-MIKE- wrote:
A while back I picked up the original version of Fastcap's "Knuckle
Bender" shown here...
https://www.rokhardware.com/blog/whats-that-wednesday-fastcap-knuckle-bender-3-1-tool/

In my handyman work I run across hundreds of doors that are either
improperly installed, have sagged due to house settling, or have swollen
and are rubbing against the frame.
I can attest that the vast amount of doors I fix are due to improper
installation by lazy and/or ignorant installers who are getting paid by
the door and don't give a rat's ass if it's done correctly, or simply
were never trained how to do it right.

I'm put in situations where I must give the home-owner the option of me
removing the door and installing it correctly, which is an expensive
option. Or spending 10 minutes bending the hinges to correct a crooked
hang and possibly another 10-15 minutes readjusting/chiseling out the
strike plates to compensation for the new door angle/height.

You can guess which one makes for a more satisfied client. :-)

The original Knuckle Bender has served me well and is worth its weight
in gold. However, there were a couple of design flaws which made the
tool a bit less than perfect. It didn't work on all diameter hinges.
It could damage the casement molding at times because of its square
profile. It was difficult to move down the hinge when bending because
the previously bent knuckle moved the tool out of line with the rest of
the hinge.

Even with those flaws, it was a great tool and served me well for dozens
of door adjustments. The business end that fits over the hinge started
to bend out over time, so I emailed the company and asked them about
their warranty. Their reply simply asked for my mailing address.
Today, this version arrived via UPS.

https://www.fastcap.com/product/knuckle-bender

I look forward to trying it out, which I get to do on a job tomorrow for
a client who has a few crooked doors needing adjustment. It seems like
a pretty simple modification of a common tool, but kudos to the inventor
for perfecting it. I can tell just from visual inspection that it fixes
some of the flaws in the original design. I'll find out tomorrow how
well it works in real world application.

Thank you, Fastcap, for standing behind your products and sending me
this free upgrade.



Got my knuckle-duster today and it really works! Two doors in a new
addition have always sagged a little. Not enough to really scrub, but
a tight fit at the top. Pulled the pin and started bending the top
door knuckle and the hinge popped off the door. The screws were only
1/2" long. Went and got some 1 1/4" replacement screws and bent the
knuckles a bit and now both doors look great. Suggest you check the
screw length on new doors before using the bender.

--
G Ross