What planer for fitting doors?

hvendlor · Post by **hvendlor** » Thu Oct 16, 2008 8:51 am

I'm going to attempt to fit some moulded doors this week, first time I have done so.

I think I know what to do, the only thing I'm unsure of is what planer to use for the job.

Am I better to use a power planer? or a hand planer and if so which type of hand planer, there seems to be a few types.

dewaltdisney · Post by **dewaltdisney** » Thu Oct 16, 2008 11:05 am

If these are the common moulded doors in use everywhere then you need to be aware fo a few things.

The frame is made with 25mm timber strips between the two fibre board front and back panels. There is an extra block glued in where the lock and handle mortices go. So if you have to take off mote than a few mil think of how much timber is left to give structural integrity.

The next consideration is breakout using an electric planer. As the side pieces are at a cross grain to the top and bottom a planer will split the ends out. You can clamp some timber blocks on to prevent this or deep saw cuts to the level line might suffice if you are careful.

A power planer is fine if you can control it well but it can take an awful lot of timber away very quickly.

DWD

hvendlor · Post by **hvendlor** » Thu Oct 16, 2008 12:19 pm

I won't need to take much off the sides, a couple mm here and there but one of the frames will require about 3-4 inch taken off the height of the door...

I'm assuming this should always be taken off the bottom?

dewaltdisney · Post by **dewaltdisney** » Thu Oct 16, 2008 12:27 pm

Yes, but you will have a slot when you cut off more than an inch. Trim off the faces from the bottom rail offcut and glue it into the slot. When you cut the height check that it looks balanced which might mean both top and bottom cuts.

DWD

joiner_uk · Post by **joiner_uk** » Fri Oct 17, 2008 8:03 pm

Firstly the planer you need is a decent electirc planer, Bosch, Dewalt, Makita etc... I have a 110v makita.

If it is a 1 off planing job just hire a planer for a day or 2 for £10?

To take off 3"-4" off the height of the door you need to saw this off with
1. A hand saw
2. A electric circular saw
Then finish off the cut with the elecric planer.

If you do decide to use a hand plane it will be hard work. But most of all you should practice on a scrap piece of wood first. Planing timber by hand can take years to master. (If you are not familiar with this)

You could do with a block plane to finish off the final planing to fit the door to perfection when hung.

hvendlor · Post by **hvendlor** » Sat Oct 18, 2008 11:45 pm

I ended up buying a blue Bosch (£99). It's a million times better than the Erbauer I had before....makes the job so much easier.

Thanks

Mr Mike · Post by **Mr Mike** » Thu Oct 23, 2008 8:05 pm

Bosch GHO 26-82 ?

Lovely little planer, light and easy to use one handed, left or right extraction, great finish.

Fantastic planer for under £100