Old timer showed me how to true a door frame with just shims back in 09

I was helping my neighbor's dad fix a sticking door off Menaul, and he pulled out a handful of cedar shims and said 'son, you don't need fancy tools for most of this stuff.' He lined that frame up perfect in about 15 minutes without a single power tool. Has anyone else had a mentor show you a trick that's way simpler than what you see on YouTube now?

2 comments

2 Comments

angelas781mo ago

Oh boy, another "the old ways are better" story. But is truing a door frame really that big of a deal where it needs a whole YouTube tutorial anyway? People act like you need a laser level and a degree to shim a door, when really it's just wedges and a hammer. Not exactly rocket science, right? I mean sure, it's a nice trick, but let's not pretend it's some lost ancient wisdom.

matthewsullivan1mo ago

Have you noticed how much of modern life is just people overcomplicating stuff that used to be common sense? My dad never had a laser anything, and he built a whole addition on our house in the 80s with a chalk line and a level that had a bubble in it. Now youve got folks buying those 200 dollar digital levels for a picture frame and still hanging it crooked. Its the same with cooking, everyone needs a thermometer and a sous vide machine, but my grandmother just touched the meat and knew it was done. I think weve traded actual skill for gear, and its nice when somebody reminds you the old way still works.