I’m looking at doing a job that involves removing a section of some cabinet sides, so a larger plasma TV can be installed. The cabinets are cherry veneered substrate, installed in sections. I wasn’t there when they were installed but my friend was, who said they used biscuits for alignment and screwed them to the wall. The back panel is 3/4″, so I assume this was rabbeted into the sides. My question is, What is the best way to cut the sides flush to the back? I’m thinking about the Fein Multi-Master but if I need to cut 3/4″ x 24″ MDF (or plywood or PB), it’s a lot to cut with a tool made for trim and fine tuning. I also don’t know if any metal fasteners will be in the path of the blade(s). I will probably end up using a lot of blades, too and part of me thinks that cutting it proud of the back and using a router w/ a jig to get it flush is a better, if not much dustier, way.

Has anyone done this kind of job, how well did it work and how did you cover the raw edges? If I use a router, I’ll probably route a groove to accept a trim strip that matches the existing back, as closely as possible. The horizontal part that remains- I’m not sure how I’ll get that to be flush, since the shelves are fixed.

Any ideas?