Advice on cutting down a door to size

raven83

Hi if someone could please give some advise it would be greatly appreciated. I was wondering what is the best way to cut down a door to size, i am getting a new door for my lounge and its an inch too big in lenght and width and so will need cutting down to size, what is the best tool to do this with if anyone knows. Thanks in advance

garethgas

I use a power planer. Very fast but you need to secure the door in a workmate or similar.
Also, don't cut an inch off the bottom! Cut half from top and half from bottom. They only have a little bit of wood around the edge and if you take too much off, you'll end up with honeycombe.
You could also use a circular saw, jig saw or a hand saw depending on how straight you can cut.

ic

What sort of door is it? They normally only have a very thin layer of veneer around the edges - they usually specify to only trim a few mms off (will be on the label).

olias

Unless you are experienced, don't use a planer as there is a knack to getting a straight line. Best bet is a circular saw with a guide, then sand smooth.

As said previously - check internal construction, and how much the manufacturer states you can trim off each edge.

Olias

aboard_epsilon

As above if it veneered ...there is a block of wood running down each side of the door ...that solid block may only be an inch thick.

after you get through that ..door may be hollow ..or made up of lots of glued pieces...so you would have gaps running down the edge of the door.

also if hollow ..there is a block in the middle of the door where the catch and the handle fit into ..you could miss it .
to stay out of trouble..you must take wood equally off both sides and top and bottom

power plainer is my choice then finish off with hand planer ..you need the knack to be able to operate a power plainer ..you need to know which way the grain is running .you need to be aware that the plainer can tip at the end of its run and take a large chunk out.

you need to be aware that you could break off the end of the grain..and if the grain is strait ideally plain from each side into the middle.

you need set squires large framing square and a selection of chisels for the hinges and door catch mortice ..oil stones to sharpen the chisels..i even use little jigs that i make on the lathe so the screws go into the hinges dead on centre..other wise it looks awful..that's just what to expect ..what you need to do a perfect job....you can get away without my little jigs ..but you must have the above tools to do a half decent job.

plenty of vids on you tube on hanging doors.

all the best.markj

ormus

if its a cheapo hollow door, remove the internal block from the bottom and cut the door to size, then replace the block.
use a saw not a plane.

garethgas

ormus wrote: »

if its a cheapo hollow door, remove the internal block from the bottom and cut the door to size, then replace the block.
use a saw not a plane.

Obviously never done a door in your life!!
OP. Whilst I stand by my original advice, there's nothing wrong with any of the other's advice either.

tony6403

I had to fit a hollow sapele door which required major surgery to go into a small non-standard opening.
Height and width had to be reduced way beyond normal tolerances.
I did precisely what Ormus is recommending both on the top ,bottom and on one side.

cutandshut

Ormus is bang on. My bungalow was obviously built for small people and has 6ft 4in high doors. I just cut off the top and bottom, of a standard 6ft 6in door with a circular saw, retrieved the timber blocks and glued them back in - simples.

keystone

garethgas wrote: »

You could also use a circular saw, jig saw ..... depending on how straight you can cut.

Make sure you use a fence then it doesn't matter how straight you can cut if done properly.

Cheers

garethgas

On reflection, I think I was too harsh on Ormus so I apologise for that.
However, the op is only cutting an inch off so the idea of lopping off large amounts isn't really relevant.
Thats what I really meant to say.