Dude, I've been looking for this video for like a week. I thought for sure there would be hundreds of these types of videos about shims, but no. You're the only one. Great tutorials! Much appreciated!
My base cabinet run turned out GREAT because of this excellent video. Watched this morning and installed them today. Cut my floor and wall shims with a dremel tool from Harbor Freight. Thanks so much!
You're welcome! We also have a video that goes through some tips for cabinet installation in case you are interested: ua-cam.com/video/k8f0hS2s6Jo/v-deo.html
Use 2 shims stacked together in opposing directions. Place them on the sides of the cabinet under the corner of the cabinet where needed. Use a small pry bar to just take the weight of the cabinet off the shims and it’s easy to raise and lower the corner of the cabinet to the desired height by sliding the shims back and forth along their length. Repeat on all four corners of the cabinet as necessary to level it. When you place the next cabinet in the run it will sit on the ends of the shims protruding from the first cabinet. That automatically sets it the same height as the first cabinet. Shim the other side of the second cabinet to level it and fasten it to the first. Then just continue in the same manner along the entire run of cabinets. The only shims that will need to be trimmed are the ones at the ends of the run.
Put the sim in place. Mark it, take it out and cut it, then put it back. If you are going to cut them in place, get a flush cut saw, not a scroll saw blade. Don't use the plastic shims because they do not snap off like wood. You will be cutting through the whole thing with a saw or utility knife.
So I built my cabinets based on a UA-cam video of the guy that was quite talented and his plan was build a separate toe kick them level that then put the box right on top. My boxes aren’t perfect cubes and the toe kick is mostly level but the boxes for the lower cabinets still kind of rock a bit and I’m struggling to get the toe kick in the boxes to all be close enough that when I screw them together they’re not gonna be trying to warp and do weird stuff
With that method. I think the idea is to get the base perfectly square and level. You may have to scribe or shim to match the floor. Kudos on building your own cabinets; I shied away because of the level of precision required. Good Luck!
Here’s the easiest solution out of all these. Gets a piece of scrap wood, get a miter saw and 10-15 degree mitered shims across the grain ( not with the grain). Place under front of cabinet, level and pull up: they snap right off.
The tops of the drawers are about 2mm lower than the top of the frame. It's very close, but all of the drawers open without touching. I think a shimmed gap underneath the countertop would be visible which isn't ideal.
You could. Glue is a bit messy and friction holds them together pretty well. For the wall shims, I sometimes drilled the screw through the shim which holds it in place.
Plastic shims are better in kitchens because of the very high possibility of water spills. Wood shims will swell when wet. Plastic (composite) will not.
Dude, I've been looking for this video for like a week. I thought for sure there would be hundreds of these types of videos about shims, but no. You're the only one. Great tutorials! Much appreciated!
Glad to hear it!
My base cabinet run turned out GREAT because of this excellent video. Watched this morning and installed them today. Cut my floor and wall shims with a dremel tool from Harbor Freight. Thanks so much!
Glad it helped!
You explained every step of the way clearly. These videos help people trying to do it themselves. Bravo...keep making them
Thank you for the kind words!
Thank you for a coherent, sensible presentation.
My pleasure!
Thank you. I am setting cabinets for the first time and didn’t realize it could take so many shims. You explained this very well.
You're welcome! We also have a video that goes through some tips for cabinet installation in case you are interested: ua-cam.com/video/k8f0hS2s6Jo/v-deo.html
Use 2 shims stacked together in opposing directions. Place them on the sides of the cabinet under the corner of the cabinet where needed. Use a small pry bar to just take the weight of the cabinet off the shims and it’s easy to raise and lower the corner of the cabinet to the desired height by sliding the shims back and forth along their length. Repeat on all four corners of the cabinet as necessary to level it. When you place the next cabinet in the run it will sit on the ends of the shims protruding from the first cabinet. That automatically sets it the same height as the first cabinet. Shim the other side of the second cabinet to level it and fasten it to the first. Then just continue in the same manner along the entire run of cabinets. The only shims that will need to be trimmed are the ones at the ends of the run.
Good idea. Thanks!
great advice.......thanks from the people trying to do it themselves.....
Thanks so much! We are remodeling our 1952 kitchen and adding new cabinets. Your explanation has really helped.
You are so welcome!
Doing this exact thing tomorrow, thank you friend.
Awesome. Good luck!
Very good tutorial.
Thank you!
Great explanation ....
Thank you!
@@practicalhomeprojects You are absolutely welcome. Have awesome week
Put the sim in place. Mark it, take it out and cut it, then put it back. If you are going to cut them in place, get a flush cut saw, not a scroll saw blade. Don't use the plastic shims because they do not snap off like wood. You will be cutting through the whole thing with a saw or utility knife.
So I built my cabinets based on a UA-cam video of the guy that was quite talented and his plan was build a separate toe kick them level that then put the box right on top. My boxes aren’t perfect cubes and the toe kick is mostly level but the boxes for the lower cabinets still kind of rock a bit and I’m struggling to get the toe kick in the boxes to all be close enough that when I screw them together they’re not gonna be trying to warp and do weird stuff
With that method. I think the idea is to get the base perfectly square and level. You may have to scribe or shim to match the floor. Kudos on building your own cabinets; I shied away because of the level of precision required. Good Luck!
Here’s the easiest solution out of all these. Gets a piece of scrap wood, get a miter saw and 10-15 degree mitered shims across the grain ( not with the grain). Place under front of cabinet, level and pull up: they snap right off.
how long do cabinet shims hold the cabinet in place?
The screws though the back hold the entire cabinet in place. Friction will hold the shims in place indefinitely as long as the cabinet isn't moving.
Did you use any shims under the countertop for leveling or the raising or lowering of the top for drawer clearance?
The tops of the drawers are about 2mm lower than the top of the frame. It's very close, but all of the drawers open without touching. I think a shimmed gap underneath the countertop would be visible which isn't ideal.
@@practicalhomeprojects I’ve got a clearance issue with the drawers hitting the lip of the countertop so Im in between on strips or shimms?
Well I already learned one thing 28 seconds in, I have to buy a real laser leveler, shit, lol
Highly recommend. I think this one was $40 at harbor freight. These things come in handy for a lot of everyday tasks too.
Out of curiosity you don’t put wood glue on either face of the shim or up and under the cabinet
You could. Glue is a bit messy and friction holds them together pretty well. For the wall shims, I sometimes drilled the screw through the shim which holds it in place.
Plastic shims are better in kitchens because of the very high possibility of water spills. Wood shims will swell when wet. Plastic (composite) will not.
It works better if you score the shim with your knife a few times then snap it off
For sure.
pretty sure he covered that in the video...great input...🙄🙄
How did you rip the shims in half ?🤔
Very carefully with a handsaw. Since they are so thin it only takes 30 seconds or so.
@@practicalhomeprojects good idea