Shortening bifold doors


  #1  
Old 01-20-02, 07:53 PM
juliamarie
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Shortening bifold doors

Had new flooring installed. Bifold doors are about 1/8 inch too long, because of bottom pin. What would be the best way to take 1/8 inch off. Doors are probably luan with slats.
 
  #2  
Old 01-21-02, 03:33 AM
Tn...Andy
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Assuming you have already adjusted the door up the max by turning the bottom pin aduster........

Remove doors, lay on a set of sawhorses backside up. Remove the pivot pin from the end panel bottom...you may have to "dig" it out with a small screwdriver...

Mark a line about 1/4" to 1/2" up from the bottom across the door panels.......1/8" is pretty hard to saw, too small.....and saw with a circular saw. With the backside up, any splintering with occur on the backside of the doors where you will not see it later.

Put your pin back in.....you MAY have to drill the hole a little deeper since you removed some material from the bottom, but often the hole was overdrilled to start and you can get away with this much removal

Reinstall.
 
  #3  
Old 01-30-02, 08:03 AM
Guest
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If you haven't cut the door already follow these simple steps to keep from ruining the door because of splintering.

1. Use a good trim blade on your saw. Will cost you a little but will save you from having to replace your doors.

2. Mark your line then clamp a straight board accross the door to use as a guide for your saw. This way the cut will be perfectly straight.

3. Get some blue painters tape. Put a strip of this over the line you will be cutting on. Make sure your guide is secured prior to this point.

4. Cut at a slow pace. You only have one chance to get it right.

5. After you finish your cut. Remove the tape slowly and you should have a clean, straight cut.

I found out the hard way on this, but got it right later. This worked flawlessly on the next 15 doors in my house.
 
  #4  
Old 02-04-02, 09:55 AM
Davef15
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last writer - definitly the way to go. An alternative would be to use a router with a straight bit and a guide if you have one. I would add however that the bottoms of the doors should be sealed after you cut them.
 
  #5  
Old 02-08-02, 08:54 PM
Guest
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Yes, however that takes a bit more skill and knowledge of how routers and the different bits work.

Good call on the sealing though.

That will keep any problems in the future from showing up.
 
 

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