Uniform, Accurate Shims
Use this method to keep a cabinet panel door or drawer front perfectly centered during installation.
When installing a cabinet panel door or drawer front, it’s important to keep the panel perfectly centered in the opening while installing it. I’ve found that playing cards make great shims for this purpose. They make a cheap shim and won’t scratch the finish. Plus you always know you’ve found the exact center when the same number of cards have been inserted on opposite sides.
To make the shimming process a little faster, I usually press the panel tight to one side and install as many cards as it takes to fill the gap on the other. Then I just split the cards up, one half on one side, one half on the other.
— Nielsen Crist; Bedminster, N.J. Drawing by Martha Garstang Hill.
Check out Nielsen’s video to go along with this tip here.
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View Comments
I think that's brilliant! (putting all the cards on one side and on the bottom, then dividing them up)