Installing A Door Slab

CookeCarpentry

Today, I was installing a door slab in an existing jamb for a customer who is acting as his own GC - I am doing all of the finish carpentry on the project. While mortising the hinges, the painters on site seemed overly impressed that I installed just the slab, instead of a whole new jamb, etc.

Now, this is the second time in less than a month that I have installed a slab door and had people remark on how impressive that is. The first time was the guy at the lumber yard that I ordered the slab door from - he kept quoting me a pre-hung unit, and when I finally convinced him I was not crazy, and only wanted a slab...after a few moments of silence he goes "wow...you must be really good."

Am I out of touch as far as this technique is concerned? How many of you still install slab doors (provided the jamb/opening is worth saving)?

I have to admit I am puzzled at the recent comments regarding how difficult this task is...

Tom Struble

i do a few every now and then ,here are some bucks i built for when i do

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Tom

loneframer

Learned this skill from my dad at age 16. Just did an entire condo unit a few months ago

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"Walking the fine line between production and perfection"



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mikec

I have the same hinge jig and router as you loneframer, but don't have that nice lockset jig yet, still use a cheapo. I actually love doing slabs, they usually go pretty quick, and it can be good $$$$

WarriorWithWood

I just did my sisters house about 6 months ago. 12 interior slabs in 2 1/2 days. I usually don't do work for family, but she couldn't find anyone to do the doors without hanging prehungs. Although she probably didn't look all that hard.

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-Dennis
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loneframer

That is a Kwikset jig that my dad handed down to me recently, for that job actually. I learned how to install locksets with this jig about 28 years ago.

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"Walking the fine line between production and perfection"



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Gus Dering

My mom was helping my dad hang slab doors when she was pregnant with me. I came out the chute knowing how to use that jig.

woodtradesman

You must have learned from an old timer, I suspect a lot of this new finish carpenter can't hang a door in an existing jamb for jack and GC's and other trades are getting accustomed to seeing inferior skill, for example so called finish carpenter that hang and only hang pre-hung doors.

nj handyman

how long does it take you guys to hang a slab?

do you use templates, or a story board to match hinge to jamb?

just asking because it always seems to take me about two hours by the time i shim the hinges this way and that. talking about old construction here, not new.

any techniques you willing to share?

genecarp

I still hang my own slabs when the job calls for it. A good test for a carpenter who says he is a finish guy would be to mock up a door opening, throw the legs out of plumb, the floor and head out of level, give him a slab with 3 hinges, come back in 1 hour, see what you got. G

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loneframer

I measured the existing doors to get hinge locations as well as handlesets. This house had settled so badly that some of the doors had to be cut out of square at the top to match the jambs, which isn't really out of the ordinary, but 5/8" on one door in particular. I pre machined all the slabs in about 6 hours. (15 slabs) Took 2 men 10 hours to fit, hang and install with handlesets and bumpers. (cutting on ground level and installing on 2nd floor unit. Total 26 man hours for 15 slabs.

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"Walking the fine line between production and perfection"



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Leo G

I do it all the time. Usually have to line up the hinge mortise on the jamb and then match them on the slab.

Time-wise, probably about the same 2 hours it takes you. Depends on the condition of everything. If the door fits properly and no fitting is required then about an hour to hour 20.

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nj handyman

yeah, but leo,

that's two hours after i've screwed up the first two hours.

neolitic

If it's not totally FUBAR,
I just use the old door
for my story pole.

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greg24k

Lone, I think Gus is trying to tell you something

Attached Images

 

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loneframer

Gus, if that's your mom, she's my kind of girl.

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"Walking the fine line between production and perfection"



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loneframer

Who taught you how to polish the knob?

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"Walking the fine line between production and perfection"



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rbsremodeling

we do it often. I had a younger carpenter that has been with me about 5 years put one in today. It was a beast. I watched him on and off for about 4 hours. He did very well.

The force is strong with this one

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neolitic

Obi-Wan-Rory.

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rbsremodeling

LOL no credit due to me.

My oldest lead carpenter taught him well.

I just did not fire him on a few occasions that could have gone either way

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