Chisel Door Frame

Cutting a door hinge mortise with a chisel.

Chisel door frame.

Example of how to use a bevel edged chisel to create hinge slots on a beech wood door. 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. Using a sharp 1 inch wide chisel cut a series of parallel lines into the jamb about 1 4 inch apart staying within the scored lines and holding the chisel perpendicular to the wood. The hinge mortise allows the hinge to be mounted flush with the jamb and door so the door will close properly.

You ll need to cut a mortise a small shallow recess in the wood of the door and doorjamb for the latchbolt and strike plate to rest. Fortunately cutting out this mortise isn t nearly as difficult as it sounds. Keep tapping until the groove is the same depth as your door hinge then repeat the process until you ve carved around the entire perimeter of the mortise spot. This is the traditional method of cutting door hinge slots and takes a.

Score around the plate with a sharp utility knife. Then gently tap the back end of the chisel with a hammer or mallet pushing it into the door.