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cc, Here is a foolproof method. First go out and buy yourself a 50″ “Clamp & Tool Guide” . If you are a builder or woodworker , you will find a million uses for it beside your project. Take a studfinder and determine exactly where the solid wood filler is at the bottom of the door. Mark your proposed cut line on each edge of the door (on both sides of the door). Clamp your tool guide so the edge is on these marks and score the cut line with a brand new razor knife blade. Do this on both sides and score it deeply by making several passes with the knife. Score the edge of the door where the saw will exit too. Then reposition your tool guide so the ACTUAL cut line will be about 1/16″ closer to the bottom of the door than your scored line. Now make the cut using a very sharp, fine tooth blade in your skilsaw. The score line will prevent the door from chipping. Lightly bevel the edges of the cut with a sanding block and stain ,paint or varnish as necessary to seal the bottom.
Use the same method on solid doors or if you have to cut hollow core doors into the actual hollow part of the door.
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cc, Here is a foolproof method. First go out and buy yourself a 50" "Clamp & Tool Guide" . If you are a builder or woodworker , you will find a million uses for it beside your project. Take a studfinder and determine exactly where the solid wood filler is at the bottom of the door. Mark your proposed cut line on each edge of the door (on both sides of the door). Clamp your tool guide so the edge is on these marks and score the cut line with a brand new razor knife blade. Do this on both sides and score it deeply by making several passes with the knife. Score the edge of the door where the saw will exit too. Then reposition your tool guide so the ACTUAL cut line will be about 1/16" closer to the bottom of the door than your scored line. Now make the cut using a very sharp, fine tooth blade in your skilsaw. The score line will prevent the door from chipping. Lightly bevel the edges of the cut with a sanding block and stain ,paint or varnish as necessary to seal the bottom.
Use the same method on solid doors or if you have to cut hollow core doors into the actual hollow part of the door.
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A drywall square does a dandy job to(O).
G's method is the standard.
J
*to cut doors quickly i make a saw guide out of 1/4" smooth ply.cut one piece 10" x 44" and another 2" x 44". make a line 3" in on the 10" piece. attach the 2" piece to the line. cut the 10" piece by taking a skill saw with a square base and running the base against the strip(place the larger side of the base agaist the strip). now the guide can be used to make square cuts. tape all 4 sides of the door at the cut. mark where to cut the door. with pony clamps clamp the guide to the door. make the cut.
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The 50" clamp works great but why score the underside of the door? The blade will cut clean underneath (just like cutting a Formica top upside down) Also check-out Larry Haun's "shootboard" a few issues back
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cc,
Joseph Fusco
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Brian, I agree that most doors don't need a cut on the underside, but luan veneer doors (especially unfinished ones) want to shred at the saw cut if you don't score them.
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Dave's method is it. Kinda. We call them shooting boards, and have them for anything that cuts: skill saw, router, jig saw.
I make Dave's 2" fence about 6" 'cause it it gives plenty to clamp to, and still clears the saw motor. I could probably fax a picture of this to Joe and he could post it. I'm working on it. Anyway, with one, you'll cut dead on a line. No worry about offset.WYSIWYG.
Joe's right, score the cut, or else.
We take a 2 x4 block, lay it on the subfloor, and mark the bottom of any door swinging over carpet( the 1 1/2" way not 3 1/2"). You'd want to swing the door full cycle, cause I guess the ply wood swells up, and make sure of the clearance.
Seems like a lot, eh? Sometimes it's not enough. There's not a lot worse than having to cut off an already finshed door when the house is done. That always makes the painter your buddy.
Just tying to keep things neat, BB.
*Dave, Thanks for the info on the saw guide, but when you say to cut the 10" piece i am cutting that off the wide part thats left on the 10" board or the narrow part?cc
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All those methods are fine and good just make sure the saw is square!
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Need to cut down 6 doors in a new home for the carpet. Stained and varnished, hollow core 1-3/8".
Am I better with a saw and masking tape or power planer? I dont want to chip up finish.
You guys had any luck with theses methods?
cc