers-in-law in construction many years ago, we did several jobs installing cabinets commercially. They were all built this way. We simply leveled the bases, then set the cabinets on top. Easy peasy!
For kitchen cabinets, I install drawer slides and drawers in the toe kicks. They are great for the rarely used roasting pans and cookie sheets.
do you just make a U shaped box? with the L's and T's as he does here?
Seems like efficient use of space in a small kitchen. Any downsides to consider?
@@esteban62 if you have un-level floors the bottom of the drawers can bind
@@schteve8476
Yes, the drawer faces could be scribed perfectly to the floor while in the closed postition then bind when opened, there goes your perfect scribe. Or to have an even gap when close it needs to be 1/2". On the other hand, the floor could be decent and a uniform eighth inch gap can work.
Personally, for cleanliness, I prefer to have the kicks, carcasses and counter tops of kitchen cabinets caulked/hermetically sealed. Having those gaps means crumbs are an open invitation to bugs. How often does one pull the drawers and clean underneath them?
Isn't that for the mice to run loose? Lol
As a flooring installer that occasionally needs to pry off the toe kick to get my flooring together, I appreciate the the way your cabinets are constructed. Well done!
I have built a lot of cabinets with the toe kick built in, but after watching Brent's video, I chose to use this method when remodeling my kitchen. I have a 140 year old home and the floors and walls are anything but level and plumb. The separate toe kick was just the ticket! I would have struggled trying to level the individual cabinets. Thanks for the idea! The cabinets went in without a hitch. Sometimes we can't see the forest because of the trees.
Great video as always. As somebody who has never built a toe kick before, nor a cabinet for that matter, I have a couple of suggestions that came to mind.
Firstly when measuring the cabinets for the support positions you could instead just place either the front or back across the cabinets and mark them directly.
Secondly as you have a nice flat and level work surface to build on, I'd suggest building the toe kick upside down. This ensures that the top surface will be flat and level for the cabinets as the bottom surface of the toe kick doesn't matter - It will be shimmed anyway.
Both great points. 👍
I attach a level ledger board across the wall. Place boxes on top and use the plastic adjustable legs for the front. So simple and always perfectly level.
Yes that's basic carpentry.
Yeah I do that too. It's basically the system used by IKEA kitchen cabinets. I don't get why he spent so much time and materials building a level base when you can just level the top.
@@decodemodern Because he's the most anal woodworker on UA-cam.
@@decodemodern Thats exactly why Ikea installers (and products) have an extremely poor reputation by real professionals in the kitchen industry. Plastic feet don't support the weight of cabinetry, Particularly with stone type benchtops causing the tops to fail and crack due to Plastic feet unable to support the weight.
Poor insulation provides poor results. Even this UA-camr understands cabinetry better than you do! Shame on you - Cowboy
@sethguenuberg Thats exactly why installers like yourself have an extremely poor reputation by real professionals in the kitchen industry. Plastic feet don't support the weight of cabinetry, Particularly with stone type benchtops causing the tops to fail and crack due to plastic feet being unable to support the weight of cabinetry (even with standard benchtops).
Poor insulation provides poor results. Even this UA-camr understands cabinetry better than you do! Shame on you - ya Cowboy.
Think you should seriously consider a better suited job that requires zero skills more suited to your skill level (or lack of).
Customers pay good money for kitchens So Leave these jobs to the real people who know what their doing.
Going to be building cabinets for the first and have really gotten a lot of good information . Feel much better about the upcoming project. Thank you for your time
You’re welcome!
My former neighbor, calls himself a handyman, but has extensive experience building and remodeling homes. He was building new cabinets in his garage for his new home. He taught me the same method. He said build you toe kick frame, then spend the time to level it. Once that’s done, attach your cabinets on top. Then your not fighting each cabinet to be level and matching the other ones.
