Trimming Doors — Best Way?

paperclap

Hi all,

I need to trim some internal doors down by a fair amount – around 10mm on top, and 10mm on the bottom.

Realistically, is it possible to achieve good cuts with a jigsaw or hand saw (with fine teeth)? Or, is it best to fork out for a circular saw with a track?

Thanks in advance!

grumbler

IMO, it's a good handsaw + some sanding.

greyteam1959

Do not try to use a jigsaw you will end up with a right mess.
Buy a nice new hand saw & use that.
No need to go to the expense of a circular saw.

maisie_cat

I've done a few door trims, if the trim is straight a circular saw and clamp guide are the easiest in my view.
I've also done it with a teflon coated handsaw, but it made my arms ache, girly I know.

paperclap

Thanks all!

@maisie_cat, that’s a good shout on straight (or not so straight) cuts! Our properly is a 1955 bungalow, so I’m not so sure the door linings are the same to the millimetre either side!

I’ve got a 15tpi Bahco handsaw I recently used for cutting laminate. Reckon that’ll be alright?

BUFF

& a plane for finishing.

paperclap

BUFF said:

& a plane for finishing.

Picked up an old Stanley Handyman plane for €3 the other day, in a charity shop in the Netherlands!

plumb1_2

Are the doors new
saw that’s been used to cut laminate won’t be very sharp now
best buy a sharping stone for the plane

john.h

Plunge saw or electric plane. Or a hand saw and plane if it’s still 1987

flashg67

Harder work, but I find a handsaw, like you have, gives a good finish.

FaceHead

I just do it with the electric plane (bought a nice Bosch one second hand for £40, and it's going strong).

Whilst the conventional answer is to roughly skil-saw it, and then finish with the plane, the plane takes off up to 2mm a stroke. To get 10mm off only takes a handful of strokes. 

You might find that taking 10mm off exposes the core of the door, which can be unsightly on top, and makes the door vulnerable to water on the bottom. If it's not a solid wood door, the answer is to saw the top off, plane/saw away the material you want to take off, and then glue the top back on, to preserve the outer door covering.