How to Fix a Door That Sticks

Tom knows that cutting through the layers of paint on this old door means he'll likely have to sharpen the plane's blade, called an iron, when the job is done. Luckily the finish is lead free, so slicing through it will not send hazardous particles flying. "If it were lead paint, I'd first want to use a chemical stripper," he says.

Curls of pine tumble to the floor as he runs the plane at a slight angle in long, smooth strokes along the length of the door. The plane iron leaves the edges sharp, so Tom rounds them slightly with some sandpaper to help them better accept paint.