Installing a Door Hinge Video
Start by marking the area to be cut. Screw the hinge in place with a couple of screws. Use a razor knife, instead of a pencil, to mark the outline. Tilt the blade in and carefully scribe a line around the door hinge. Don't cut too deeply, but just enough to provide a guideline.
After removing the hinge, use a wood chisel to cut the wood. Be careful using and handling the wood chisel. The edge is very sharp. The beveled edge should point down when using the chisel. Carefully use a hammer to tap the head of the chisel to start cutting. Don't cut too deep. The hinge is not that thick.
Once the recess is cut, put the door hinge in place to check the fit. By cutting to the razor blade line, you will have a perfect fit for the hinge. A screwdriver, utility knife and wood chisel are the only tools required for this project.
Tim built custom homes and did ultra-custom remodeling for 20+ years before launching his Ask the Builder media presence. He was selected as one of the Big 50 by Remodeling magazine in 1993. This award gave birth to Ask the Builder in October 1993. Tim also operates https://DrawPlumbingPlans.com. His @askthebuilder YouTube channel was the first home improvement channel on YouTube.