Trace around the hinge. Put your hinge in place on the door and the jamb, and use a carpenters pencil to carefully trace around the hinge. Additionally, make note of the depth of the hinge on the jamb. Double check to make sure that your outlines match the same location on the door and jamb, before moving to the next step. Then, use a box-cutter to score the outline; this will make it easier to cut the mortise.

Cut the mortise. The term ‘cut the mortise’ is the professional term for cutting out the wood in the jamb in the shape of the hinge, so that the hinge will be inset in the jamb and provide more strength and aesthetic appeal. To cut the mortise, you’ll need a very sharp chisel and a hammer. Carefully tap the chisel into the jamb from the side, to remove thin strips of wood. Make sure not to cut the mortise too deep, as this will cause the hinge to become loose over time. Cut out only the outlined area and the marked depth.^[1]

• Using a dull chisel will make it more difficult to cut the mortise, and cause you to use more pressure with the hammer (which could cause a slip).
• If you cut the mortise too deep, you can place a small slip of cardboard in it before installing the hinge.