cutting a door?

Question

What tool is the best to cut a straight line of a door? (length)

Answer 1

To cut the door lengthwise to make it narrower the best tool for the job would be a table saw. Remove the hardware from the door before cutting. To cut the end off a door to make it shorter the best tool would be a panel cutter. If you don't have a table saw or panel cutter the next best is a circular saw. Use a straightedge or a chalkline to mark the cut. You can clamp a straightedge to the door for a saw guide if you don't trust yourself to cut it freehand.

Answer 2

I would clamp a guide on the door so that I could hold the base of a circular saw against the guide. On my saw the edge of the base is 1-9/16 inch from the outside edge of the blade. So if I wanted to trim 1/2 in off of the door the guide would be clamped 2-1/16 in from the edge of the door. I would set the depth of the saw blade a little more than 1/2 the thickness of the door and cut one side then I would turn the door over clamp the guide on the other side of the door and cut that side. If you make a cut from each side the door will not splinter. When I finished cutting I would lightly sand the edge of the door so that it would be smooth.

Answer 3

If your are making the door shorter, as another answer pointed out, clamp a straight edge to the door as a guide for a circular saw. If it is a hollow core door, you have to be careful in how much you remove from one end. Hollow core doors only have about 1 1/2 inches of wood top and bottom. If you have to remove up to 1 1/2 inches, cut equal amounts from each end. If you have to remove more than that you will need to salvage that piece of wood out of the section you cut off(or cut a new one to size), and re-install it inside the door for strength.
If you want to make a door more narrow, a table saw is the easiest way to go.

Answer 4

Depends on the amount of material that is required to be removed? Less than 1/4" use a power plainer over 1/4" use a circular saw with an edge guide. Score the cut line with a utility knife before using either.

Answer 5

i've always used a small jig saw. whatever you decide to use first draw a pencil line across both sides of the door, then use a piece of metal to lay across the door and use a sharp knife blade, the kind you buy for about $1.00 and make deep scores in those lines BEFORE you try to use the saw, if you don't then the door will splinter along your cut. score it like ten times before you saw. it's hard to do a straight line. you might consider using some kind of a metal or wood guide screwed to the waste part of the door and try to cut a straight line using that.

Answer 6

Anything more than 1/4 inch use a circular saw. If your just trying to fit a tight door use a belt sander .

Answer 7

The BEST tool ( but definetely not the cheapest) would be a table saw ( 10 inch blade) with a fence guide.

Answer 8

Clamped straight edge, masking tape. utility knife, circular saw w/ finish blade and a steady hand

Answer 9

sabor saw, with long blade,