The cabinets I install are not handmade and come with toe kicks cut into the carcass panel. I suppose before assembly I could hit them with the tracksaw and be ready to move into install onto new base when time. What do you think would be the best solution so I could take advantage of this leveling hack?
@@RunDMS I'm not sure I'd remove the toe kicks from your cabinets just to use this method. You're creating more work for yourself that way, and it'll take longer than just leveling each cabinet. Sure it might seem tedious to do each cabinet, but having pre-made cabinets with toe-kicks isn't the end of the world.
@@JP-hj2gs Thanks. I usually secure two together through the face frames and set them as pairs to help lower my leveling time. It’s good.. not perfect by any stretch. Thanks for reply.
Is it critical to screw the base to the wall? I’m using this method in my shop and there is a 4” lift of concrete around the baseboard - this makes screwing it to the wall a much more difficult and permanentish problem.
No nonsense approach - gets the job done efficiently. I like it.
I used this method on a recent project. It made the installation go much smoother and faster. Great results. Thanks
Thanks, I was one of the fellows who asked you about toe kicks. Good method, makes sense.
I would use EZ level devises on the toe kick assembly for a solid and easy leveling process. Also, i would cut the flooring back an additional 1/4" for its expansion. I do enjoy the no no-nonsense feel of your videos .
I agree. Need that space for floating floor expansion. I need to do that for my installation. Any advice for expansion joint caulking so the 1/4 space does not fill with dirt or spills?
Professional Finish Carpenter/Cabinet guy here;
First off, separate toe-kicks for the win! By far the best way to do it. Unfortunately, in my area, so few cabinet shops do them separately :/
I did have one question: What's with the torpedo level? You're already using a laser. If the laser is touching the front of the kick and you can still see it above the back side of the kick, then your kick is sitting perfectly in the middle of the laser, therefore level. You're 12" torpedo isn't telling you anything that the laser isn't already.
Best explanation i've seen to level cabs so far!
Thank you so much! I’m glad it was helpful
one of the best videos ive seen and being a floorguy i appreciate the fact you cut the laminate floor back as it should be.
the base construction takes all the work outta cabinet installation, plus when backed up with a laser and comp shims quality is sky high.
you got a new subscriber!
👍
Looks as if the floor is up tight against the base. Should there not be a 3/8 expansion space, covered with some base shoe?
Thank You for posting I was taught a very similar method many years ago by a German cabinet maker.
Crystal clear and professional. Great video
I do the same... build separate toe kicks for my cabinet installs. One benefit you can add to making them separately... building them out of pressure teated lumber (plywood or 2x4 stock like I did). It is advantageous in situations like garages and basements, where the cabinets may be sitting directly on concrete floors.
I stumbled across your video when I was at my lowest, not having a good time. kinda not sure what direction I'm going in with my life and your video made me feel the passion I used to feel a few years ago, seeing you do jobs properly and the awesome tools you have gives me some hope to keep going. Thank you.
You got this!
Your videos are extremely well done. The angles, lighting and the way that you describe the process makes it all a very nice package. Thank you!
Really enjoying these videos. I'd love to see you keep it going with scribing the filler strips and the top to the walls, and scribing the toe kick.
Thanks!
Thank you!!
Thanks for posting this. I've been wanting to use this method but hadn't see it addressed anywhere.
There are a ton of great woodworkers on UA-cam but I will say I always learn a ton from you. I have watched all your cabinet making videos going back several years. I had never made a cabinet when I watched your first one. Since then I have made many including a kitchen remodel. Thanks and keep them coming.
Really good method and makes the cabinet carcasses a little easier to construct
Nice work. This method is a keeper for all who do cabinets on a semi-routine basis. thanks.
You can set the laser higher than the base and mark a line or dot on a little block and use that too shim the back !!
Some very good tips and demo, Bent. So much easier to level than built-in toe kicks.
It’s been a while since I’ve installed cabinets. I was trying to remember how I was taught how to level them out. This is very similar and I think, if you can do it, a better way. Thanks so much for sharing.
