I need to cut through some wood, no saw. What’s the least worst option?

[Howdoisawwithnosaw]

I just need to cut a skirting board size gap at the bottom of both sides of this cabinet so it can be flush with the wall. Theres no backboard so it’s just the 2 sides which are made of MDF.

I don’t have a saw or the ability to borrow or buy one quickly. What’s the least ridiculous idea out of the following that I have come up with using equipment I do have in the house?

1 - a serrated kitchen knife that is on its way out anyway so not worried about ruining it.

2 - use a drill to make a series of holes right next to each other

3 - stand there for ages with a belt sander against it until it’s sanded down enough to fit.

4 - another idea I haven’t thought of using normal household equipment.

Any help would be appreciated.

You'll split the veneer and the chipboard underneath will be extremely ragged unless you do a proper job with the correct tool. Might be easier to cut out 2 small sections of skirting board than try to shape the back of the cabinet to fit flush.

Jeez don't remove the skirting. That'll probably cause a massive eyesore.
Any saw will do. I'm sure a neighbour will help.
If I was buying one specifically for this job I'd get a coping saw (in between a small hacksaw and a fretsaw). If you do get one yourself, choose one with fine (small) teeth.
Don't agree with PJ that the back will fall down if you take a bit off. I've done it many times no issues.

Why do you need to do this in such a hurry that you can't just buy a saw?

Regardless, I think it's a bad idea for many of the reasons already stated. It's chipboard, it'll splinter horribly and make a mess. And that back bit will be part of what holds the thing together.

If you must have it flush with the wall (god knows why), removing the skirting will be significantly easier than what you are proposing.

Maybe I should give up on the idea and the stupid non-MDF thing will just have to stick out too far 😂

It will stick out approximately 1cm-2cm further - is that really a big issue?

Go to Wilko.

Buy saw.

Use said implement for its designated purpose.

Problem solved.

What is the cabinet? Could you attach legs to it to raise it above the height of the skirting?

If you order by 6pm, screwfix will have a suitable saw with you by tomorrow...

All three.
Drill lots of little holes in a line, cut with serrated kitchen knife, then sand.

To answer some questions:

It doesn’t absolutely have to be flush to the wall, but it’s going in an alcove and it would stick out a bit as it is, or be nice and level with walls with the notches cut out. So it’s the difference between looking great and a bit shit.

Despite my use of ‘I’ it’s not actually going to be me doing this as I have a physical disability, the person who is going to help me is not available very often and I was hoping they could sort it for me early tomorrow morning as they won’t be able to again for quite a while. I just used ‘I’ because I thought it would be easier and quicker.

I really appreciate all the advice. Please don’t hate me
.
.
.
.
.
.
.

I found a saw in the house after all 😬😬😬

Phew! We can all breathe easier in our beds tonight!

Beavers

😂

Really curious about why it's so urgent tbh.

Sad to see you’ve got a saw so I can’t suggest a Magimix

I’ve really enjoyed reading this

1930's semi. We can't hear much at all, despite current NDNs and the previous two sets of NDNs all having young kids. I guess we can thank the thick walls, plus next door is carpeted throughout.

We do hear the kids running up and down stairs but only faintly. One of the kids has autism; he squeals and kicks or hammers on the wall rhythmically at night, but you'd only notice it if you happened to be awake already. Really not an issue. (In the summer I do have to close the window sometimes, because the sound goes out their open window and into ours.)

We never hear any TV or music from next door, but they must be able to hear ours, as the telly is right next to the wall and DH watches shoot-em-up films late at night.

Previous neighbours did have a relative who came to visit rarely, who had a naturally "carrying" voice. He was only talking in his normal voice, but we could hear every word he said, even when we were on the far side of our house! I pity his neighbours.

Oops wrong thread LOL

@stuntbubbles

Sad to see you’ve got a saw so I can’t suggest a Magimix

Which attachment? Dough blade won't cut through chipboard, and the grating disc will just create sawdust and splinters....

@BalladOfBarryAndFreda

It’s veneered chipboard, not mdf. It’ll split, flake and chip like a bastard.

I think this basically sums it up well!! 😆

@Howdoisawwithnosaw - I suddenly remembered that my husband had done exactly this with a coping saw because we needed to fit an IKEA Billy (chipboard inside with a veneer of wood) around a Victorian architrave and deep skirting board. It actually worked really well, despite my comment above!

See the photo attached...

Apparently a coping saw is a very narrow bladed saw which will go round corners

We have moved house since so it now has no dado rail or skirting board to go round 😆

We've seen the "before" picture, can we now see the "after", please?

About £10 and a facebook shout out for a handyman with a saw would sort this issue