How To Mortise Hinges By Hand for a Perfect Fit

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[@dakotamax2]

Great demo! I learned a new trick with screwing the hinge down first. My dad was a carpenter and he shared a story I will always remember. During the 1940's he was building houses in Virginia and the test for any new hire was to have him hang a door from scratch. The result was a pretty reliable gauge of his abilities. One of the men my dad worked with was a bit of a tinkerer and he designed a specialized router plane for cleaning out hinge mortises. He gifted my Dad and his father one. He used that plane for decades until his tools were stolen out of his truck on a jobsite in the 70s. When his father passed, Dad got the one he had and he passed it to me.

[@helion6884]

Excellent rundown. As someone who works primarily with handtools it's easy to forget that what were foundational, assumed skills early in my training can be mysterious and intimidating for people who work and were trained in different ways of working. Cam at Blacktail Studio had a video recently where he covered hand carving dovetail inlays for a table top and he gave a great piece of advice. It's not really difficult or complicated, and doesn't require special tools (cheap chisels cut fine), the hard part is that it requires the patience to take time and care with it. His answer to that was just to acknowledge and embrace that hand work takes the time it takes.

[@gregmislick1117]

It’s already been said, but I’m gonna say it again: Excellent Tutorial John. I find there is always a trick I didn’t know, or a solution to a common but reoccurring mistake (and when you highlight them, the solutions are SO simple that’s it palm-to-forehead time yet once again) such as NOT marking ALL the way to the corners, and using the silly screws as clamps! D’Oh! Sure, it’s obvious - now. Many thanks once again John.

[@johndeggendorf7826]

👍I spent 17 years in a doorshop, millions of hinges…you have a master’s touch, bro. A true professional is Thoughtful, attentive & accurate every step of the process. 🤔 And if you can’t do precise work with hand tools, please don’t touch the power tools! ✊☕️🎩🎩🎩

[@lohikarhu734]

@johndeggendorf7826; if you see this...not related to carpentry, at al! we lived near München, and so many signs on the Autobahn have "Deggendorf xxx km" , that we say to each other: "All roads lead to Deggendorf!" Grüßen aus Deutschland von 2 🇨🇦

[@JamesDeese]

A master's class in using a chisel for delicate work!

[@patriciahibbert6139]

Gordon here , Thank you for the info on doing the setup on hinges & dead bolts. Also thank you for the reassurance on going too deep . You saved my bacon lol.

[@JimDockrellWatertone]

Doors were your trade for a while weren't they?....So....pro tips right there.

[@mopemaster]

Good to see you back John! :)

[@jeffw8611]

I think I love the ‘Speaker City’ t-shirt more than the woodworking tutorial!

[@Nono-hk3is]

Thank you for these occasional skills videos.

[@jamiejenn2011]

Great job brother hope your getting some much needed rest. Miss your videos

[@FearsomeWarrior]

Funny seeing the jump back in time. I like the small bench on the short wall that is there now, in the future. More surfaces can be nice. Just have to clear them every few days.

[@2010troyboy]

I learn so much from you John! Thank you!!! Here's my tip too, I use playing cards as shims. They are precise, thin and cheap.😉

[@nafitron]

John, I also notice that you turn your chisel certain ways for certain reasons. I'm only learning this now -- i.e. upside down to prevent it from digging in too deep. Great tutorial!! I love your work and tips. PLEASE keep it up. =)

[@hakantodoo2897]

All Your tutorial are very interesting. I've learned some stuff from You- thanks.

[@sapelesteve]

Nice little tutorial & well done as usual John! 👍👍👏👏😉😉

[@jasonm519]

Thank you for sharing your expertise! I learned a lot!

[@KravchenkoAudioPerth]

Nice John. Done thousands of these by hand and some by machine. Only thing I do differently is use an Olfa knife or a utility knife to trace around the hinge. Thinner blade. Easy to get the hinge thickness depth.

[@peggyt1243]

Happy New Year John. Good to see you back.

[@araa3533]

Glad to see you, it's been a while since you posted a video

[@dougggiereid]

Great lesson. I have had to mount 4 doors in my life and knowing this technique back then would have reduced stress and made the job much easier. Of course the final result would have looked more professional too.

[@lennytheleopard]

Well presented. Thanks

[@bigbee714]

Excellent video John, very informative. I wish I saw this before making the mistakes you showed us how to avoid.

[@jtb1515]

I used to be a locksmith and the cardboard trick is so useful. You can actually put a strip in either the front or back to change the position of the door by about 1/8th of an inch.

[@johnsrabe]

My favorite story from the old days of Canada’s frontier is actually “The Shame of Ragged Mortise,” one of Robt Service’s more obscure poems.

[@lyleharley]

Hey John, What's up with the reflection on the hinge when you are first drilling the location hole? Some one you know?

