Cutting strip off uneven built in wall shelf

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Dec 14th, 2022 3:58 pm

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Dec 11th, 2022 11:34 am

BaileySyd [OP]: Member; Dec 18, 2017; 471 posts; 399 upvotes; Alberta

Dec 11th, 2022 11:34 am

Cutting strip off uneven built in wall shelf

I have a butler window between my kitchen and living room. For simplicity, it's basically a rectangular cut out in the wall. The bottom of the cut out forms a small shelf. The shelf sticks out unevenly as they must not have lined it up properly when the house was built.

I am having new kitchen tile backsplash installed and this uneven shelf edge is causing a problem. I would like to cut the length of the shelf so that it is flush with the wall allowing the tile to be installed right up to the bottom opening of the butler window. Right now it cannot be as the shelf sticks out approx 1/4 inch or a little more on one end and then tapers down to sticking out less and less toward the other end of the shelf.

This cannot be removed to be cut with a table saw or something and I don't have that kind of a tool, anyway. It needs to be addressed in place.

Would a Dremel Max tool with a wood/metal saw blade attachment work for trimming the length off this shelf so that it is flush with the wall? If not, any other suggestions? I had thought of perhaps a really rough rasp to shave it down but I haven't been able to find a really rough rasp.

Thanks!

27 replies

Dec 11th, 2022 1:12 pm

BaileySyd [OP]: Member; Dec 18, 2017; 471 posts; 399 upvotes; Alberta

Dec 11th, 2022 1:12 pm

Why would someone down vote this question? Isn't asking questions and sharing information what this forum is for?

+6

Dec 11th, 2022 1:17 pm

JEDI Force: Deal Addict; Feb 25, 2004; 1573 posts; 1105 upvotes; Longueuil

Dec 11th, 2022 1:17 pm

Maybe post some pictures? It would be easier to understand and you might get more answers.

Try not! Do or do not, there is no try...

+1

Dec 11th, 2022 1:29 pm

Shaner: Deal Expert; Jul 5, 2004; 26900 posts; 6133 upvotes

Dec 11th, 2022 1:29 pm

Skill saw?

Hard to make recommendations without seeing it though

+1

Dec 11th, 2022 1:34 pm

smacd: Deal Guru; Oct 6, 2007; 10110 posts; 8135 upvotes; Kootenays

Dec 11th, 2022 1:34 pm

Is the shelf a wood cap? If so, a hand plane might work, or a router or oscillating tool. Pictures or a better description would definitely help.

+2

Dec 11th, 2022 1:51 pm

dbracer: Member; Aug 25, 2006; 243 posts; 226 upvotes; Toronto

Dec 11th, 2022 1:51 pm

Couple ways.

1) You can use an osciallating tool and a steady hand to trim off the unwanted wood.

2) If you have a super sharp chisel you can slowly shaveaway material and then finish up wioth a small block plane

3) Use a Belt sander with an 80 grit belt and you'll get rid of 1/4" of anything in no time. Draw a refernce line and sand snug up close to the thisline. For the last 1 mm or so maybe change out to a 200 grit belt or soemthing less aggresive to let you sneak up on your reference line.

+4

Dec 11th, 2022 2:33 pm

smitty9999: Deal Addict; Dec 25, 2007; 1328 posts; 828 upvotes; GTA

Dec 11th, 2022 2:33 pm

Post pictures

+1

Dec 11th, 2022 3:49 pm

torontotim: Deal Addict; Nov 17, 2012; 4724 posts; 4224 upvotes; Toronto

Dec 11th, 2022 3:49 pm

Rip it all out and re-trim the pass-through properly considering the backplash tile you plan to have installed.

+1

Dec 12th, 2022 10:12 am

arisk: Deal Addict; Nov 12, 2006; 2780 posts; 1933 upvotes; London

Dec 12th, 2022 10:12 am

dbracer wrote: ↑ Couple ways.

1) You can use an osciallating tool and a steady hand to trim off the unwanted wood.

