Hit Studs! AVOID Pipes and Wires! Cabinet Installation Secrets!

3 simple tips. How to avoid screwing into water pipes and electrical wires when installing Cabinets! If you're installing Ikea Kitchen Cabinets or a bathroom vanity, you should absolutely check out these tips before you get going! If your having any struggles with your cabinet project please reach out in the comments, I will do my best to offer advice!

Best wishes on all your home projects!!!

A Great Smaller Version of The Franklin Sensor(Affiliate Link):

The Best Side Cutters! Knipex(Affiliate Link):

MY FAVOURITE TOOLS (That I own and use!)

SAWS:

FESTOOL KAPEX MITRE SAW
-This is not for everyone but if your looking for the best this is it.

DEWALT 10" PORTABLE TABLE SAW WITH STAND
-The rack and pinion fence and lightweight body are a winning combination!

MAKITA 18V TRACK SAW
-This is a game changer when it comes to breaking down sheet good and making precise cuts!

MILWAUKEE M12 OSCILLATING MULTI TOOL
The brand new version and the old one are both 1st class all the way!

NAIL GUNS:

DEWALT 18G BRAD NAILER
-This a cheap gun that performs as well as any gun I've used! Great tool clip as well.

GREX 23G PIN NAILER
-Crisp holes and fairly consistent shooting.

DRILLS:

MAKITA SUBCOMPACT SET
-Extremely lightweight and surprisingly power. These are two of my favourite tools!

LASERS:

DEWALT LINE LASER
-Reasonably priced, works great, sticks to drywall corner beads excellent!

LEICA DISTO D2 MEASURE DEVICE
-Super accurate and easy to use!

VACUUMS:

MAKITA 18V CORDLESS VACUUM
-This is my 3rd Favourite tool. Sucks surprisingly well and the portability is sooo handy!

FESTOOL CT MINI
-A great portable vacuum for a mitre saw or any other hand held tool.

TOOL STORAGE:

FESTOOL SYSTAINER
-A great integrated system that all locks together, and can be used as a works bench as well.

FESTOOL ROLLING CART
-Exceptional little rolling cart for the sustainers and a great way to move heavy cabinets!

All the links above are Amazon Affiliate Links, it's a great way to support the channel at no extra cost to yourself! Thank you:) If you have any questions please reach out in the comments.

[kds]

All it takes is one pierced waterline to forever make you paranoid when screwing things to walls.

[j.frankparnell]

Good tips for drywall. With plaster walls things become a little trickier. Stud placement in old houses is not always uniform and stud finders are not as reliable through the thicker, denser plaster. When installing cabinets I drilled small holes into the plaster and probed with a wire to make sure I was hitting a stud. Took a while but better than having a cabinet fall off the wall.

[tassie]

I have to admit that I was very confused by this because you were talking about the pipes being attached to the centre of the studs. I was confused because if you have correctly located the stud, why does it matter how deep you screw into it, you cant hit the pipe because it is on the outside of the stud.

Then later, when you mentioned not attaching to studs either side of the water outlets in order to avoid any horizontal piping, that's when it occurred to me that the depth of screws is a major problem when piping has been routed through the studs, not when it is running vertically along the studs.

[lvillefamilyl]

You know those curvy wire hooks that you can hang pictures on? They make pretty good pipe and stud searchers, because you can press them into the wall with out a hammer and turn them left and right once there in to see what’s on the side. Love your channel.

[lifewithjo]

“A couple years before I got to do anything fun again” 😂 haha so good!
Great video!

[rodn]

Great tips! I was helping a plumber friend for a while when I was between jobs. The homeowner had water coming out from behind a wall. It turned out someone in the past had put a screw into the copper pipe and didn't realize it. It took a couple of years before the screw rusted and boom, water leak. My point is you can screw up (pun intended) and not know it till later.

[bendocoolmister]

Thanks for explaining this. I am an apprentice and I never had anyone explain it that well to me. Always worried about going through the chaos of hitting a pipe or wire. Never did that so far, but hope I never do. I'll keep in mind your advice though. Thanks again!

[lucst-amour]

Funny Carpenter, I have installed cabinetry since 1985 and your spot on with the tips on this video. Keep up the good work. One on my few issues I’ve run in is a new home framed 24” on Center at a vanity the drain pipe going to the second floor was 16” from the first stud and because the drain pipes were tested with using water filled pipes it immediately sprung a leak.
The next house which was identical to the previous one, I remembered and never forgot that experience.

[tesfaale]

Came across this video as I am planning to install cabinet and never thought of pipes behind the wall. Thank you so much for the tips, I would have made a huge mess without watching your video.

[conradcoolerfiend]

Another tip: when making exploratory hole to find stud centres, use a dull beat up drill bit. Less chance of drilling through something. You want it to have a hard time going through anything other than drywall.

[urodeogirl]

Super helpful!!!! We are installing an upstairs vanity with 1/8' plywood shiplap, drywall AND sheer-wall -plywood behind it and were nervous about the plumbing. Thanks for the tips!!!

[kupkid]

Built new cabinets for my kitchen. Midnight before leaving for a vacation early the next morning, was trying to get the base cabinets installed so the counter guy could come the day after we got back. Grabbed me a box of 3-1/2 cabinet screws, ran one in there, and Needless to say, the vacation was postponed... Wish someone had shared these tips with me back then!

[amandab]

Great video! My stud finder picked up a wire going horizontally right along the height I need to screw in an ikea rail hung counter/cabinet. This video puts my mind at ease. The screws are the right size that they won’t hit the center like you said. All good!

[johnagorman]

that first tip is golden
the other are jewels. thanks!

[shakehandswithdanger]

Good tips. I use a strong magnet to find the studs (stick to the drywall screws).

[dogbiscuit]

OMG... I was wanting to hang a heavy mirror but now I think I'm too nervous to trust screwing in the J hooks. Ignorance is not bliss, thank you for the valuable tips!

[dawnhoward]

I feel so bad that I laughed so hard when you said pandemonium . I too have worked with my Dad on jobs . 🤭😐🤐🤣😂🤣😂

[YourHuntingBuddy]

Love the channel. Can you please make a video on different screws for hanging and joining cabinets. I remember the first time joined cabinets I snapped the heads because I was using g drywall screws.

[tahirmujcin]

i was thinking about all of the tvs and shelfs i put up thinking omg i could hit a wire or a pipe then i remebred most homes in our area are 2x6 framed you wouldnt believe the relief i had,

[P_RO_]

Locate the heights where you're cabinet screws will go. Locate where you think the studs are along the height lines. Using a 16d nail, tap gently into the stud. Hit it? move to one side and do it again etc until you find the edge of the stud. Once you've got that, push the nail in with your fingers and feel around with it to be sure nothing is in the way. Do the other side of the stud the same way. The center between the edges is where you want to screw, and you're now absolutely sure there's nothing back there to ruin your day. Test that center point with your nail to be sure there's no drywall nails or screws in the way, adjust up or down to clear as needed.

Don't make the mistake of just using a level to plumb from the found center for the other screws because the stud may be crooked or bowed. If by chance you find a double or triple stud, put your screw 3/4" to the inside of one edge so it doesn't land in a gap between those studs. Your cabinet covers all the little holes and anything up to the depth you've probed will be a safe screw length. The little extra time spent here guarantees a solid install with no problems every time.