[@AngeloSolomons]

If I'm not mistaken, I have seen a similar reflection in other videos aswell.

[@philshock3805]

Methinks John has a thing for Scarlett Johansson. :) He's done the same in other videos. Good catch -- I missed it first go around.

[@theatreed16]

@@philshock3805 lol its the long game

[@glenpiro313]

Was about to ask this very question and said to myself “check the comments first”. Thank you

[@JBuck-cu7xd]

@@philshock3805 I thought it was Majorie Taylor Green?!

[@binnsbrian]

Great video

[@davelowe1977]

Have you made this video before? I just got major deja vu.

[@chrisp7957]

Very nice. Thanks

[@walktxrn]

Like these mid-week videos

[@johnanderson8096]

Learned A Lot... Thank You!!!

[@aqueousone]

Excellent! You’ve convinced me to buy a router.

[@juanoramo]

Key to this is a very sharp chisel, don't try I with a dull one.

[@GregsGarage]

Master class!

[@justinjones9255]

Good content.

[@jebowlin3879]

Wish i had this a few years ago when i was recutting the shallow for a strike plate, it would look better, oh well, live and learn :D

[@jamesdotzler6571]

So this was a super helpful video but I just gotta ask. WHERE DID THE FACE COME FROM ON THE HINGE

[@Millworkstudio]

Nice technique 👍

[@lohikarhu734]

John, the "much more than audio" guy!

[@RBallarddesigns]

Good info sir! Love the videos

[@raulc398]

What did you do to yourself??you look so Young!Cheers from Toronto!!!Do send the recipe!!

[@dragonwaterforge]

Awsome I struggle with this

[@Brian-dr2yi]

I think with the ball catch I would have drilled out the big hole in the middle first. Incase it was a bit off you reference the screws off of that

[@markhenry2826]

Well done…

[@thomasgronek6469]

thanks for the tips. Am I crazy, or is there a reflection of a face wen you drilling the first hole for the hinge ?

[@thomasloi5290]

Then I'm crazy too.😂

[@jenniferwhite6089]

NO, NO carpentry is done with a chain saw? John was off of his coffee when he did the video i am sure he does it with a chain saw as the rest of them wanna-be door professional people did the same way the doors would not open? john awesome video i am now wondering if the samurai carpenter know what be doing to wish the the Matias Wandel channel does more the one video a year

[@Alendil]

Router plane?

[@wilfredfontenot2213]

I have been trying to access your website with no luck did it change or is it out I have tried on 2 different computers I want to purchase some plans

[@JaceMann77]

Is that Scarlet Johansson’s face on the hinge at 0:43?

[@jaypee07747]

What's the story with that FACE reflection in the hinge at 0:42?

[@danieldai1000]

You didn't post for a month... I was wondering

[@EDVDompteur]

I'm puzzled about the reflexion of a womans(?) head between the drilled hole and your thumb at 0:42. How is it possible? Do you have a ghost in your workshop?

[@regularguy9264]

The shame comes if you get a door that binds as you close it due to hinge alignment issues. I prefer to mark with the knife as well to stop this from happening. For only one door, my preference is to hog out most of the material free hand with the router and finish with the chisel though, …if I have the router handy.

[@ravenlemarque1401]

Whose face was that on the hinge when you drilled the first hole?!

[@GumbootZone]

The other trick is to make sure you use a properly sharp chisel.

[@kleinisfijn]

Don't they have hinges with rounded corners where you life?

[@KipdoesStuff]

they do but we are allowed to buy an hinge that suits the job.

[@kleinisfijn]

@@KipdoesStuff Then why is everyone squaring up the corners after using a router template? Personal preference for extra work?

[@pg-mtl8815]

I'd like to see a video on how deep to set your hinge into the mortice. Hint: you have to optimize for leaf thickness, barrel diameter and desired gap around the closed door. I can tell you the best depth is not always making the leaf flush. Similarly, butting up the barrel to the corner of the door is not optimal in my humble opinion. A quarter inch offset swings the door out more smoothly. Finally note that optimal doors are not square on the sides. a slight bevel makes them work better especially in old creaky houses. And please share your thoughts on these points. Still some awesome tricks from John in this video. I learned a lot watching. Thank you John.

[@KipdoesStuff]

You do realize he hung doors professionally for a few decades? All your advice is for doors without square openings or openings were made the wrong size.

[@pg-mtl8815]

@@KipdoesStuff I've run into problems with hinges. That's why I asked my questions.

[@ErinIsBlueBlue]

Beautiful execution !

[@rileyesmith]

anyone else see the face at 0:41?

[@kryptik0]

I swear I am not high but I see an image of Scarlett Johansson when he drills the holes for the hinge.

[@cbanks7777]

Was that an image of Scarlett Johansson?

[@Brakken99]

Ummm.. “Shut up Donny!”

[@ironwood1621]

John, why the image of a blonde guy on the hinge?

