
- Start by opening and closing the door a couple of times so you can see where it is rubbing or sticking.
- Use your ruler to measure 1/8 inch from the jamb to the start and end points on the door. ...
- Immobilize your door by using the doorstop so that you can plane without the door moving. ...
- If you are planing a vertical edge, shave with the wood grain. ...
- Once you have planed the necessary amount from the problem side, open and close it a few times. ...
How to plane a door like a carpenter?
- If you need a spirit level for general use to measure a variety of object sizes, a Carpenter’s Level is probably the one for you. ...
- Try a Torpedo level if you want a portable option that will fit in a toolbox and measure tight spaces. They can be as small as 6 inches. ...
- A Mason’s level is great for measuring wide and long surfaces like walls. ...
How to plane a door with a hand Planer?
Tools:
- Carpenter’s pencil
- Doorstop or wedge (optional)
- Screwdriver or drill (for taking down the door)
- Large workbench or sawhorses
- Clamps or straps
- Hand planer or electric planer
How May doors does an average airplane have?
- Acrolite
- Adam
- Aerisoatuake
- Aero East Europe
- Aerocopter Ltd.
- Aeronca
- Agusta helicopter
- Air Tractor
- Airbus Industries
- Aircoupe-AL
How to plane composite wood door?
Tools:
- normal hand tools - screwdrivers, pliers, hammer, etc
- drill
- router with straight bit
- circular saw
- reciprocating saw
- utility knife
- air compressor
- air stapler
- straightedge (at least as long as the door is wide)
- square

Can you plane a door without taking it off?
A-Hollow-core doors have solid-wood frames several inches deep, and the edges can be planed moderately if necessary. It usually pays to try a few other ways of repairing a door first, however. Start by checking the hinges to determine whether any screws are loose. If so, retightening the screws might solve the problem.
Can you plane a door in place?
Pro Tip: If one small area on the edge of the door needs to be planed, you might not have to take it down. Place the door in the position where you have the best access to the edge and immobilise it with a doorstop or wedge. You can then plane it in situ, whilst still following the rest of our tips.
How do you hold a door when planing?
0:001:51Plane Doors Easier With This Jig - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIf you've got to hold a cabinet door level for planing the edges. You could prop it up on a coupleMoreIf you've got to hold a cabinet door level for planing the edges. You could prop it up on a couple of paint cans. But there's a better.
How do you shave down a door to fit?
How to Shave Down a DoorStep 1: Find the Rub. Close the door just enough so that it sticks or rubs -- don't shut it all the way. ... Step 2: Remove the Door From the Jamb. ... Step 3: Mark it For Shaving. ... Step 4: Set and Position. ... Step 5: Shave the Door. ... Step 6: Check and Repeat. ... Step 7: Rehang and Check.
Can you use a hand planer on a door?
3:025:42How to Trim a Sticking Door with an Electric Hand Planer - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipOr nails that could harm your planer. Now what I like to do is plain the door from the outside edgesMoreOr nails that could harm your planer. Now what I like to do is plain the door from the outside edges to the center. So I begin on one side of the door plane it from the outside edge to the center.
What tool is needed to fly a door?
planersYour go-to tool? A plain old hand planer. Its sharp, angled blade shaves thin strips of wood as you push it over the surface, and while electric planers or belt sanders can be used for planing, the simpler device gives you maximum control.
Which side of a door should I plane?
If working on the top or bottom edges of the door, run the plane from the outer edges toward the center. If the problem area is along the length of the door, move the plane along the wood grain. The wood grain usually runs from the top to the bottom of the door.
How do you fly a leading edge on a door?
2:209:38Why plane a leading edge onto a door before hanging - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipOn the closing. Face of the door. And by doing that i'm creating some clearance. And and also inMoreOn the closing. Face of the door. And by doing that i'm creating some clearance. And and also in theory. By making an angle. Square which one square's got a little unstable.
How much can you plane off a door?
How Much Can You Trim off a Hollow Core Door? Removing an inch or so from a hollow core door to allow for a thicker carpet, misread tape measure or wonky doorframe will be fine. However, cut off too much – roughly over 2 inches – and you may notice that the edge of the door is no longer solid.
