Construction help, please!

[Obliviax]

I am installing these new screens in my screened in porch called "fasttrack". However, the old system had these door jamb thingies that get in the way of me installing these 1.5" by 1.5" fasteners. So, I have to remove a few 2" sections of the door jamb, without damaging the integrity of the structure that is left, in order to screw in the fasteners.

Anybody have any good ideas on how to take 2" sections off the door frame? I was thinking about using a dremel or saw to cut 2" lengths and then prying them off with a claw or screw driver.

I need to cut the center piece that sticks up in this picture illustration below.

Thanks!!!

 

[Fayette_LION]

Obli, those appear to be door stops, the squared piece that

stops the door when you close it. If so, those are nailed on. can you pry it up a little and get some space between it and the structural piece of wood? If so, you can use your circular saw or a small saws-all but will have to be careful not to damage the other wood. You will have to put some extra nails in to hold the cut ends.

 

[Peetz Pool Boy]

If I understand your problem, you're on the right track. I'm assuming

That this jamb material was used on the top, sides and bottom of the existing screened openings?

I further assume that you just need to "notch" the raised center part if the existing jamb at whatever spacing the new screen clips require.

You'll need one of those multi-function tools that vibrates/oscillates instead of rotates. Dremel makes both types so I don't know which you have.. Harbor freight has a decent one for $20 ($15 with coupon).

http://t.harborfreight.com/power-tools/oscillating-tools/oscillating-multifunction-power-tool-62302.html

You'll also need one of these wood cutting blades

http://t.harborfreight.com/1-38-in-high-carbon-steel-multi-tool-plunge-blade-61816.html


Mark along the jamb where you need the clips and thus need to notch the raised portion of the jamb. Make two cuts perpendicular into the excess jamb material and then cut parallel to the jamb face between where you made the perpendicular cuts and the excess jamb material should come righ out. It will be tedious, but should go relatively quickly.

This post was edited on 3/30 2:03 PM by Peetz Pool Boy

 

[Peetz Pool Boy]

if it's a nailed on strip of wood, he should be able to pry the strips off

,and pad then just install his clips without reusing or reinstalling the raised stop material. It is t clear whether this thin strip is held in place with nails or is part if the actual jamb.

 

[Class of 67]

My layman handyman comments:

It would appear you need to cut through the wood strip attached to the jamb that acts to close any gap between the door and jamb when the door is closed. Assuming that this is the case, there are no structural issues in cutting pieces out. The strip is attached with finish nails. You may have to add new nails above and below your cuts to assure the strips remain properly attached. You probably know all this already. Now for how to make the cuts. Any saw that you can adjust the depth to precisely the depth of the strip will minimize damage to the jamb proper. A circular saw could be too unwieldy to do this. I'm not sufficiently familiar with a rotary tool wood cutting attachment to know if a depth adjustment can be made, but that tool would probably be easier to handle for this effort. If you have a manual jamb saw (link), you might even be able to make the cuts carefully by hand. Even if you make some unintended scratches to the jamb, a little filler, sanding and painting will render them invisible. I would use a putty knife to pry off the cut section, because it will likely do the least damage. Should layers of paint obstruct this method, you may have to go with a tougher tool. The latter may cause some damage, but, again, repair should be straight forward.

This post was edited on 3/30 2:16 PM by Class of 67

jamb saw

 

[bjf1984]

If you don't want to have to go out and buy a specific tool.......you could probably just make a little "jig", maybe a foot or so of 2X4, with strips of thickness equal to the piece you want to cut out on either end....with space in the middle equal to the width of the piece you are trimming out (basically, a mirror image of the jamb).

Set your circular saw to a depth equal to the 2X4 and the thin strip.....mark off where you want the notches....then just slide the jig along the jamb, and trim out the pieces you need to notch.

Probably take 10 minutes to make up the jig, then you can trim out all the notches in just a few minutes.

 

[Obliviax]

thanks guys/gals/transgendered

I very much appreciate it. Since I can put these anywhere (as long as they are within two feet of eachother) I plan to avoid the nails and try to keep what is left for structural integrity (and laziness).

 

[Obliviax]

that's right...but I don't have to take the whole thing up

and I can avoid the nails/screws because they only have to be ~ 2 feet apart. I want to leave what is left because it will provide a little structural integrity (1x4 between panels of screen). So I am going to cut 2" out every 2 feet or so and avoid the nails.

 

[Nittany.Lion]

old school way... hammer and chisel***

***

 

[thecoolestfish]

^^^ Everything Phyrsty says, except....

...get this one:
http://www.harborfreight.com/power-tools/oscillating-tools/variable-speed-oscillating-multifunction-power-tool-61219.html

It's worth the extra $17.

It's comes with a carrying case (at least it did when I bought it, don't see anything written about a carrying case now though), a handful of "blades" -- including the one you will need for this job -- and it's variable speed.

 

[CF LION]

Ooo, that just made my Father's Day wish list *

 

[JR4PSU]

This tool would be your friend in this situation.

Dremel

Multi-Max

 

[mOOse_44]

Damn

I almost bought one of those at home depot for over $100. I'm glad i read this post. Going to pick one up now.