Bent Hinge

[AllanJ]

In trying to install a non-prehung door, I managed to get one of the hinges on the jamb twisted a little, namely the hinge pin is not perfectly vertical. I know that the door and the jamb will fight each other as a result as the door is opened and closed.

I'm seeking suggestions on how to fix this. I tried putting shims in the screw holes to edge the hinge sidewise into the proper position but the shim simply got rotated to a random position as I re-inserted the screw.

[Wgoodrich]

Hinges are inexpensive. I suggest you go to a lumber store with the old hinge and buy a new hinge that matches the old and reinstall the new hinge, problem solved.

Good Luck

Wg

[AllanJ]

The hinge is not defective or damaged. It's just incorrectly mounted because the screw holes (yes I did drill pilot holes) are slightly in the wrong places.

To be exact, the top edge of the hinge (typical exterior door hinge 4 inches tall) is about a sixteenth of an inch closer to the edge of the door jamb than the bottm edge.

Right now I am thinking of enlarging the mounting holes in the hinge so the screws can stay in their existing holes. Except I haven't figured out a way to keep the hinge from sliding now that the holes are elongated.

Now what happened to the words I used in the title? Not in good taste?

[Mr T]

Dont modify any of the screw holes in the hinge. It will never hold. You need to fix the origional problem.

Remove both hinges and fill the holes with a good quality wood filler that is designed to hold screws. Epoxy based ones are great.. Follow the instructions on the container. I would not rely on this filler to support a door on it's own.. see below.

Double check that the door frame is properly installed, level, plumb (in all directions), square, ect.. Dont skip this step.

Using a tri-square or a marking template. mark out your hinge locations. Double check them! Make sure to measure for your door latch if you are changing the hinge heights. Drill a pilot hole in only 1 or 2 of the screw holes on each hinge. (less holes to repair later). Install your hinges. If the setup works, use at least 2" screws in 2 of the screwholes on each hinge and screw the hinge to your studs. You shold be ok with normal screws on the rest of the holes. You must shim between your door frame and the rough framing or you will mess up your door frame and cause all kind of alignment and binding problems. Use pilot holes all the way into the studs so you dont risk twisting a screw head off. Older framing is known to be a bear to drive about anything into.

If the hinges are mis-installed on the door it will be harder to repair.

Let us know if this is a entry door or solid core, or some other heavy door.

[AllanJ]

Thanks. It's actually an interior door setup so the door is not that heavy.

I started out with perfectly drilled pilot holes, tiny first, then enlarged. It's when I put the hinge on that somehow some screws edged to the left and other screws edged to the right throwing the hinge out of position.

[Mr T]

The hinge may have slipped while you were laying it all out. You can also drill 1 hole and mount the hinge in it. It should stay in place while you drill your other holes and put the screws in .. all one at a time.

Are these hinges set back into the door frame (mortised)? If so were they factory cut or were they cut in by you or someone afterwards? THe factory spots are usually pretty good.