Glad I could help!
Thank You and I am glad I found your Channel. Keep Up The Good Work
Awesome content! I really appreciate how thorough and detailed you are with every step. Eliminates all possible headaches once placing the cabinets, spot on sir!
Glad it was helpful!
As a qualified Kitchen designer, Manufacturer and installer here in NZ. I got slammed for years for building my cabinet bases like yourself. My competitors told clients I was charging for unnecessary materials and labour's instead of using cheaper plastic adjustable feet (even though it made installation faster)... Until, jobs I lost of my competitors suffered from major cracking issues in their stone/marble benchtops, due to poorly unsupported cabinets.
My reputation grew extremely quickly after that while others suffered from cutting corners.
I have never seen or heard of people (besides myself) take the extra time to manufacturer bases like you've shown here. I applaud you for making the effort towards doing things correctly.
After our increasing market share we changed our slogan to "If things are worth doing, Their worth doing right" seem cheesy but it worked.
Great sharing of you knowledge Sir. Wish more people on the industry thought like this.
I don't know where Bent is but I'm a finish carpenter in California. I've done both commercial and residential. 99% of the cabinets I've installed use toe kicked like what you see in this video. Although most use smaller/shorter sleepers that don't go all the way to the floor. There are situations where a toe kick needs to be scribed to the floor, in that case it's difficult to cut and sand those interior supports/sleepers.
Right on. Not tellin' you how to do your business, but since your slogan literally says it's worth doing right: I recommend changing your spelling of "their" to "they're." Carpenter on!
Just instead of using a little spirit level, I raise the level line 2 to 3 centimetres above the kicker. Them I find the highest pois on my kicker.
Thank I use a little block to draw a line where the highest part is. Then I use this block all the way over the kicker and packing up where it is necessary.
What a great plan. This will save me so much time building out my shop cabinets.
I used your L and T method for the toe kick. I really like this method!
Great to hear!
something i do almost every week but it's always good to see how others do their craft, get another's perspective
Never done cabinet installation, but learned a lot from this simple but well put video.
Great.....I’ve done units similar and having a plinth base, levelled through is a good way to go. Well done!
I appreciate you making this video. It was super timely and helpful as I'm tackling my first built-in's redoing our laundry room. Used this method to get a solid and level base for the cabinets. Great info!
Glad you found it helpful
I started doing this about 35 yrs ago and was told, "you can't do it like that, you don't know what your doing!". Lol, I guess I don't know what I'm doing but it sure works good!
Thorough explanation with great demonstration. Thank you!!
A friend of mine installed my cabinets in the same way. However, he bradnailed small pieces of plywood at the bottom, and proceeded to peel them layer by layer and pound the nail further in every time he needed the base to be lowered, and added shims to lift things up. The cabinets are rock solid!
One of the main reasons I prefer framed cabinets over frameless is the fact that you have a little more wiggle room in between each cabinet to get a perfectly straight bank of cabinets. I haven’t installed many frameless but I can see how that could potentially be an issue. Unless of course you build your own and know for a fact that they are perfect boxes. Great video!
I've built and installed both frameless and framed cabinets. In my experience, framelss cabinets are easier to build and install.
Great video. All the information needed without a bunch of extra talking. Informational AND interesting. I learned a lot in a few minutes. Thank you!!
Nice! Found this channel by mistake and it's perfect for some books shelves I am about to set up.
Welcome aboard!
This is the way. The cabinets i put in 20 yrs ago are still in perfect condition. Refinish on doors and face veneer is all we have done .
Thanks for this pair of videos. I'm putting cabinets in my new shop in the next few months and was planning on something pretty much like this. Good to see your process and get a refresher. Nicely done.
Glad you found it helpful!
Omg! Lovin that office glass door.
