Trim router vs full size router for door hanging, which side you on?

I had to hang six solid core interior doors last week and got stuck deciding between dragging out my full size Porter Cable router or just using my little trim router with a template bit. I went with the trim router because it felt faster to grab and move around, and honestly it cut the hinge mortises clean but I fought with bit depth consistency on a couple spots. Now I got some chatter on one mortise and had to fill it with wood putty. My buddy says I should have just used the full size for all six doors, says the weight keeps it steady. Which one do you guys reach for when you got a bunch of doors to do?

2 comments

2 Comments

milap3513d ago

You ever try taping a shim on top of your template to act as a depth stop? That's what I do when I run trim routers on hinges. I hang doors all the time, and my Makita trim router is my go-to. The little weight means I can move it around each hinge cut without getting tired. Full size router sits too heavy in my hands and I end up overcutting or leaving a rough edge. I just set my depth with a scrap piece and a hinge, then clamp a level across the face of the door as a straightedge for the template. No chatter that way.

troy_adams13d ago

Wait, you taped a shim to your template as a depth stop? That is honestly brilliant and I'm kinda mad I never thought of it. I've been using tape or shims to set the bit depth but never thought to attach it to the template itself. I usually just run the trim router freehand with a marking knife for hinge outlines and that's where I get bit chatter if I'm not careful. Definitely stealing this idea for next time.