Resilient Flooring

Toe-Kick Saws: Cutting Flooring Out Under Cabinets

Using a toe-kick saw to cut flooring out under cabinets: depth settings, guard and kickback rules from Crain's manual, and finishing corners.

Updated · 2 min read

A toe-kick saw cuts old flooring flush under cabinet toe kicks so you can remove it without pulling the cabinets. It's a specialized tool with a real kickback risk, so the rules in the manual matter. The specs and safety points below follow the Crain No. 777 manual.[1]

The saw

The 777 is a small, powerful saw built to fit under a toe kick.

  • Specs: 3-3/8" carbide blade (Crain No. 787), 5,200 RPM, 2 HP, 11 amps and 8.2 lb.[1]
  • Depth adjusts from 1/4" to 3/4" in 1/8" steps.[1]
  • Unplug before changing depth or blades.

Safety rules from the manual

Toe-kick saws cut forward only, close to your hands and knees. Follow these rules:[1]

  • Unplug the saw before you put the cutting head into the toe space.
  • Keep the blade guards in place. Don't run it with a damaged guard.
  • Keep your hands off the spindle tube and the red blade housing. It isn't a handle.
  • Cut straight and forward only to prevent kickback. Never cut backward.
  • Kneel to the side, out of the kickback path. Don't run it standing up.
  • Don't use it on damp or wet floors.
  • With a diamond blade, cut no more than 6 ft, then let it cool.

Step by step

Most toe-kick cuts take a few minutes once the saw is set.

  1. Check what's under the flooring and set the depth to cut the flooring without going deep into the subfloor.
  2. Look for screws, nails and staples along the cut line and set them deeper or pull them.
  3. With the saw unplugged, set the head into the toe space.
  4. Plug in, kneel to the side, and cut forward in a straight line along the cabinet face.
  5. Stop short of corners. The round blade can't reach them.
  6. Finish corners with a chisel or oscillating multi-tool.
  7. Remove the flooring and vacuum the toe space.

Common mistakes

Most accidents and ruined blades come from rushing the setup or the cut.

  • Pulling the saw backward. It can disengage the clutch and kick.[1]
  • Hitting fasteners. They chip carbide and can kick the saw.
  • Holding it by the blade housing. It's not a handle.
  • Cutting too deep. A deep kerf in the subfloor has to be patched.

Tools we carry

These cover the toe space and the corners the saw can't reach.

References

  1. Crain No. 777 Toe Kick Saw operating manual

Linked PDF documents are archived copies saved by PreFloor Tools so they stay available if the publisher moves or removes them. Check the publisher's website for the latest revision.

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