Cardboard shims always make me nervous—feels like a shortcut that’s just waiting to fail. I’m with you on the metal detector for reclaimed wood, though. Learned that one the hard way after chewing up a perfectly good saw blade. I’ll admit, I still use painter’s caulk for tiny gaps, but I try not to get carried away… sanding that stuff is a pain. Snap toggles are underrated, too—haven’t had one spin out yet, which is more than I can say for the regular ones.
Cardboard shims always make me nervous—feels like a shortcut that’s just waiting to fail.
Honestly, I’ve used cardboard shims in a pinch and they held up longer than I expected, but yeah… not exactly confidence-inspiring. Snap toggles are a game changer though—wish I’d discovered them before putting extra holes in my drywall. And painter’s caulk? Totally agree, sanding it is the worst. I’ve started using wood filler for small gaps when I can, just for my own sanity.
Snap toggles are a game changer though—wish I’d discovered them before putting extra holes in my drywall.
Totally agree about snap toggles. They’re miles better than the old plastic anchors, especially for heavier stuff. I’m with you on cardboard shims—they work in a pinch, but I’ve had them compress over time and throw off my level. For gaps, wood filler’s solid, but sometimes I just use backer rod and flexible caulk if the gap’s bigger. Less sanding, less headache.
Snap toggles really do make life easier—wish I’d known about them before I tried to hang shelves with those cheap plastic things. I hear you on the cardboard shims too. I’ve used folded up playing cards in a pinch, but they eventually squish down. Backer rod and caulk is a smart move for bigger gaps, though sometimes I just shove in whatever’s handy and hope for the best... probably not the most professional, but hey, it works on a budget.
I’ve definitely been there with the playing cards—used a stack of old loyalty cards once to level a wobbly cabinet. They held up for a while but eventually compressed just like you said. Lately, I’ve started saving those plastic gift cards after they’re empty. They don’t squish down as much and work great as shims in a pinch. Not exactly pro-level, but it gets the job done without spending extra. Sometimes you just have to make do with what’s lying around...