Found a trick for squaring up long cabinets without a helper

I was installing some upper cabinets in a kitchen remodel last week and kept fighting with them drifting out of square while I tried to get the first screw in. Tried clamps, tried shims, nothing was working great. Then I remembered an old tip from a guy I used to work with... use a couple of 16 gauge finish nails as temporary pins. Just drive them partway into the studs where your cabinet bottom will sit, then rest the cabinet on them. Gives you both hands to level and square it up before you commit. Worked way better than I expected. Has anyone else tried something like this or got a better method for solo work?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_simon1mo ago

Man that's a brilliant idea!

keith9001mo ago

Tried something similar last week and it backfired so bad my buddy still won't let me live it down.

grantp141mo ago

Ain't that the truth though, sometimes the simple stuff just works better lol.