[@TheScottyDoList]

Just gonna leave this here 😔

[@LordThree]

Perfect! This is exactly the tutorial I needed, exactly when I needed it!

[@saml7610]

Yeah my wife is making me hang a door today. Right as I was about to get up and go do it, this popped up in my feed. John must be psychic because this was perfectly timed for me.

[@Lemon_Jackassss]

Gotta love it when that happens :)

[@LordThree]

Sam L EXACTLY the same situation! I have a door that opens the wrong way. I need to put it on the other side and muck out the hinge work. I went to harbor freight and bought some chisels (the kids have my good kit) and drill bits. I’ve been putting it off for 3 days- this came at the perfect time!

[@PaulAdamsTheHandmadeFisherman]

even though i have done this lots of times i learnt some great new tips,thanks

[@RedSnakeGT500]

Face reflection on the hinge at 0:40? 🧐

[@Miranda-cw9hq]

Very neat result which once again shows that patience pays off with woodwork! And a clear, detailed explanation which leaves no doubt, as always. Thanks a million!

[@scott8351]

Great tutorial John, that will come in handy when I add a hinge on a future project. I was thinking a router plane would be helpful for this, but you showed it's not needed. I still want a router plane to fine tune tenons to fit a mortise, but I know you don't have one from watching all your videos and you get by just fine.

[@Wordsnwood]

I'm embarrassed to admit I was 8 minutes into this before realizing something looked off about the background. 👍👍

[@-fazik-3713]

There is no shame in going in too deep!

[@DesertBumWoodWorkn]

Good info on the hinge install, ok, now lets talk about the female image on the hinge when drilling the center hole.

[@TheGrayMatters]

Nice video. Installed doors professionally for many years and that was good technique. Interestingly, like you pointed out, most commercial hinge packs came with the cardboard shims inside the packaging.

[@DanielThibodeau2]

You could use your marking gauge to mark the thickness of hinge

[@coffeelazuly]

Brilliant!! what I like about you and your Chanel is that you really teach us how make the things simple, without trying to Show Up a fancy tools or even trying to sell the amazon link to the followers as the vast majority of KZbin woodworking Chanels does, instead of that you sell your owns creations or plans, thank you to share! Gracias mi Amigo!!

[@carenclemmons5002]

Thanks for the freshened constructive remake. You make a task look like an unfamiliar hand could actually achieve success. Helps me just suck the fear back and go for it. You’re easy talking reference to defining areas for caution really help emphasize that the scope of practice can turn ones fumbling into finesse, thus improving my elementary woodworking skills. Thanks for making such good videos and hanging in there with your own lightness of internet parlay. Just leave the poo at the door attitude works for me.

[@disklamer]

5:14 yup, standard practice since forever, cardboard, shims, folded paper, some cotton, masking tape, whatever is on hand.

[@BHEagle2024]

hold on a minute..Why was Scarlett Johansson's face on the hinge @40 seconds lmaooo

[@spacewolfjr]

What's with that weird face when you were drilling?

[@hen1ek]

Is there some face ... 0:42? Why ? :)

[@thisisnotmyname91]

Better shim material would be old hotel key cards. Cardboard tends to compress.

[@3rdaxis649]

I like that bit, need to make one of those for sure:)

[@stevenrwh]

Scarlett Johansson?

[@lalongcarabine]

Instead of cardboard, I make shims out of aluminum when shimming a hinge. Aluminum cans make a great source for aluminum for this purpose.

[@gaz1967]

Use marking guages for consistency when cutting in hinges by hand.

[@wolfman75]

Thank you John!!! Great info!!!! 👍😎😃🤘

[@troywaller77]

Great Job and I learned so much just watching this video alone. Thanks. As I new to this channel ... What is the story behind the ScarJo images?

[@jucepineda]

Excelentes enseñanzas! Gracias.

[@CoachKotseba]

excellent! thank you!

[@herbfreeman5138]

How do decide which way the bevel on your chisel should be Pointed when removing material?

[@FreeRentMoney]

Very nice video. Thank you! Learned a lot.

[@decespugliatorenucleare3780]

why not dremel it from the side?

[@robemich1]

Ok, what the headshot that shows up under your drill at 0:44? I’ve been watching you for years and never noticed anything like that.

[@jaayjones5937]

Helpful video, re the cardboard. I keep a deck of cards in the shop, they're great for shims or spacers.

[@utubeifuwantto]

Why don't you use a marking gauge for the long edges?

[@peterhamilton8430]

Love the 'shame' comment ! Thanks John, learnt some great tips there.

[@nicolemiller89]

0:42 what’s with the face in the hinge 😮

[@serdaroncel2883]

I saw Scarlett Johansson on the hinge! 0:42

[@NSResponder]

This is way too much work. Just route it out and square up the corners with a very sharp chisel.

[@MandoFettOG]

This is excellent, thank you