How to Cut Off a Solid Core Door

Find out how to cut off a solid core door. Get tips on using safety glasses and an old carbide saw blade, which will cut right through the staples in the door.

LESLIE: Next up, our caller has a great name. We’ve got Leslie on the line who’s got a question about cutting down a door.

Welcome, Leslie.

CALLER LESLIE: We have one door that I need to cut down. Goes into the basement.

TOM: OK.

CALLER LESLIE: It’s also a six-panel, solid-core oak door.

TOM: Right.

CALLER LESLIE: When we went to cut it off, there seems to be staples or some kind of small metal pieces inside the – there’s about 8 inches. They go across the bottom. We were cutting that off or a portion of it: 6 inches of it. And it’s totally ruined a saw blade.

TOM: Right.

CALLER LESLIE: Do you have any suggestions as how to cut off a solid-core door?

TOM: Yeah, having the staples inside of that is not unusual. Depends on how – they might have been used in the manufacturing process. I’ll be willing to bet that you used a non-carbide saw blade, because had you used a carbide saw blade, it would have probably cut through the metal and all.

CALLER LESLIE: OK. So just use a carbide.

TOM: Use a carbide blade and safety glasses and not a great carbide blade, because it will ruin the blade. But generally, it’ll cut right through something like that.

CALLER LESLIE: Alright. Thank you so much for your help.

TOM: You’re welcome, Leslie. Thanks so much for calling us at 888-MONEY-PIT.