Is it possible to cut into plaster coving already in situ

greensalad

I want to cut into plaster coving to remove it in two corners of a room. This is so I can push a wardrobe fully into the gap. The IKEA PAX wardrobes already in the room (left by previous owners, fine by me!) almost reach the ceiling, they're about 2cm off! But they don't go back all the way to the wall because of the coving. 

I have a dust allergy so everything for me I prefer to be sealed off, hate any little gaps that I can't get a hoover down. I considered if I could somehow add filler pieces shaped to fill in the gaps. But I'd prefer just to set them deep back against the wall, and secure them properly. 

Skirting board isn't an issue, as we're redoing the floor and will be redoing the skirting boards as part of that. So I can fit the skirting boards right up to the wardrobe edges and add a filler piece there for them to sit against. Similar to what I've already done elsewhere in the house.

But the coving... I had hoped it was the foam cheap type but having knocked it with knuckles I believe it's plaster. Is there a way to cut into it in a neat-ish line so that I can remove that whole section out? Any ideas?

greyteam1959

You could cut it with a Stanley knife.
Carefully obviously.

MikeJXE

Whatever knife or saw you use do not cut where you want the finish to be, cut short and practice till perfect 

greensalad

greyteam1959 said:

You could cut it with a Stanley knife.
Carefully obviously.

Is it not solid plaster? Would a stanley knife even get through it?

Norman_Castle

Is it original and old? If so I'd leave it and add pieces to the back or wall scribed to suit or cut wood off the wardrobe.

A multi tool will cut plaster coving but will be expensive if only used for this.

MikeJXE

greensalad said:

greyteam1959 said:

You could cut it with a Stanley knife.
Carefully obviously.

Is it not solid plaster? Would a stanley knife even get through it?

No it's probably not solid, it is solid where it touches the walls and ceiling and the rest is hollowed out so in the corners it is a void 

Jono111

A multi tool is perfect for this

MikeJXE

Coving looks like this 

EssexExile

MikeJXE said:

Coving looks like this 

Or it's solid plaster, depending on the age of the house and who put it up.

Eldi_Dos

Op, my preference would be cut the wardrobe to suit the cornice and leave that intact.

If you do want to cut solid cornice, there is a old woodworking tool that looks like a pizza wheel with serrated edges, it was often used by plumbers and electricians to cut floorboards in situ, that would be suitable.

Cannot remember name of tool so having difficulty find link but maybe another poster may know name of tool.

plumb1_2

Eldi_Dos said:

Op, my preference would be cut the wardrobe to suit the cornice and leave that intact.

If you do want to cut solid cornice, there is a old woodworking tool that looks like a pizza wheel with serrated edges, it was often used by plumbers and electricians to cut floorboards in situ, that would be suitable.

Cannot remember name of tool so having difficulty find link but maybe another poster may know name of tool.

Never seen a pizza slice for flooring 
but I have a floorboard saw.