Chisel Door Frame Hinge

You want to make a nice flat surface for your hinge to lay into.

Chisel door frame hinge. Go slowly and test fit your hinge a few times until you get it mounted flush. Before cutting your door hinge mortise place your hinge on top of the door and outline it with a pencil. Whichever type you use there are a variety of styles available to match your home decor. Score around the plate with a sharp utility knife.

To cut hinge. Move the chisel as needed to cut along the full width of the mortise. Hold the chisel vertically about 1 8 inch away from one end of the mortise outline inside the waste area. Using a utility knife trace along the outline to create small groves then make a cut on the front or back side of the door indicating the mortise s depth.

Open the door and stand with. Holding a chisel bevel side up with one hand on the blade and one on the handle slice away any wood that the bit couldn t reach. Hinge mortises on a door are often cut by machine with a router and straight bit but you can cut mortises by hand using a hammer and chisel as well. Using a sharp 1 inch wide chisel cut a series of parallel lines into the jamb about 1 4 inch apart staying within the scored lines and holding the chisel perpendicular to the wood.

Place the hinge in its mortise to see if it s flush with door surface. Work from the knuckle side in until the mortise floor is flat. Position the strike plate on the jamb so it is centered on both lines. To do a good job cutting mortises the chisel needs to be razor sharp.

With your chisel s beveled edge flat against the door s edge gently tap to remove material within your score marks. If you re installing a pre hung door make sure you get the correct swing determined by the placement of the hinges and doorknob. If your frame is in good shape a slab also called a blank door image to the right is fine. The hinge mortise allows the hinge to be mounted flush with the jamb and door so the door will close properly.