Welcome • User Guide
ToS • Privacy • Canary
Donate • Bugs • License

©2026 Poal.co

1.3K

I have several interior wooden doors that no longer close properly due to settling and swelling of the various components. I've decided my best option is to plane the edges of the doors where they rub against the frame.

I've read a jack plane or belt sander will do the trick. I'm leaning towards a hand plane because I think a belt sander won't give me a straight edge and it could create indentations if I don't know what I'm doing. I don't.

Now I'm seeing all kinds of tools called jack planes, sweetheart planes and various angle planes. What will work for me? I'm not a woodworker, so it may be a single use tool, but who knows.

Thanks!

I have several interior wooden doors that no longer close properly due to settling and swelling of the various components. I've decided my best option is to plane the edges of the doors where they rub against the frame. I've read a jack plane or belt sander will do the trick. I'm leaning towards a hand plane because I think a belt sander won't give me a straight edge and it could create indentations if I don't know what I'm doing. I don't. Now I'm seeing all kinds of tools called jack planes, sweetheart planes and various angle planes. What will work for me? I'm not a woodworker, so it may be a single use tool, but who knows. Thanks!

(post is archived)

You are currently inside a comment thread.
Click here to see all the comments (20).
[–] • 1 pt

First, make sure the hinge screws and pins are tight. You may be surprised.

If so, close the door until it's touching the outside edge of the frame, and run a pencil down the door, from the inside. That's what you gotta remove. It's probably not that much, since the door used to fit. Use a belt sander. 80 grit paper. Stop right before the pencil mark. Close, look at it. Do it some more. Once it fits, run the sander up and down the entire length quickly to even it out, using a finer grit belt (100 or 120).