Cutting down cabinet for new Refrigerator Clearance

[Hud]

I have been asked by friends to increase the clearance for a larger Refrigerator, this will require cutting almost 1" off of bottom of cabinet and one side.  My question is remove doors and clamp guide rail to cabinet or take the cabinet down and cut it.  Have any used the TS55 in his manner on the side of a cabinet?  I will need to add some stiffening material to compensate for what I will be removing on the front.  Thanks in advance.

 

[Sparktrician]

If you have the time to do so, just take it down and cut it right.  Clamping the rail to cabinets and trying to cut with the rail vertical is a pain in the arse. 

 

[tiralie]

or take the cabinet down and cut it. 

As Sparktrician says take the cabinet down and cut it. It's easier, less dangerous and gives a cleaner looking cabinet.

Have any used the TS55 in his manner on the side of a cabinet? 

Yes, I use rapid clamps to hold the rail. They work very well for this type of application. If the sides don't come off as pieces , make sure you support the cutoffs so it does't pinch the blade.
Tim

 

[tjbnwi]

I'd cut it in place. As Tim suggested Rapid Clamp.

Make sure you finish the cut edge, even if it is just a couple of coats of clear.

Tom

 

[WastedP]

I had to do this last winter after a client changed their mind about getting a new refrigerator three days after the cabinet install was finished.  The cabinet had crown that ran to the ceiling.  I figured I would be stuck taking it down and having to redo part of the crown.  I only needed to gain about a half-inch (LG and Samsung refers seem to finish out just over 70" high, when most other brands are under).  I clamped the rail to the inside of the cabinet and used the guide rail stops to keep from destroying anything else.  It took more time to type this than it did to set it up and make the cut.  I finished the cut with a japanese saw, then sanded the edge with the Rotex.  No dust.  I felt like I was in a Festool commercial.  I masked it off and painted the edge and was done in fifteen minutes.  Taking the cabinet down and cutting it would've taken a lot longer.

 

[aptpupil]

Done it before and I cut it in place. Finished cut with Fein. Sanded smooth.

 

[cblanton42]

I have also cut in place instead of taking down, after you get over the initial shock of the concept, it works like a charm!  And WastedP is right, took longer to type this than do it. 

 

[Hud]

Turns out that taking the cabinet down to cut it would have been very difficult.  I was getting ready to cut and noticed that the one side was lower than other and realized that the 1" was not enough on the other corner.  They are re-thinking a different frig as there is no way to cut enough off of the cabinet without destroying it,  Thanks for all of the input.