Easy Way To Mortise Door Hinges

Typically the upper hinge.

Easy way to mortise door hinges.

The hinge mortise allows the hinge to be mounted flush with the jamb and door so the door will close properly. A homeowner can cut a hinge mortise for door hinges with a few basic hand tools and a bit of patience. Hinge locations can vary. Chisel the scored outline hold a sharp chisel a 1 inch or 1 1 4 inch chisel works best vertically with the.

Put the jig to use first use a hinge to set the router bit s cutting depth photo below. Score around the hinge position the hinge on the edge of the door in the desired location and hold it firmly in. 1 mark the spot on the door edge where the hinges will be located. Cutting a door hinge mortise with a chisel.

Repeat at the top edge of the door. Now clamp one part of the jig so the inside edge is right on this line. Then align the support arm s bottom edge with the bottom edge of the door clamp it in place and rout the mortise as shown above. Mark the mortise depth.

Glue small wooden shims on top of the mortise if it is too deep. Mark the hinge outline. Repeat the cutting process if the mortise isn t deep enough. The first step in the process of making the hinge mortise is to mark the location of one end of the hinge mortise.

If you are matching the mortises to a mortised door jamb with hinges place the. Hold the edge of the hinge against the bit s lower edge. Take a felt tip marker and mark the. Measure and mark the hinge locations if you are starting from scratch.

Place the bit square. Mark the locations for the mortises. Place the plane blade at the edge of the impression and strike with a hammer. Place the hinge on the edge of the door with the knuckles pointing in the direction the door.

I clamp the tail end first so the clamp won t interfere with the other half of the jig. Cut lines in. A hinge mortise is the shallow cut made in the edge of a door and the door jamb that mirrors the size and thickness of the door hinge.