When Cara told me her technique for marking and cutting the electrical outlets in her office built-ins, I giggled …and then asked her to please document it with some pictures to share. So this update is also a tutorial for what I think is a smart tip for marking outlet location.Unusual but very smart! Catch up: part 1, part 2, part 3
Here are Cara’s tips for cutting outlet holes in EXACTLY the right location because after you spend months building them perfectly, the last thing you want to do is cut a big hole in the wrong spot during installation.
***Just make sure that before attempting any electrical work you make sure the electricity is off!***
![marking and cutting the electrical outlets](https://sawdustgirl.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Caras-office-built-ins-011.png)
June 1,
After putting so much sweat, blood and tears (YES, ALL THREE OF THOSE) into building these cabinets, I really didn’t want to screw up cutting a 2 ½ by 3 in box in the back of the cabinet, only to have it in the wrong place.
Enter stage left, Colgate toothpaste.
I honestly cannot remember who told me about this, or if I dreamed it or what, but it worked like a charm for us and it was minty fresh. What I did was put four little dabs of toothpaste on the outlet front, and then I jammed the cabinet into the wall, where it was going to be positioned. Then I pulled out the cabinet and these four little dabs had transferred to the back of the cabinet.
![marking and cutting the electrical outlets](https://sawdustgirl.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Caras-office-built-ins-044.png)
This gave us our jumping off point. We drilled four holes inside to where the toothpaste was and cut out a small rectangle.
![Custom built-in dsign at SawdustGirl.com](https://thesawdustdiaries.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/image-9.png)
Then we trimmed it until the junction box fit in its hole.
![Custom built-in dsign at SawdustGirl.com](https://thesawdustdiaries.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/image-10.png)
Perfect fit! And still minty fresh! 🙂
Read all of Cara’s posts here:part 1, part 2, part 3, part 5, part 6, part 7, Reveal.
The free plans for the Cara Collection office furniture built-ins are available at SawdustGirl.com.