Designing Kitchens and Bathrooms - Cutting shims for cabinets

Just wondering how the experts do it: I've got a bunch of shims sticking out from the tops and bottoms of a bunch of cabinets. It's all level and ready to go- just need to cut the shims.

So, what's the preferred method? Mark a line on each shim, remove them one by one, cut, hammer back in place, rinse and repeat?

What do you do if you've already screwed through the shim to secure the cabinet? Maybe take a flush cut saw and carefully trim each shim while trying to avoid marring the finished surfaces around you? I imagine that cutting several shims at the top of the cabinets with your head jammed in between the ceiling and the cabinet tops won't be very fun.

I've watched a few videos online and they all go from showing the cabinets with the shims sticking out to the countertop stage. As is often the case, it's the small details that hang you up (and never seem to be addressed in books or videos).

Thanks so much for any help.

I just score them with a utility knife and snap them off. If they're really thick a jamb saw will cut them flush.

Hi cwbuff,

I appreciate the reply. The score and snap method makes sense for the uppers, but I'm wondering about the shims on the (finished) floor. Maybe I can slide a piece of sheet metal under the shim to protect the floor, then score and snap. Thanks.