How To Fill In Old Door Hinge Mortises

A piece of lumber cut to the size of the lock can be used to fill a mortise.

How to fill in old door hinge mortises.

Take a plain piece of wood the width of your door and cut it down until it fits into the shape left by your former door hinge. Once the wood is the right size glue the inward facing side and then press it into place. Filling a mortise from an old lock is the essential first step to installing a new lock or using the door for other purposes such as a desktop or other use. After all of them were in place i went back with the orbital sander on the sides and top to make sure we were as flat and smooth as can be.

Depending on the inserts used jigs can cut mortises with rounded or squared corners squared corners must be finished later with a chisel. Place the tip of a hinge wing up to the front or back side of the door. There was a slight gap between some of the 2 4 pieces and the door frame so luke came in with some finishing caulk and filled it. Adjust the mortising jig to the proper hinge size and door thickness.

Install or remove the corner inserts as appropriate. After that i gave the whole door two coats of kilz primer. This may include covering over any wood stains left by the hinge.