LOL this is how it was always done before UA-camrs! The first time I saw someone cut the sides of the cabinet to make the toe kick area, I thought how stupid… then I saw everyone doing it????? Now your teaching this like its a new way to build cabinets! LOL. Always a good video.
This is the best advice I have ever seen regarding cabinetry. Thank you so much for making this excellent video!👍
Glad it was helpful!
Amazing tutorial - something I often come across and this video has helped a lot in my initial start of any project.
Glad you found it helpful
It’s a lot easier to put your drawer slides in when it’s on your workstation versus When it’s installed. And you’re right about building toe kick in cabinet separate because you get six Sides out of a piece of plywood versus four if you build them with the toe kick attached
... Yeah, that was my main reason to switch to this method, saves a lot of time and material when sizing down casework plywood, and then I realized how much easier leveling became. I use separate sheets of 3/4" acx plywood and make three-sided 'u's for the ends and four sided wider boxes for the mid pieces. I drill 1-1/4" holes in the top pieces to allow for direct/ not angled screw down of the plinth/kickplate units to the floor and not angled screw down of cases to plinth. This is extra work and viewed as overkill, but it makes install much easier and more precise and creates a rock solid base for cabinets and also for facing the plinth with same tile/wood/vinyl as flooring and that plinth facing can be easily installed before cabinet placement.
this is a great help, and so well explained thankyou! Will help me heaps as I am about to embark on a fitted 'robe project!
Best cabinet installation video I have seen. Thank you for sharing!
Glad you enjoyed it
That was a brilliant explanation, your a gifted teacher!
a load of rubbish level and scribe cut scribe line off.done.
ooo man, i wish i've seen this video sooner. i was using 2 x 4 all these while. i like yr process of levelling. thanks man
That was absolutely brilliant! I will be following your method from here on. Thanks for taking the time to compile and post.
I've used shims to level cabinets, but have learned another way and that is to use rectangular feet that are placed on the floor and screwed into the base sides in the corners. The base sits on these feet.
These screw type adjusters are prone to going out of adjustment over the years as the floor flexes from walking on it which releases the tension that keeps the screw from turning. You can use a jam nut on the adjusters to stop this from happening.
Wow! So many super valuable tips right here. Thank you for sharing.
Awesome!!!!!!!!!all advices are correct for solid instalation
Glad it was helpful!
For low level units like these I find plastic adjustable feet alongside the space plugs or just a wall plate to fix units in place so much quicker overall than building a ladder frame. If you ever need to access for any electrical cables under the units the plastic feet are a winner. I do use the ladder frames if I'm fitting taller, heavier units though as it offers a much sturdier base needed
Im so using this on my new RV build
I've used this method and I like it. But I prefer using the plastic feet in kitchens and bathrooms. You can pop the toe kick off and store things like extra floor and wall tile underneath. And two inches of water means nothing. Especially if you are there to pop off the toe kick before it gets wet but even if it does it's just a strip of ply.
I’ve been building my cabinets this way for decades!
Best method for cabinet installing.
Will try Mick, thank you for demonstrating.
Really nice explanation of the toe kick base. Thanks!
Glad it was helpful!
Great video, Jason~! I really like the design of using a separate toe-kick. I'm in the process of building my miter saw station and this is the way I'll be mounting those cabinets. It just seems like an easier way to get them level, especially with the imperfect cement floor in my shop. Your build technique makes it look even easier than what I've already seen. Thanks for sharing this~!
Good video. It's been about 40 years since I have done cabinets. I'll practice first with garage cabinets, then build family room cabinets and finally build upper and lower kitchen cabinets. I'm glad you gave your tips. Many I had forgotten. My question is: From start to finish about how long did it take for the project. Again, good video.
Simple, informative, relaxing and awesome.
I do the same method, except I use unfinished plywood, I glue and nail the toe kick together
I watched this video and the companion video many times over to make sure I absorb and learn the method before I apply it. I'm a novice DIY-er, but I have built a few cabinets already. I really think the methods you show and explain will improve the quality of my cabinets and remove some of the the hassles that I've had. I plan to build a bedroom wardrobe next using the techniques you show.
