How to cut a flat slot in cabinet bottom?

Maybe one of those Fein Multi-master things would do the trick quickly and easily. There are a lot of knock-offs out there, I know Porter Cable makes one for a whole lot cheaper. Just a thought…...

-- Lucas, "Someday woodworks will be my real job, until then, there's this http://www.melbrownfarmsupply.com"

If the purpose of this slot is to hide the lights why not just ad some trim to the bottom of the cabinet. If these cabinets are not installed it seems you could tack nail or clamp a guide in place and use a router.

-- W James Brokenbourgh Custom furniture maker http://artisticwoodstudio.com/

Can’t really envision on how to use a router to make the cut flush against the bottom. The side walls extend down about 1 1/2” below the bottom floor. So perhaps you mean to rest the router bottom on the side wall ends and extend the bit until it is against the bottom? That might work.

rut

Close ,put your guide (a piece of straight wood) across the lowest part of your cabinets and use a router bit with a bearing on the top of the router bit to follow the guide to make your groove.
Use arouter bit like this one.

http://www.mlcswoodworking.com/shopsite_sc/store/html/smarthtml/pages/bt_flush.html#pattern_flush_anchor

-- W James Brokenbourgh Custom furniture maker http://artisticwoodstudio.com/

Hmmm. Maybe I’m not clear on what I want to accomplish. This looks like I’ll be cutting a slot all the way through the side wall from the bottom of the floor to the open edge of the side wall.

What I wanted to do was create a 1/8” slot right at the bottom of the floor that I can slide the led strip into so it would be flush to the floor bottom and run from one end of the upper cabs to the other..

I suppose I could notch out the entire side wall without it being too noticeable.

What you do is stop the grove before you hit the edges of the cabinet and chisel it square on the end of the slots.

-- W James Brokenbourgh Custom furniture maker http://artisticwoodstudio.com/

I see what you are saying. I’m not looking to put a groove in the bottom floor. I’ll just tack the strip to the floor. The slot I wanted to create is in the side walls so the strip can pass between the cabinets. I take it from your response the a chisel is the answer for creating the slot.

I’m so confused. Can you draw picture?

-- jay, www.allaboutastro.com

Your wording may be confusing most of us. When you say slot, I’m thinking something a dado or router bit could make.

Now it sounds like all you’re talking about is removing material between sidewalls of adjoining cabinets (because Jim said exactly what I was thinking to do and you shot that down).

So, get a Dremel or multitool (like the Fein, PC, Rockwell, etc.) and cut out the slot. Since it’s on the underside of the cabinet and also will have a light strip covering it, it doesn’t have to be perfect.

Maybe post up a picture so we can help you better.

-- "Well, at least we can still use it as firewood... maybe." - Doss

Ditto what Doss said

-- W James Brokenbourgh Custom furniture maker http://artisticwoodstudio.com/

Yeah. Just a little slot to slide the led strip through.

If it’s installed already, the multi-tool in Jonathan’s pic works just fine. You can pick up similar tools to that at the big box stores too.

If you have steady hands and a router with a straightcutting bit you could do the same, but I don’t think that’s very safe.

A Dremel with a fiberglass cutting wheel may work too. You just need to make sure you don’t make a fire due to the friction.

-- "Well, at least we can still use it as firewood... maybe." - Doss

You can use an 1/8 drill bit, drill 2 holes from each side to prevent chipping .
I have flexible drill shaft that works well for this, you can get close to wall or underside.

-- "My mission in life - make everyone smile !"

One more vote for the multi-tool. This is where they excel. If you are going to use it a couple times, the HF one goes on sale for less than $20.

-- Woodworking shouldn't cost a fortune: http://lowbudgetwoodworker.blogspot.com/

Well I splurged on the porta-cable oscillating tool today and a 3/8” plunge blade. That should do the trick. Thanks for the info guys.

Rut