2) If you have a super sharp chisel you can slowly shaveaway material and then finish up wioth a small block plane

3) Use a Belt sander with an 80 grit belt and you'll get rid of 1/4" of anything in no time. Draw a refernce line and sand snug up close to the thisline. For the last 1 mm or so maybe change out to a 200 grit belt or soemthing less aggresive to let you sneak up on your reference line.

It sounds like the tile will cover the edge that you trim up.
Therefore, while you want pretty good, it doesn't have to be perfect.

The above suggestions seem good to me.
#2 I'd start with the plane, and not the chisel.
#3 Just hand sanding with a block won't be bad. This isn't a huge job, and slow and careful might be better than fast and aggressive.

There is a way to do it with a router, but my gut is this is beyond the OP.
(and dust everywhere)

You sure don't have to rip it out.

+1

Dec 12th, 2022 7:04 pm

BaileySyd [OP]: Member; Dec 18, 2017; 471 posts; 399 upvotes; Alberta

Dec 12th, 2022 7:04 pm

Thanks to all who gave suggestions.

dbracer wrote: ↑Couple ways.

1) You can use an osciallating tool and a steady hand to trim off the unwanted wood.

2) If you have a super sharp chisel you can slowly shaveaway material and then finish up wioth a small block plane

3) Use a Belt sander with an 80 grit belt and you'll get rid of 1/4" of anything in no time. Draw a refernce line and sand snug up close to the thisline. For the last 1 mm or so maybe change out to a 200 grit belt or soemthing less aggresive to let you sneak up on your reference line.

The Dremel Multi Max is an oscillating tool with an attachment for wood and I was thinking that that would work. I don't have a belt sander. I did think of chisel but the Dremel seemed like it would be easier (I could be wrong!).

arisk wrote: ↑ It sounds like the tile will cover the edge that you trim up.
Therefore, while you want pretty good, it doesn't have to be perfect.

The above suggestions seem good to me.
#2 I'd start with the plane, and not the chisel.
#3 Just hand sanding with a block won't be bad. This isn't a huge job, and slow and careful might be better than fast and aggressive.

There is a way to do it with a router, but my gut is this is beyond the OP.
(and dust everywhere)

You sure don't have to rip it out.

Right, the tile will cover up this edge that I plan to trim up so it doesn't have to look great after it's trimmed.

I have watched several youtube videos on planes and oscillating tools and I was torn on which would be better, which caused me to make this thread. Maybe a plane would be better.

Yes, a router is beyond me. I don't know what that is.

Will edit this comment in a moment to upload a pic from my phone. Thanks all!

Images

Dec 12th, 2022 7:15 pm

cliff: Deal Addict; Aug 5, 2003; 2570 posts; 480 upvotes; North York

Dec 12th, 2022 7:15 pm

That's a job tailor made for an oscillating tool if I've ever seen one.

+2

Dec 12th, 2022 7:50 pm

BaileySyd [OP]: Member; Dec 18, 2017; 471 posts; 399 upvotes; Alberta

Dec 12th, 2022 7:50 pm

cliff wrote: ↑ That's a job tailor made for an oscillating tool if I've ever seen one.

That's good news as I bought a Dremel. Since my last post above, I've been reading about planes and I don't think that me using a plane for the first time on this project would be the way to go.

Dec 12th, 2022 7:53 pm

Quentin5: Deal Expert; Feb 8, 2014; 26957 posts; 11393 upvotes; Socially Distanced

Dec 12th, 2022 7:53 pm

BaileySyd wrote: ↑ Why would someone down vote this question? Isn't asking questions and sharing information what this forum is for?

Most threads get 2-3 downvotes simply for existing

In fact in Rand McNally they wear hats on their feet and hamburgers eat people

+1

Dec 12th, 2022 9:02 pm

hoob: Deal Fanatic; Jan 6, 2002; 6450 posts; 6997 upvotes; Toronto

Dec 12th, 2022 9:02 pm

Why not just use a hand planer?

