Longer door hinge screws don't have enough reach on the house side, now what?

[RAMd®d]

If you use the toothpick method, drill the pilot hold to the proper depth, then put the toothpick in to shim the screw. If the hole is true, the screw will follow. It might be the tiniest bit cockeyed, but if the head fits the countersunk portion, error, if at all, should be minimal.

If you don't let the dowel and glue dry properly, it may spin if you drill with too much speed and push too hard.

But let it set up, drill the pilot hole with light pressure, and you should have no problem when putting the screw in the dowel.

[RE:up]

deckeda wrote:
I (the deadbolt uses a key on the inside as well, not a lever, and the key is is not kept in the door.)

That is a safety issue. In this part of the country it’s not allowed via building codes. What if you need to make a quick emergency exit and can’t get to the key?

Also, make sure the screws you get are long enough to bite into the jack stud at least an inch.

[Jimmypoo]

I didn’t read every post, but when I removed an old front door down to the brick, when I rehung it, I used
the longest drywall/deck screws I could find to secure the door to the house (thru trim, and patched),
including thru the hinges.

Where needed, I supplemented the jack with a 1” strip with Liq Nails & screws of its own (Liq Nails to prevent
stress splintering) for one hinge (there was an odd set-up to do with a plumbing vent/line from basement).

Whoever wants to replace that door with one that includes side-lights will need C4 to get it off the house.

I probably used the long drywall deck screws every 9” or less (top of door frame had 3)— as the house was rural,
and the original solid wood door had been fractured from a break-in when it was empty.

The owner installed giant flat ¼” x 1” shaped steel plate 12" long "j-hooks" on each side of the door,
(like the type you might hang a bike upon, but you could hang an axle on these…) and a 1” x 4” by 4 feet long
solid steel bar like a railroad crossing! to keep the door secure (and installed an alarm system) which I
inherited upon purchase.

SO… the kids just broke the back window instead to get in and drink beer… but the alarm went off.

That 1x4 x 48 steel bar probably weighed 30 pounds.