What's the best tool to cut a new groove for the hinge to go in on a door?

Question

I dont have any saws really except a hand saw and im swapping out doors on an old house. Both the doors are real old and ones a liitle bit taller than the other. I need to cut a new groove in the door and frame to line up the new hinges so it fits. What's the best tool to do so?

Thank's guys!

Answer 1

There's no such thing as the best tool! One person's best may not be another's. Some swear by a good sharp chisel. Others use a router. It can also be done with a good knife. But not many would suggest using your hand saw for that, unless you're pretty proficient with it! For a decent hinge mortise, you don't cut all the way across the frame -or the door. You can do a pretty neat job with a router, and get the depth just right. But you may still need a chisel or knife to cut out the corners. You can spend money on fancy templates and custom tools, or you can just lay the hinge where it's going to be and trace it with a sharp pencil. Then gouge it out with whichever tools you've chosen. If you end up with a cutout that allows the hinge to sit flush with the surface, you've succeeded in your task. It also helps a lot if the cutout in the door lines up with the one in the frame. My method would be to tackle the door first, prop it exactly in place, then mark where both hinges will fit the frame. Remember to shim the bottom of the door, so it doesn't scrape when closing. If there's cutout spaces from the old hinges, you can cut a thin peice of wood to fill that in, sand smooth, and either paint or stain to match.

Answer 2

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
What's the best tool to cut a new groove for the hinge to go in on a door?
I dont have any saws really except a hand saw and im swapping out doors on an old house. Both the doors are real old and ones a liitle bit taller than the other. I need to cut a new groove in the door and frame to line up the new hinges so it fits. What's the best tool to do so?

Answer 3

1

Answer 4

Hinge Cutting Tool

Answer 5

2

Answer 6

Door Hinge Tool

Answer 7

These days it is usually done with a router and a template or jig. The "old fashioned" way is to carefully mark out for the mortise (groove), and then use a hammer and chisel to remove the wood. You should use the chisel or a knife to make a cut along the the outside of the mortise (cut along the lines that you marked). Then you can carefully remove the wood in the mortise to the proper depth. If you make a series of parallel cuts (about 1/8" to 1/4" apart) to the proper depth in the mortise with the chisel, it will be much easier to remove the wood without digging in too deep with your chisel. If you do accidentally cut too deep with the chisel, you can use matchbook covers etc as a shim. I hope that this helps you.

Answer 8

Roto zip with a straight 1/4" bit with the base and a steady hand quick and easy, but if you only have a saw score hinge lines and chisel out the notch good luck

Answer 9

Best is relative, IE: Router, OR a tool designed strictly for door hangers. Wood chisel is most common.

Steven Wolf
(The Rev)

Answer 10

You should use a chisel. Put the hinge on the door jamb and use a pen to trace around it then use a chisel and hammer to chip away at it until it sets in at the depth you need.