Si Tacuisses, Philosophus Mansisses

+1

Dec 13th, 2022 9:05 am

arisk: Deal Addict; Nov 12, 2006; 2780 posts; 1933 upvotes; London

Dec 13th, 2022 9:05 am

BaileySyd wrote: ↑ Right, the tile will cover up this edge that I plan to trim up so it doesn't have to look great after it's trimmed.

I have watched several youtube videos on planes and oscillating tools and I was torn on which would be better, which caused me to make this thread. Maybe a plane would be better.

Yes, a router is beyond me. I don't know what that is.

Given your apparent skill level, I think the oscillating tool is the best option.
Even for more experienced, it is a good option, but they also have the additional acquired skill options too (planes, chisels)

My suggestion is use an oscillating tool, but leave a bit extra.
Then sand that by hand.
First, it leaves a margin for error, and second a little better finish.

Use some sort of straight edge to ride the blade on.
It will help leave that extra to sand, as well as generally assist with creating a straight edge.
I think your cut will also be prone to being angled across the narrow dimension if you aren't careful.
That's another reason to leave the last bit to sanding (with a block).

+2

Dec 13th, 2022 9:07 am

arisk: Deal Addict; Nov 12, 2006; 2780 posts; 1933 upvotes; London

Dec 13th, 2022 9:07 am

hoob wrote: ↑ Why not just use a hand planer?

No offence to the OP, but there is some acquired skill, and there is a high chance it wouldn't go well as a first task.

Dec 13th, 2022 9:26 am

BaileySyd [OP]: Member; Dec 18, 2017; 471 posts; 399 upvotes; Alberta

Dec 13th, 2022 9:26 am

arisk wrote: ↑ Given your apparent skill level, I think the oscillating tool is the best option.
Even for more experienced, it is a good option, but they also have the additional acquired skill options too (planes, chisels)

My suggestion is use an oscillating tool, but leave a bit extra.
Then sand that by hand.
First, it leaves a margin for error, and second a little better finish.

Use some sort of straight edge to ride the blade on.
It will help leave that extra to sand, as well as generally assist with creating a straight edge.
I think your cut will also be prone to being angled across the narrow dimension if you aren't careful.
That's another reason to leave the last bit to sanding (with a block).

arisk wrote: ↑ No offence to the OP, but there is some acquired skill, and there is a high chance it wouldn't go well as a first task.

Thank you for your feedback. Really appreciated. I'm going to tackle this with the oscillating tool and a sanding block.

I absolutely think that using a plane for the first time on a job like this likely would not go very well.

Dec 13th, 2022 9:39 am

Jerico: Deal Guru; Jan 25, 2007; 12147 posts; 7338 upvotes; Paris

Dec 13th, 2022 9:39 am

BaileySyd wrote: ↑ Thank you for your feedback. Really appreciated. I'm going to tackle this with the oscillating tool and a sanding block.

I absolutely think that using a plane for the first time on a job like this likely would not go very well.

I am a reasonable hand planer and I dont think i could do it with a block plane. I also wouldnt risk my plane blade hitting crap on the wall or nails potentially in that wood.

A flush cut blade in an oscillating tool is what I would reach for.

+3

Dec 13th, 2022 10:41 am

hoob: Deal Fanatic; Jan 6, 2002; 6450 posts; 6997 upvotes; Toronto

Dec 13th, 2022 10:41 am

Based on the pic personally I'd just remove the entire thing, do the tiles, then put in a new one. It's not anything worth salvaging.

Si Tacuisses, Philosophus Mansisses

+4

Dec 13th, 2022 2:04 pm

smitty9999: Deal Addict; Dec 25, 2007; 1328 posts; 828 upvotes; GTA

Dec 13th, 2022 2:04 pm

Agreed with above. If you wanted to try to shave that back, I would try a jigsaw and use something as a straight edge guide. Use the oscillating multi tool for whatever little bit is left.

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