need a piece of wood molding cut to size-help!

I had to purchase a Pergo 4-in-1 molding piece because the molding that was on my back door cracked. I have a floor transition piece that goes between different rooms, and I've been using that, but it is too short and there is a big gap between the door and the floor. I need the molding cut down to 35.5 inches long. I have never sawed anything in my life, and I am afraid I would mess it up if I tried. Is there anywhere I can take the molding and have someone cut it down to size for me?

Ellen, try Horton's Hardware store in Douglass Loop, or Keith's Hardware on Bardstown Rd. I think either one will be happy to do it for you.

thanks!

[Robin Garr]

also any home depot or lowe's will do it.

Support your local hardware store!!

[Robin Garr]

robin, just for the sake of discussion. you would want me to make a 30 mile round trip to our local hardware store.

Nah. I was just hassling you. (I figured you could take it! )

For those of us who do live close to a great local hardward store, though, it makes sense to take our business there. They're being eaten up by the economies of scale that the big box stores enjoy, but you just don't get the kind of expert, personalized service at the big box as you do from the local hardware guy. I'm speaking specifically of Oscar's on Frankfort and Hammer's (what a great name for hardware!) in St. Matthews.

But seriously, Annemarie, it was just too ripe a target to pass up. No offense meant.

Ellen has her location listed as "St. Matthews," so St. Matthews hardware (near Shelbyville and Breck), otherwise known as "Hammer's" would be a logical local choice...

That is one cool funky old hardware store....

Cheers

As for the actual cut, measure twice and cut once is the rule of thumb...personally, I prefer cutting myself, but I'd bet that some of the guys at the big boxes won't give you a very precise cut. Their experience levels and training vary wildly....now if you measure extremely carefully and emphasize that it needs to be a nearly perfect cut, you might get good results (down around 1/16th inch accuracy)...good luck! But wherever you go, do tell them you want it as accurate as possible. Some guys can get pretty sloppy if they aren't told to be precise.

Since I was at Stevens & Stevens yesterday for lunch, I called Keith's, but they said they didn't perform that service. So, I went to Home Depot (which I hate by the way, not necessarily because it's a chain, just because I am so totally uninterested in anything to do with home improvement, tools, etc.). The guy was actually nice and helpful (rare at HD, in my experience). He said it would probably mess up the Pergo piece because it was thin, and he recommended I go over to aisle 24 to cut it with a hand saw. I told him I had never sawed anything in my life, so he went over and cut all 3 pieces for me. And the whole thing only took about 5 minutes. So, that was one of the better Home Depot experiences I have had. Normally, when I need something from a hardware store, I go to Oscar's on Frankfort Avenue, which is really close to my sister's house, where I go at least twice a week. St. Matthews Hardware is closer to my house, but I don't like it as well. Later, I needed another thing cut, so I went back to Home Depot and cut it myself. Pretty easy. (BTW, the Home Depot I went to is the one on Breckenridge Lane). Thanks for the tip on that.