Ripping, Grooving and Drawing

• 1). Set the table saw fence at 4 1/2-inches for a 2X4 wall--6 1/2 inches for a 2X6 wall--with drywall on both sides of it. Rip all of the 1X6 material (1X8 material for 2X6 walls) to this width. This is the door frame material.
  
  
• 2). Measure the width of the opening in the wall where the door is going to be hung. Measure and mark a piece of the lumber you cut in Step 1 to this length. Cut it with the electric miter saw.
  
  
• 3). Measure the height of the door if it is not a standard door. Otherwise, mark the frame material at 81 3/8 inches and cut to length with the electric miter saw.
  
  
• 4). Place the three pieces of the cut door frame material on the worktable. Measure in the thickness of the door from the long edges of each board, and make several marks. Place the straightedge of the marks and draw lines on each of the three pieces. Next, make several "X" marks on the wide side of the division made by the lines. This marks which side of the line the doorstop material will be installed.
  
  
• 5). Measure the width of the door. Place the top piece cut in Step 2 on the worktable. Mark the center of it. Add 1/4-inch to the width of the door, divide that number by two and measure out from the center mark in both directions and make a mark. Place the carpenter's square on these marks and draw a line across the width of the lumber.
  
  

Cut, Glue, Secure, Done

• 1). Set up the 3/4-inch dado blades on the table saw. Measure from the end of the top piece of the frame material to the line drawn in the previous step and set the fence of the table saw so that the measurement falls on the left side of the dado blades.
  
  
• 2). Set the height of the dado blades to cut a groove 3/8-inch deep. This measurement needs to be as precise as possible as it will affect the gap between the door and the top of the frame. Check the width of the dado cut with a piece of the frame material. Make adjustments as necessary.
  
  
• 3). Drill two countersink holes from the backside of the grooves cut with the dado blades. Drill two per groove. Apply wood glue inside the grooves, insert the 81 3/8-inch frame material into the grooves of the top piece and secure them with the drywall screws.
  
  
• 4). Cut and install the door stop material on the inside of the frame. Secure it to the side of the lines with the "X" mark. Be certain the flat edge of the door stop material is facing the side where the door will be installed.