I just had new linoleum installed and I need to re-hang two sets of sliding closet doors. However, the length of one of the doors is now too long (although some of the others oddly enough are fine). The doors are hollow core slide-by doors. Before I get started, the question I have is: assuming it's okay to shave the bottom of the door with a plane, how much can I take off the bottom without worrying about having a problem? Secondly, is it also an option to shave the top of the door instead of OR in addition to the bottom if need be?

 

Check the hangers where they attach to the doors. There may be some adjusting you could do without cutting the doors. Could have gotten out of adjustment when removed from the track. Good luck.

 

Wirepuller,
Thanks for the suggestion. Unfortunately, I already looked at that since the threads to one of the hanging brackets is stripped and I have to move it to hang the door. The door is already raised as high as I can move it with the limitation being the bend in the bracket.
BJ

 

If the doors are 80" tall, I would just guess that they have never been cut before. In that case, you should have about 1 1/8" of solid wood on the bottom to shave off. I'd recommend that you lay them flat, score a fairly deep line on them with a sharp knife (where you want them cut off) and then clamp a straightedge to the doors and cut them with a skilsaw, following the straightedge with the guide of the saw and keeping the teeth of the saw on the side of the knife mark that will be removed. The knife mark keeps the veneer from chipping out, so don't let the blade wander past the line or it will chip.

Removing 1/8" (or more) with a skilsaw is a lot easier than planing, because the vertical stiles don't plane well (end grain). After you've cut, you can ease the sharp edges with sandpaper.

You can probably remove at least 1/2" without worrying about cutting through the bottom plug.