Trimming door bottoms

[ajrobb]

I've just used a hand saw to trim a pine panel door in-situ for a new engineered hardwood floor and am pleased with the result. Awkward working angles but cheap tools.

BEFORE laying the floor but AFTER laying fibre board matting, I taped the threshold strip to the back of a flooring plank (covered the strip in masking tape to protect it from gaffer glue, taped to plank using gaffer tape and then two more layers of masking tape on top).

Holding everything in place with weights, I cut the bottom of the door using the prepared threshold strip as a guide. I kept the saw just cutting the top layer of masking tape.

I'd be prepared to have a go with the threshold strip taped to the back of a piece of carpet (not shag pile though). Beware rising hinges and non-vertical door frames.

I have to trim about 3/8 inch (10 mm) off 2 door bottoms to allow clearance for a new carpet. I think this could be done with :-

a) circular saw
b) jig saw
c) handsaw
d) power planer
e) hand plane

What are the pros and cons of these methods - which is best or is there another better way ?
If using a power saw (circular or jig) how do you avoid wandering off line in the last few inches when any guide marks are not visible ?