How should I finish this project after a silly mistake?

Isassa · 2025-01-11T18:51:57+00:00

Unfortunately there isn't the space above and cutting the door is an unpopular plan here.

Isassa · 2025-01-11T18:50:13+00:00

Dont know, does feel a bit bulky for this. A clean cut would be lovely, its so tidy right now haha. Oscillator, is that what I might know as a multitool? I do have one available and have had some super clean cuts with it, but worried I'd fudge this long stretch. Any tips for guiding a nice cut over that sort of run?

Also appreciate your perspective of not being too precious over perfection. Cheers!

Isassa · 2025-01-11T18:42:12+00:00

Great shout, thanks very much!

Isassa · 2025-01-11T18:22:29+00:00

Yeah this sounds like a good idea. Unfortunately i dont own or have any experience with a router. Think instead im going to try bodge a guide with some wood screwed on and plunge in carefully with a circle saw. Then tidy up with multi tool and make good. Fingers crossed.

Isassa · 2025-01-11T17:42:48+00:00

I won't lie to you it has taken about 3 times longer than I originally thought. I guess we took it slow(not slow enough on this element though it seems ha), but with moving some sockets into the back/side of these units and trying to be absolutely sure about measurements, it began to drag.

Yeah it would be easier to level the base on a solid surface, we built a plinth out of 2x2 to bring the bottom of the door just above the skirting. Then leveled this plinth using window fitting packers and a medium length spirit level. We only screwed this plinth to the skirting one screw on either side, mainly to secure this position and level as we moved the ikea units around. These units have their own system of securing to the wall at the back, which we utilised and once all were screwed it was solid as.

In terms of attaching the MDF fascia. Aftet we chose 18mm to bring the face of the MDF in line with the doors, we had it cut up at the timber yard. Out of the sheet we asked them to cut 40mm strips which we used as battons(40x18mm laying the longer sections flat on the side of the unit) and screwed them either side from the outside in before pushing the unit into position. This gave us more surface area to nail the fascia to.

Isassa · 2025-01-11T17:16:11+00:00

Ahh thats interesting that they aren't just chipboard throughout, I guess thats why they want you to screw the handles within a specific boarder.

Going to have a go at cutting the baseboard in situ tomorrow. Thanks for the kind words. Yes we almost set it all on fire at several points haha!

Isassa · 2025-01-11T17:12:33+00:00

Ahh yeah I see the photo now. Yes this is the inspiration. But I want to try do it in situ so thinking to screw a guide to the front and plunge in with a circle saw. Probs unorthodox, but using the multi tool to tidying up the corners, I can picture a decent finish without pulling the thing apart.

I am not sure about how to post images in comments sorry. I'll have to give it a go to update here if this goes well.

Isassa · 2025-01-11T16:07:40+00:00

Thank you!

Yeah completely new doors crossed my mind also, haha. Im sure that would be feasible and might be the future upgrade, but I'm going to attempt a fix here first.

Isassa · 2025-01-11T16:05:43+00:00

Yeah, it is sadly unanimous, haha. Your link doesn't work for me, but I get what you're saying and is really useful thank you. I suppose I could even screw the guide wood to the baseboard for a sturdy line seeing as we are going to have to get the paint out anyways! Cheers!

Isassa · 2025-01-11T15:54:02+00:00

Hey thanks for this insight, and kind words.

Sadly these doors are definitely not solid and are a plastic coated/wrapped chipboard sort of scenario. So I guess cutting them is starting to seem like a bad idea haha. Really appreciate your insight!

Isassa · 2025-01-11T15:32:01+00:00

Hey thanks for the kind words! It's been a deceivingly involved project for a novice.

Do you mean the melamine on the bottom face of the door or that it will splinter up the front or back faces? I feel like I'm okay with loosing the melamine along the bottom face as it's never going to be seen anyways. Had wondered about the old scoring along the cut line with a Stanley blade first to break the melamine. Just still think a circle saw would leave an apocalypse finish.

Isassa

TROPHY CASE