Argh!
I don’t work with hardwood as a hobby, and I’ve never done it professionally. Stain-grade trim is considered one hell of an upgrade in this area; I’ve worked in million-dollar homes without an inch of stain-grade anything at all. I’m not a finished carpenter, either, so I can’t say I’m an accomplished door-hanger or anything like that.
But I’m working on mortising some solid cherry door jambs for hinges. Well, this is a new definition of slow, for me. . . as if I wasn’t a cautious person already. 😛 And for this job, nothing less than perfection will do.
3:45. . . I finally have my mortising jig perfected and one (1) door frame assembled! Well, you gotta crawl before you can walk, eh?
Edit: Well, now at least it’s just a matter of banging out the rest.
Edited 3/17/2008 3:47 pm ET by Biff_Loman
Replies
Yup. It's all about taking the time to make good jigs and templates and then testing them out on a piece of scrap.
Either that or buy a commercial hinge mortising jig.
Solar & Super-Insulated Healthy Homes
Cherry jambs, mmmm; the cream-de-le-creme. I'm jealous.
"I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul." Invictus, by Henley.
They ain't mine!
3:45. . . I finally have my mortising jig perfected and one (1) door frame assembled!
You could probably go faster if you pulled yourself away from the damn computer!
Doug
So I took a break. This is 'breaktime.' ;-)
Biff Loman.
Sorry to ruin your day but Porter Cable sells something called a Hinge butt template kit model 59380. turns your job into about 5 minutes of work.. takes maybe 10 minutes to set up the first time and then about 5 minutes per jam from then on..
Seven corners and Amazon sell them.
how steady are your router skills?
I layout and mark.
then cut the line in with a utility knife ...
then just buzz the router up to the line and finish with a chisel and utility knife.
depending on that days level of confidence ... I kiss the line ....
or leave a fat quarter and work up to it with the chisel.
haven't lost one yet!
I discovered this technique ... working with another carp ... who had one of those factory made templates ... "somewhere".
got tired of waiting for him to find it in his van ... or on the site ... or maybe at home.
Jeff
Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
I'm going to try it your way one of these days, but until then I use one of these:
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00925194000P
It's Simple and effective (and I do know where it is)
you got it! ... make a jig, and not a one mortise jig, get a 7 ft piece of ply, and cut out all 3 mortices, that way when you rout the jam and door its a purrrrfect fit. Use a center finding punch and predrill .. sheered a screw head off on a cherry door this weekend, then I started predrilling ..
I do it the same way
too cheap to buy one of those fancy hinge jigs
too lazy to make one of my own
a utility knife, trim router, and sharp chisel makes quick work of a hinge mortice, even in hardwoods
"too cheap to buy one of those fancy hinge jigs
too lazy to make one of my own"
that's me in a nutshell!
Jeff Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa