This is a tool I saw a year or so back at one of the hardware store, and I have been itching to use them
The one I bought is from amazon, Called The Original Rhino Strong Commercial Grade Air Wedge blah, blah, blah…
I believe any of those air wedges you find on Amazon would work the same way, just need to make sure to pick ones with good reviews…
Link to Air Wedges on Amazon
A small project I had yesterday evening was a perfect one to try this new little powerful tool!
Project: Removing dishwasher and raise the cabinet/countertop by about 1/2 inch.
The kitchen was originally on linoleum floor, and our floating floor made the opening for the dishwasher too small for easy install/removal of the dishwasher. Since our dishwasher died and we looking to buy new one, I want to make the fix so that the new one will fit nicely.
Step 1: Removing the old dishwasher. To do so I need to undo the screws holding the countertop, use the air wedge to lift the countertop just enough to pull out the dishwasher.
The Air Wedge was a perfect tool for this. All I needed is a paper thin gap between the cabinets and the countertop, slide in the Air Wedge, then pump a few time. without any effort the countertop is lifted up enough to slide out the dishwasher.
Step 2: Free up the cabinets/countertop. I removed the screws holding cabinets to the wall, and also remove caulkings around the countertop.
Step 3: Lift cabinets just enough to put shims under the cabinet to match the height of the flooring planks. To do this, I needed to use my floor jack as the cabinets with countertop was just too heavy for the Air Wedges. I could only use floor jack on the front side of the cabinets, so lifted the front, and then put shims under the front side of the cabinets, and then use air wedge on the rear for small adjustment with more shims in the rear.
Step 4: Once the cabinets been raised, all I needed to do was to shim the countertop to make it level.
The Air Wedges worked like a charm! Starting from the one end, I used Air Wedge between cabinet and the countertop to find level, and then place a shim. Move to the next cabinet, and repeat. It let me do a very fine adjustment with one hand with my eyes on level, made this process truly a one person job with ease.
Conclusion: The Air Wedge works! It can lift up to 300LB with with very precise control in just one hand.
It can be used to level large items such as cabinets and counter top like I did, or can simple used to lift up a furniture just enough to slide a dolly under it. It’s not very expensive but very useful tool.
