"John" wrote in message
...

I was thinking of using my circular saw with a new blade (what to get?)
and
clamp a long level to use as a fence, then pray!

It sounds like you're looking for the safest, surest and cleanest way to
trim it. A circular saw might come out fine, but it makes for a high speed
"oops" if anything goes wrong. Since you have an orginal finish you want to
preserve, I think the safest surest way would be to use a hand plane. It
will definitely give the cleanest edge. It won't take long at all to plane
off a 1/4" on pine.

Bob