Interior Doors

Re: Interior Doors

George Koch

Your probably looking at flush hollow core wood doors which are 1 3/8" thick and only have a narrow rail filler at the top and bottom. To cut 2'' off, try cutting 1" off one end and if it is still solid wood, cut the other 1" from the other end. If not, cut the remaining 1" off the same end so you will only end up having to put a filler at one end. Anyway that's how I would approach it.

Re: Interior Doors

Barry Irby

What is this 1 1/2" you speak of? All the interior doors I have messed with over the years were 1 3/8" thick, but what's an 1/8"" amount friends?

I am guessing you are talking about hollow core doors? If so, you should have no trouble cuttings them down to 78". The edge frame stick most probably will not be wide enough to allow for it. When you cut away 2" you will remove the end frame piece and expose the hollow. There may be large cardboard honey comb inside and it may be in the way. Use a sharp chisel and cut it free from both skins and push it back into the cavity. If you have a table saw you can easily saw the face skin off both sides of the stick you cut off and reuse it. Or you can make a new one. Put wood glue on both skins inside the opening, slide in the stick and clamp it nice and flat. If you are not talking about hollow core doors, Never Mind.

One thing to watch out for is Corrugated Fasteners. Back in the day, some manufacturers assembled the internal frames with corrugated fasteners before applying the skins. Not so much anymore. But is you hit one, goodbye saw blade. You could do a little exploratory surgery with a chisel before risking a saw blade. Or use a metal detector if you have one.

Re: Interior Doors

Jim Dillon

Mike, I second what Barry said about the metal fasteners. I ruined a saw blade by running into one. Otherwise your plan sounds good. Jim

Re: Interior Doors

JohnV

In my experience hollow core doors have a wider strip on top and bottom that the sides. 1`" from each end has never been a problem for me. I have bought many HC doors cheap at auctions for use as shelves and had to cut them shorter to fit the length I needed.

I read the tape before my second cup

Mike L

of coffee. I really just wanted to make sure they where the same thickness before I even started.

Yes they are hollow core, but not a flat slab. They are 6 panel so 2 inches off the bottom should do it.

Thanks

Mike

A couple of thoughts.

Barry Irby

Someone mentioned cutting an inch off the top and bottom. If you buy doors that are pre-bored for locks, be careful to check the spacing if the the frames have been setup for locks. You need to be sure the spacing for the strike matches up. And you should check the thickness of the rails. You could cut away most of it by accident, but you want a substantial amount left. Maybe 3/4" or more.

I have screwed up a bunch of these.

Re: A couple of thoughts.

Garthfromsandiego

Good point. I have replaced a household full of doors. Start with the knob location and trim top and bottom as required. Also, do not assume the opening is square. Use the removed door as a template if possible. Fillers can be installed as previously described. I fabricated fillers to the required thickness, cut to length, and glued in place. Use clamps with a scrap across both sides of the door to distribute clamp pressure. Let the glue set overnight and trim as required. You've only got a single door but it gets pretty easy after a couple. Good luck.

Thanks

Mike L

I do have the old door so that part should be easy. It is predrilled for a handle, so I will measure twice and have three cups of coffee before I measure it.

As for the opening being square, will it is in a 20 year old mobile home so I am pretty sure it is going to be a problem the entire install, but that is a next month issue after I get done traveling. Feb 1st I retire so no more three weeks on the road and two weeks home.

Congratulations and....

Barry Irby

Congratulations on retiring. Hope you have a long and healthy one.

Double check that door. Some mobile homes have 1 1/8" thick doors. Might be tedious to install a 1 3/8" door in the opening. The old hardware may not move to a thicker door.

Good idea to use the old door as a template. Or make one out of cardboard.