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Removing scallop trim from over sink?

7 years ago

My cabinets are in solid shape and I want to keep them, but I would like to get rid of the scallop trim over the sink. The photo is not my kitchen but it's in my nieghborhood and my cabinets are exactly the same except painted.

Has anyone removed this kind of trim without damaging the cabinets? If so, how? I can't tell from looking at it whether the right approach is to cut it out, or whether it's just glued in place and could be knocked out, or ?

My cabs will be repainted afterward. All advice welcome, thanks!

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maggiepatty
Original Author

7 years ago

Oh, dcward, you got my hopes up. I checked mine and it's not screwed in :( That would have been so lovely.

Lavender Lass, I also like vintage kitchens, but this one was mostly undone by the previous homeowner in the 80's and 90's. There is nothing original to the room except one set of cabinets (the ones with the scallops), the door and the window. Everything else is ratty cheap stuff from the nearest big box that looks like it was put in for renters :(

I want a clean look, but I'm hesitant to try scallop removal on my own.

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Comments (10)

eam44
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
I shudder to think what you might mean by "knocked out." If the piece has been glued into place, wood glue being stronger than nails, you'll have to cut it out anyway. Start by cutting up the middle of the trim, being careful not to damage the soffit.. You can use a small pry bar to work it out of place from there, but you want to be certain not to damage what's left behind. If it has been glued to the cabinets on either side you'll have to use a multimaster, or a similar oscillating tool to remove it completely
maggiepatty
Original Author
7 years ago
Thank you. I do not have a micromaster but I have a palm sander, is that similar? How about cutting it away as you describe and then sanding away what remains? I guess I was unsure of cutting near where the scallop trim meets the cabinet because I was afraid of cutting into nails.
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Lavender Lass
7 years ago
Can you send it to me? : )

I can understand wanting a more modern look, but I love vintage kitchens. Good luck with the removal.
maggiepatty thanked Lavender Lass
dcward89
7 years ago
We had the exact trim in our old kitchen. It was screwed into the cabinets from inside the cabinets on each side. Unscrew a couple screws, a little wood putty to close up the hole and touch up paint. It's just a little thing but it makes it look so different without it.
maggiepatty thanked dcward89
PRO
Joseph Corlett, LLC
7 years ago
Smack that thing on the front with a hammer. If you break the wood, glue it back or Bondo; you're priming and painting anyway.
maggiepatty thanked Joseph Corlett, LLC
tami meyer
7 years ago
I have the same dilemma. Mine is not screwed in either. I was researching this earlier today and found this post. Read #29: http://www.doityourself.com/forum/carpentry-cabinetry-interior-woodworking/511443-how-cut-decorative-piece-out-kitchen-cabinet.html#b
I'm hoping to work on this tomorrow.
maggiepatty thanked tami meyer
prairiemom61
7 years ago
I've removed two. One was screwed in, one nailed. Screw was easier of course. We only had to do a bit of touchup with wood pens. We just pried and pulled on the other til the big old nails loosened up. I still don't know how they nailed that thing up there! Those nails were 3" long! But it looked so nice and open when we finished. The light behind it was vintage and we left it. The screw one had just a bulb so that was changed out for a small can light.
maggiepatty thanked prairiemom61
maggiepatty
Original Author
7 years ago
Wow, thank you Tami Meyer for that thread. That was a valuable post for paint info as well as the darn scallops. I will post again if/when I attempt this removal. I want the painting done in late October for other reasons so I have a little while to figure this all out.
lindsay Hoffmeister
2 years ago
Kina unrelated but can anyone tell me what style kitchen this is? I know it's u shaped but anything else? The kitchen in my new house is exactly like this, I want to know what to search for to find ideas on updating it

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