T-molding and rubber mallet

[bravesfan]

I used a rubber mallet to install my t-molding.  However, the rubber mallet seemed to put some small dents in the molding.  Is there any way around this?

[versapak]

Don't pound so hard?


After all... The whole point of using a rubber mallet to install the t-molding, is so that doesn't happen.

[Minwah]

I found it quite hard to install evenly tho to be honest.  It's easy to push the molding in *too* far.

[ahofle]

Use a soft towel folded a few times where you hit.  This worked really well for me and avoided the scuffs and imprints.

[Stingray]

I always just push t-molding in by hand. I've never seen the need to use any tools for that particular job.


-S

[RTSDaddy2]

I'll second Minwah on that one though...I've used a towel and hit the stuff lightly and still have places where it looks "uneven."   For now I've decided it just gives my cabinet "character" 

[NoOne=NBA=]

I used the towel method with a regular hammer, and mine looks great.
The two things to be careful of are banging too hard, and getting the molding in too deep.

I used VERY soft taps, and just kept tapping until it seated to the correct depth.
That way I didn't ding the molding in a particular spot by hitting too hard, and it didn't go too deep because it took more than one hit to get it where it needed to be.

[AceTKK]

I haven't installed any t-molding yet, but I don't understand how it can go in too far? isn't the underside next to the spine flat?  I would think that you would just push it in until it's flush, and it shouldn't go in any further.  Is that not true?

[javeryh]

That's how I did it.  It's pretty flat right now but it looks very even.  I can see how some people might want it a little more rounded though...

[jmelan]

I used bubble wrap made for packaging glasses and dishes that i had lying around after a move with a regular hammer.  The towel idea would seem to work the same way

I noticed very little denting of the t-molding, but obviously using a rubber mallet with the bubble wrap would have been optimal

[LPZ]

Talking from experience, I just push it in by hand also.  When I did it the first time, I thought about using a rubber mallet, but didn't want to ruin the t-molding.  It really sucks to double buy things, when you don't take your time and do it right the first time.