Things You'll Need:
- Tape measure
- Sharp chisel
- Hammer
- Razor knife
- Screwdriver
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Step 1
Measure along the hinge edge of the door and make marks at 7 inches up from the bottom and 7 inches down from the top. Lay the top hinge below its mark with its pin barrel in contact with the face of the door and scribe the perimeter of the hinge onto the door with a razor knife. Lay the bottom hinge above the bottom mark and scribe it as well. Place the middle hinge equidistant between the other two hinges and scribe it. Remove the hinges.
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Step 2
Score the edge of the door on the scribe lines with the razor knife. Cut only as deep as necessary to receive the thickness of the hinge plate.
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Step 3
Lightly drive the chisel straight down into these cuts with the bevel facing the mortise. Cut completely around the edge of the hinge mortise. Position the chisel 1/4 inch in from the end of the mortise and aligned across the grain. Drive the chisel in to the desired depth of the mortise. Repeat this every 1/4 inch across the whole mortise.
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Step 4
Place the chisel into a cut at the end of the mortise at a shallow angle and drive it along the grain and toward the closest edge. Reverse the chisel and repeat the process at the other end of the mortise. Place the chisel bevel down into this relief and drive it along the grain to the far end of the mortise, effectively scooping out the remaining material. Do not remove more material than necessary. Turn the chisel perpendicular to the grain to finish and flatten the mortise.
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Step 5
Place the hinge into its mortise and check the fit. Small adjustments may be made if the face of the hinge is not flush with the edge of the door by using the chisel across the grain.
