Part 4
“Carpenter wanted. The cabinet is falling apart, Address: 10 Downing Street”
Pre Hung Door for Trimming Purposes
- Offer door to the lining
- Screw to hinges that are attached to the door to the lining with one screw per hinge
- Attempt to close the door
- If the door needs trimming hold the door from behind
- Mark with a pencil around the door
- Remove door and place in Door Vice as before
- A small amount of trimming a ‘Hand Plane’ is best
- Use an Electric Plane if more than 3mm needs to be removed
- Put a Lead on for invisible clearance
- Refit door
- Inspect around the door to make sure the gap is equal it will just look better
If the Door Doesn’t Bind and Bounce Back you Done!
Not Quite! as there are a few things that still need doing. If you hung your door in a Frame you won’t need door stops as the frame has a rebate. But if you have installed door lining you need to artificially create the rebate by fitting door stops.
Installing door stops is very easy and can be done in little time so yes, it is quick.
How to Fix the Door Stops
- Always start with the short head door stop
- Trim door stops to length
- Pull door closed
- Place doorstop against the new door
- Pin or nail the door stop
- Cut the jam door stops to length using a fin panel saw or a chop saw
- Pin or nail the stop at the top only inline with the jam so it can swing
- Holding the door towards you so the outside is flush
- Pin or Nail each of the jam door stops just touching the door.
- The door should open and close without obstruction or binding
QUICK TIP: Door Stops and Flooring
Are you are in the process of a replacing or just laying new floors after the hanging of your doors? Then don’t fit the door stops yet as it will be a lot easier to lay your floor first. You can temporarily screw the stops for removal later when laying the floor if you like.
Other Methods of Fixing
Above we mention the primary use of nails or screws for fixing the door linings into the wood or masonry.
There are other solutions and techniques which could help you do a neater or quicker job.
The Nail Gun
The nail gun is a very useful tool and if used correctly will speed up your workflow. These nail guns come in different power sources: Airline, Gas cartridge or even Electric.
And Nails gun has two popular categories: First and Second Fix!
First, fix nail guns are big and capable of driving 100mm nails in some cases. The Second fix nail gun is smaller and naturally fires smaller nails. A 16 gauge nail gun is ideal for the second fix.
- Nail Guns that rely on power via an air compressor are very handy in the workshop but not as great on-site. Once you have the equipment the running costs are low.
- Gas or if I was to mention a brand it would have to be the ‘Paslode’ an iconic orange nail gun. Many first fix joiners would consider the Paslode as their “Weapon of Choice’.
- Electric nail guns are not great but Dewalt does make a rechargeable battery version. There are plenty of smaller electric models such as Rapesto 18g nail guns but these are too light for second fix carpentry.
What does ‘First and Second Fix’ mean you ask?
First fix is a term given to the first stage of joinery such as studying timbers etc
The Second Fix is a term given to the second stage of joinery such as door architraves and trimming.
Plug Cutters and Pilot Drills
Screw and Plug for Invisible Fixing
A great way to add that extra bit of class to your woodworking. The Humble wooden plug is a great way to disguise screw fixings and very easy to do.
I can’t find Wooden Plugs in the Hardware Stores
You can make your own wooden plugs in different sizes. How? Well, you will need a set of plug cutters. These start in a variety of sizes. The common plug cutter size I use is 10mm and 12mm these give good clearance for No 8 and No 10 screws.
You also need a Pilot Drill
You can purchase a countersink drill of the corresponding size online or in DIY stores.
My Conclusion of DIY Door Hanging.
I understand that the idea of hanging your new expensive doors yourself can be daunting. I hope that this article provides some insight into the process and the hiccups of hanging a door.
If at any time you feel overwhelmed just take a breather and say, “Even the Pros get Overwhelmed Sometimes”
Around 8000 words and expanding as I find other important content to include. This could be an ebook or a short story. Thus there is much information that may not apply to you but the knowledge is always good and it is free.
If you feel you have made mistakes during the process even though you have followed this door hanging guide. It still is not in vain as you have gained knowledge and experience. It cost tradesmen many thousands and multiple mistakes but still, we carried on to learn more.
“A man who never made a mistake never made anything at all!”
If you are or have undertaken the task of installing doors in a lining or prehung door in a frame let us know or your experience.
You could also comment below if you have any questions and share with your friends. Share button at the bottom of this page.
Trimming Door Lining or Frame
Architrave Trimming
So now you have hung those doors and ready and waiting for that next step. Like any job that requires a level of first & second fix carpentry, you will need to trim. Trimming comes in many forms and is a fashionable choice.
When we in the UK trim our door linings with architrave as a trim of choice. In France, we use some flimsy flat trimming as standard but I personally do not like it. Therefore I make my own trims from wood when in France.
I have not any experience of trimming in the US but I believe it is a called casing. Probably in connection with casement windows. It is common when buying doors of the shelf in the US like France the doors come prehung. These are easy to install and all the hinges are already cut into the frame and door along with the latch. Trimming these doors is a little different from the UK ‘Door Lining System’.
We install these trims finishing the 90-degree corners to the head using 45-degree cuts made with a mitre box or chop saw set at 45 degrees. But there is another way. In Victorian times it was not uncommon to install plinth and corner blocks. This way you would only need to cut 90 degrees and you can add some decoration such as Tudor Rose.