Can you plane a door with a sander?
Contrary to popular belief, the best tool to plane the door is a belt sander. The coarse texture of the belt removes wood quickly and you'll usually end up with an even finish. Technically, you can use an electric planer, but belt sanders are cheaper.
What to use to shave down a door?
You can also use a hand-held power planer or a hand-held manual block plane to shave down a door. These two tools require more skill. If you're experienced with them use them if you want. But if you've never used them you can damage the door.
What do you do if your door is too wide?
If a door is just a little bit too wide, remove the hinges and trim the hinge-side stile only. But if you have to trim off both sides, you'll have to reposition the latching hardware. Remember to leave a 1/8-inch gap at the top and each side of the door, and a 1/4-inch gap at the bottom.
How to prevent a door from moving when planing?
Also, ensure the area you are working on is accessible. Secure the door using clamps or straps to prevent it from moving once you begin working on it.
What is the best plane for smoothing out a door?
The bench plane is the most suitable for smoothing out surfaces around the edges of a door. A block plane may also come in handy if you are working on a small section of the door.
What is the gap between a door and a frame?
The ideal gap between the frame and the door is 1/8 inch on all sides; anything less means that the door has a thicker frame that needs to be shaved off. The plain old hand planer is the most suitable for removing the excess wood. The sharp-angled blade allows you to push it over the surface providing maximum control compared to an electric planer. Here’s how to plane the door.
Why do doors stick to the door?
Doors are bound to bind and stick on entryways especially if they have been fitted incorrectly. Tightening the hinge screws may rectify the problem; but only temporarily. The best way to solve the situation is to plane the door to remove the excess wood, causing it to get stuck. The ideal gap between the frame and the door is 1/8 inch on all ...
How to find discoloration in a door?
If the discoloration is mild, draw a circle around the area using a pencil. It helps you find it when planning. Alternatively, you can inspect the space between the door and the jamb. Gaps are smallest where the door is sticking.
How to fine tune a wood plane?
Ensure the plane is adjusted to a suitable angle to remove the right amount of wood. If not, fine-tune it by adjusting the wheel beneath the handle of the plane.
Can you remove a door from the frame?
If only a small section needs planing, you might not need to remove the door from the frame. However, removing the door provides maximum control and allows you to plane more extended portions. There are two ways to do this. First, you can unscrew the hinges by taking off the screws from door face and leaving the hinges attached to the frame.
How to make a door not wobble when planed?
When you’ve got the door down, lay it on a stable surface like a large workbench or a pair of sawhorses. Clamp the door down, or secure it with straps so it doesn’t wobble or slip when you start to plane it.
Where to make marks on a door?
Make your marks on the faces of the door and not the edges, since any marks here will be removed by the planer!
What to do if your door is stuck on the floor?
Also run a thin piece of cardboard between the door and the jamb, then between the door and the floor. If it gets stuck anywhere, you need to do some planing.
What to do if your door sticks?
If the door sticks or scrapes, take it back down and plane a little more, repeating the process until it opens and closes perfectly.
What to do if your door keeps sticking?
If one of your doors starts sticking or scraping along the floor, you have a couple of options. First, tighten the hinge screws in case that’s your issue.
How to speed up wood planing?
Pro Tip: To speed up the process, use an electric planer. For the horizontal edges, plane toward the centre from the outside edge. Always apply a steady but light pressure to avoid gouging the wood, helping to plane off a consistent amount with each stroke. 5. Check, Plane and Check Again.
When to reapply stain on a door?
When the edges are smooth to the touch, reapply the same stain or paint you’ve used on the rest of the door.
Step 1
Open and close the door a few times (if it’s not blocked at the bottom) to see where it’s rubbing the jamb. Run a thin piece of cardboard or paper between the jamb and door to identify a starting and ending point for the raised area; mark these points with a pencil on the side—not the edge—of the door.
Step 2
If the door is only slightly out of square and just a small raised section needs to be removed, you should be able to avoid removing it from the frame. Immobilize it with a doorstop and plane it in place (see Step 3). But for maximum control and to plane longer portions, take the door off its hinges with a screwdriver or drill.
