I’m trying to set up a pocket door system, and I’m stuck on how to do the grooves in the bottom of the door (to keep it stabalized while it rolls in and out of the pocket)
The Hafele instructions say to create a 15/32″ wide groove in the bottom of a 1 3/8″ door.
First problem is trying to figure out where to make the grove, since there is no 1/64″ hashes on my ruler to find the center point! Besides that, how to you cut a 23/32″ deep groove in the bottom of a door?
I have a router, a circular saw, and a table saw at my disposal.
Rebuilding my home in Cypress, CA
Also a CRX fanatic!
Replies
I cut grooves in door bottoms by laying the door flat on horses, set the rip fence where I want it. edit: for the flanges on vinyl door bottom sweeps. Turn the saw on its side, let the fence run on the top face of the door, hold the guide up and go.
Same diff. with a router.
BUT, be careful.
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Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
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Edited 2/21/2007 6:29 pm ET by calvin
I'd make a sled for my router.
1/2" pc. of ply, about 10" x 20". Drill a 1" hole in the center and screw the router down over it. Add two 20" pcs. of 2"x2" to the underside 1 3/8" apart.
Take a 1/4" cut with each pass until you're at 23/32".
Stand back and admire your ingenuity (g)...buic
I made the sled and it worked great - thanks!
I did look at slot cutters, but the bib box didn't have one that went deep enough.Rebuilding my home in Cypress, CA
Also a CRX fanatic!
Buy a slot cutter bit for the router.....heck, Rockler has one that dials to different width slots.....
Don't some pocket doors use a roller at each side of the door slab to keep it centered? Would this be easier for you than cutting a large dado in the bottom of your existing door?
If you go with the dado approach, multiple passes with a wing cutter in a router might work (provided you can find one that will cut deep enough). Note that by changing the bearing diameter, you can vary your depth of cut.