As a kitchen-cabinet installer, I have scribed hundreds of countertops to fit irregular walls. Most require very little removal of material, but some require that I carve away as much as 1/2 in. of material, which is a long, dirty job with a belt sander.
Now I use a new technique that leaves the old way in the dust. As shown in the drawing, I use a medium-duty router with a 1/2-in. dia. straight-shank cutter. The countertop is held back from the wall and is temporarily screwed from below to the base cabinets. At the maximum distance between the counter and the wall, the bit should just kiss the very edge of the counter.
Next, I run the router across the backsplash scribe using the wall as a guide. Apart from a minor touch-up in the comer with a belt sander, the job is complete. A perfect fit, every time.
Steven Morris, Sarnia, None
