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https://www.askthetrades.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl DIY Forum >> Carpentry Questions >> New Door https://www.askthetrades.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1274125794 Message started by Sandy on May 17^th, 2010, 8:49pm

Title: New Door
Post by Sandy on May 17^th, 2010, 8:49pm

I've been asked if I'd think about having a look at "a quick job".

Someone I know is moving house and the new house has a cupboard under the stairs and needs a door making to close it all in. The door needs to match the rest of the panelling and be made from scratch by the sound of it.

Whilst I'm happy with making up a new door, I've never considered one that has a big triangle out of the top (in order for it to fit under the stairs). Again, I'm ok with the bottom and mid rails, but the top rail isn't as straight forward.

I think I've got 2 options: The first is what might be regarded as cheating and simply biscuit jointing the top rail, or alternatively, the traditional M&T joint.

Because of the diagonal angle of the top rail to the stiles, the top most joint will have very little material available to make a tenon. What option/s are there for the best joint for a fairly tight angle like this (whilst it is a cupboard under the stairs and will be used very infrequently, the owner is a woman and will think nothing of hanging every object known to man on either the handles, hooks and whatever other form of hanger that can be found, so needs to be a solid joint).

Thanks.

Alex.

Title: Re: New Door
Post by londonman on May 17^th, 2010, 9:37pm

Loose tenon?

Biscuits?

Pocket screws ?

Title: Re: New Door
Post by big_all on May 17^th, 2010, 9:50pm

the first thing i would suggest is introduce a flat off at least 1ft at the top
points on doors not only give a weak point it means the back off the point needs to be removed assuming your hinging the longer edge

second why not make you door built up in layers from a 12mm mdf base with 6mm for the raised panel and 12mm for the frame that can be in sections to look like styles and rails or just cut out from one peice
if you want more depth off panels or door thickness use thicker mdf as required