I’d like to replace several interior doors in my house. The only thing is, I dont know what tools to use to cut those holes where the doorknob and the latching mechanism goes.
In particular that rectangular hole that goes in from the edge of the door, about 4 inches. Also, whats the best way to cut that area where the hinges fit.
I’ve installed prehung doors before, but I just want to replace the doors this time, not the whole frame and everything.
Any help would be appreciated.
These people have good advice on such matters.
Well, you said you weren’t interested in this, but I strongly suggest you use prehung doors.
Ok, you like pain? fine. The easiest way to cut the notches for the hinges is with a special tool. It’s a stamp that’s exactly the size of the hinge. You put it in the right spot, smack it good with a hammer and it’ll cut the outline and edges cleanly for you. Then you take a chisel to remove the wood where the hinge goes. Of course, you don’t need the stamp, you can draw lines and do it manually, but if you do a few doors, you’ll really appreciate the stamp.
I recommend you get a door that’s already predrilled for the door knob, but if pain is still your middle name, you want a cylinder hole drill. The doorknob comes with instructions of where to drill the hole, typically with a template.
The locksets that need a rectangular hole or mortise are called just that “mortise locksets” and require quite a bit more skill to install than your typical cylindrical locksets. Usually a 2 1/8 inch holesaw and a 7/8 or 1 inch spade bit do the trick for the latter.
The mortises for the hinges can be cut out with a chisel and a little patience. Take careful measurements of the hinge locations on the jamb and take your time transferring these measurements to the door’s edge (I like to present the door to the opening and transfer these lines straight from the jamb). Remember to recheck the measurements before you start removing wood for the hinges.
Depending on how many you will be replacing, a router may come in very handy, either to hog out some material shy of the layout lines and then finishing the mortise with a chisel or to use with a hinge template. But a neat job can be accomplished with a sharp chisel and patience.
If your installing standard bedroom or passage knobs.
You will need:
2 1/8 inch hole saw
1 inch hole saw
Drill
Hammer
Chisel
Screwdriver
Optional:
piece of 1 inch diameter wood dowel two inches long and a small headed nail
Drill 2 1/8 hole in door. The center of the hole should be 2 3/8 an inch from the edge of the door. This is the standard backset for residentail knobs. Check the knob package they usually have templates that make it easier.
Also verify the backset. a few rare ducks are 2 3/4 backset.
Drill 1 inch hole in side of door lined up in center of the 2 1/8 hole already drilled.
Tap nail into 1 inch dowel till 1/8 is left showing. Insert non nail side into 1 inch hole. close door. insert chisel or screwdriver. Place on back of dowel tap lightly.
Open door and remove dowel. On the door jam there will be a mark left my the head of the nail.
Drill 1 inch hole in door jamb.
Take latch insert into 1 inch hole in door. Mark the wood behind the latchplate. remove latch and chisel wood out about 1/8 deep. insert latch and make sure is flush. Chisel more if needed. Screw latch to door, and install knob.
Take strike plate, put over hole, mark wood under plate, take plate down chisel wood about 1/8 inch. Install plate with 1 screw tight. Close door and make sure door latches.
If all is well, insert any additional screws and clean up the mess.
Osip 
Also, please refer to your desktop edition of Curses, Oaths, and Generic Swear-Words and make sure you know when and how to use the proper profanity.