I have a question: In the first shot of the video the cabinet is just a box... the bottom panel of the cabinet sits flush on the table. But a few seconds later, when the cupboards are on the floor (and even later when you install them on the base) there's an extra piece underneath the cabinets... At 0:15, the piece is visible on the bottom of the 4 cabinets which will have drawers, but hidden on the other 3 , but they are all at the same height. so i guess all the cabinets have the piece underneath.
Do you have any other video explaining what those are for?
Those are there as a backer for what later became my base trim. They give me something to nail too
I've always been a fan of a separate toe-kick/platform for exactly the reasons you mention. When I did the kitchen at our old property back in 2003, it really wasn't optional because of how bad the floor was to work over...it was full thickness brick set in mortar and the word "level" was not ever something possible.
Mount toe kick platform level on wall first then add legs to the front.
Loved seeing you out of the workshop putting some stuff together and you made that look easy im going to start doing this! another fantastic video
For garages and basements where things might get wet, I used plastic adjustable feet.
Been doing the ladder bases for years also you get a better yield from you sheets 30 inches times 3 = 90 inches. Great video and subject
great video. Thank you for the amazing tips and tricks to make life easier.
This is genius, man I'm glad you made this video, thanks!
Excellent tutorial.
Bro… great video. All out of 3/4” I love it.
Did I see two electrical outlets being buried behind the cabinets? I would appreciate hearing your views on this. We are on our fifth house and I avoid having any electrical that is not accessible. In the case of base cabinets, I would probably have removed the fixtures and the wire going to them. Your thoughts please. Thanks for the video.
I ran a new outlet and switch from that box. The outlet on the right has a cutout and is now in the cabinet. The one on the left is still accessible behind the drawer boxes. The is no back panel in the cabinet.
Very detailed and informative! Thank you for sharing!
Exactly what I’ve been looking for. Thank you.
Glad it was helpful!
Great instructions. The best that I have seen.
Thanks for sharing. 👍👍
You’re welcome
I work for a custom cabinet shop. We build and use floating toe kicks just like this. Rudimentary? Sure. But it’s the most efficient want to achieve consistent results
I use scrap plywood to make an upside down ''U'' to put the cabinets on, so the whole depth of the toekick is in plywood. This doesn't allow for the toekick to be screwed into the wall as you don't have access, but it has the benefit that you can slide your cabinets very easily over the toekick, especially handy for high cabinets such as wardrobes. And on top of that you can screw the cabinets on the toekick wherever you want. I normally have plenty of scrap plywood or MDF as every time I'm supplied with sheet materials, my supplier also has sheets to cover and protect the furniture grade sheets.
That was wonderful, thanks for the info. I hope you’re doing well, I couldn’t help but notice you were grunting a bit along the way as if you pulled your back or were in some sort of pain. Take care and thanks for this video. 👍🏽
This is all well and good if you have your own professional woodworking shop in your home. What I’m really looking for is a way to elevate my base cabinets in the basement to mitigate the risk of water damage in the event of water on the floor.
Thank you, outstanding video, especially for me as a beginner
Great video and discussion
Always admire the simplicity of your thinking processes Jason, as well as your presentation. I like to take your approach to make shop cabinets set on a common base, however; not to fix it to a wall. Rather set the base on heavy duty leveling casters to be able to move if necessary. Any drawbacks to setting the cabinet base on casters that you see?
Thanks for the video I like the información, but I just want o to suggest on thing., If I where you I use longer level, that little level is to used on short or small spaces.
Thanks
Countersink used? Please and thank you
Can you do another video about how to properly scribe and get those face frames against the wall perfect? I have a hard time finding a good video about scribing. Thanks! Awesome video I learned a lot.
Yes!!