Found a cheap trick for trimming door jambs without a jamb saw

I was on a job last week in a 1970s split level and the door jambs were all over the place. My jamb saw blade was dull and I didn't have a spare. So I grabbed a utility knife with a fresh blade and scored the jamb about 1/4 inch deep where I needed to cut. Then I took a pair of cheap tin snips and snapped the jamb right along the score line. It left a clean edge that barely needed sanding. Whole house took me maybe 20 extra minutes versus the saw. Has anyone else used tin snips for this or am I late to the party?

3 comments

3 Comments

charles6401mo ago

Man that's a GREAT trick. I did something similar on a set of old oak jambs in a 1920s bungalow a few months back. My jamb saw was basically useless and I was in a pinch. Used a sharp utility blade and some aviation snips I had in my truck. Worked PERFECTLY. The score line snapped so clean I barely even touched it with sandpaper. It's Definitely faster than fighting a dull blade through old hard wood. You are absolutely NOT late to the party, you just found a smarter way.

the_thomas1mo ago

That line about barely touching it with sandpaper really stuck with me because that's always the tell if something worked right or not. I read an old framing article once where they said the trick is to let the wood tell you where it wants to break, then just help it get there. Sounds like you listened to that oak and it paid off big time.

the_terry1mo ago

You ever try using a putty knife to help with the snap? I score the line deep with a utility blade, then run a stiff putty knife along the score to kinda lever it apart... works like a charm on tricky grain. Makes a real clean edge, no splintering at all.