Step 3
On vertical edges, shave following the wood grain; on horizontals, work toward the center from each outside edge. Apply steady but light pressure on the planer so you don’t gouge the wood or shave off more than necessary. Unlike a bad haircut, trimmed wood won’t grow back!
Step 4
After planing the intended amount, rehang the door and give it a swing. If it’s still sticking, remove it and shave a little more. Once it opens and closes perfectly, remove it to sand, prime, and paint the planed surfaces. Reinstall any hardware you might have removed before rehanging the door for good.
How wide is a hand plane?
A hand plane is a manual tool ranging from about 6 inches to 14 inches long and about 2 inches wide. With handles on top and flat on the bottom, this device contains a razor-sharp blade held at a precise angle at the bottom, or shoe, of the plane. Featured Video.
How to sharpen a plane blade?
Unless the plane is new, its blade must be sharpened. Remove the blade from the plane by unscrewing it. Squirt a small amount of sharpening oil on the whetstone. Prop the blade on the whetstone with the angled side down. Slide the blade around in slow circles.
What to do when your floorboards don't fit?
Planing down crown molding, door trim, window trim, or baseboards that do not fit. Slicing off an edge of a solid wood or engineered wood floorboard to make it fit. Shaving down the edges of sticky cabinet doors or drawers.
What is the purpose of plane in the direction of the grain rise?
A rise is where the grain continues off the edge of the work material. Planing in this direction ensures that the wood will not splinter. If you were to plane in the opposite direction, you risk splintering or tearing out the edge of the board.
What is the purpose of planes in wood?
A rise is where the grain continues off the edge of the work material. Planing in this direction ensures that the wood will not splinter. If you were to plane in the opposite direction, you risk splintering or tearing out the edge of the board.
How long is a pocket plane?
While it may be tempting to purchase a small trimming or pocket plane (between 3-1/2 inches and 6 inches long), these planes are difficult to control. Most significantly, though, short planes follow the waves and dips in the wood, essentially transmitting the same waves and dips back to the wood. Longer jack planes provide a smoother surface by ...
When you must plane a work material that has grain running in opposite directions?
When you must plane a work material that has grain running in opposite directions (such as with the rail and stile on a door or shutter), clamp a sacrificial block of wood on the side of the cross-grain area. This way, when the plane reaches the cross-grain section, it will tear out the sacrificial block, not the work material.
How to immobilize a door?
Immobilize your door by using the doorstop so that you can plane without the door moving. If you find that the door is still wobbling, use a second doorstop on the other side of the door.
How to measure for a door jamb?
Use your ruler to measure 1/8 inch from the jamb to the start and end points on the door. Draw a straight line between the start and end point using your ruler. Although this may only be a short length, it is important to be able to see the correct width. If you are planing more than 6 inches, use a carpenter’s compass to mark your planer’s route.
How to make a door stop sticking?
Step 1. Start by opening and closing the door a couple of times so you can see where it is rubbing or sticking. Run a piece of thin cardboard or folded paper in between the door and the jamb to identify the start and end point for the area that needs to be planed. Use a pencil to mark this area on the side of the door, not on the edge.
How much space between door and frame?
The recommended gap between a door and frame is around 1/8 – 1/4 of an inch on all sides. Once you determine that the door isn’t sticking due to a loose hinge or two, which is easy enough to fix with a screwdriver, you may find that you need to plane, or shave, the excess wood from the problem side so you can get your door working again.
Why isn't my door sticking?
Once you determine that the door isn’t sticking due to a loose hinge or two, which is easy enough to fix with a screwdriv er, you may find that you need to plane, or shave, the excess wood from the problem side so you can get your door working again.
How to remove more than 1/8 inch from door?
If you need to remove more than 1/8 inch from the door, you may need to use a belt sander or electric planer. However, bear in mind that, while the job will be simpler and faster, you will have less control. Move carefully and slowly when using power tools so you do not create any gouges or dips.
Can you plane a door without taking it off?
The top of the door and the latch side of the door can easily be planed without taking the door off. However, if you need to work on the bottom of the door, you will need to take the door off of its hinges to access the bottom section.
