Mary,
Here's a suggestion to get a "true" 2 inches on the wood
for your opening perimeters.
Since you aren't needing a lot of wood, this wouldn't be very
costly. Get, or make sure you already have, good quality 1x2s or
2x2s [whichever size you want/need] that give you a good true
1&1/2 inches dimension, then go to the aisle in Lowes [Or other
store, but I know Lowes has this.] that has the really nice clear
pine and oak and poplar boards. Underneath those, they have
small thin boards [technically known as 'deal'] in those woods.
Get the poplar boards in these. They come in true 1/4 and 1/2
inch thicknesses and 2,3 and 4ft lengths, as well as various
widths [1&1/2 to 4 inches I believe.] Get the 1&1/2 wide by
the 1/2 inch thickness needed and laminate/glue it to the nominal 1x2 or
2x2 [Which should be 1&1/2 inches on their "2" dimension - always
measure to be certain, as they can sometimes vary by 1/32-1/16th-1/8th
inches in dimension sometimes.] and you'll end up with a true 2 inches
in that one dimension - here it'd result in a 1&1/2 by a true 2 inch member
if using a 2x2, or an "L" or "T" shaped member with a 1&1/2 inch leg, and
a 2 inch leg. [If using a 1x2 <really 3/4 x 1&1/2> and gluing the 1/2 inch
dimension of the poplar deal board to the 1&1/2 inch dimension of the 1x2]
There'd be no ripping wood with a circular saw using this method,
just cross cuts. Ripping a length of wood is a much more intense
and dangerous and harder thing to do than crosscutting. It is best
safely done on a table saw, especially when trying for small dimensions.
It is really hard to do free hand with a circular saw, even if you have
a guide of some sort on the saw. Since you don't have a table saw,
see if this suggestion could work for you. It'd be a ton safer too.
This approach would mesh with your intent to make your methods
be so simple anyone could do them. That ties in to a build approach
I've been mulling over which is based on a DIY home building method
developed in the ~1970s by British architect Walter Segal. His approach
[
http://www.selfbuild-central.co.uk/cons ... -and-beam/ ]
was to come up with a method that'd allow anyone with basic hand
and power tools to build their own home. It is a form of light post and beam
construction that uses materials in their basic forms as they come from
the lumberyard/supply source with next to no cutting or trimming, bolting
the frame together etc. ... check out the link's article if you're curious.
As an example: Using that approach on a 2in foam walled TD/TTT door
build here, you could get the 1&1/2inch x 1/2inch x 3ft long poplar boards and
use them full sized [as they come - just recheck the measurements] to make
a 36inch wide x 37inch high door, and so on. Since your door size has already
been cut out here, just go with that and trim the boards to the lengths needed
for your door and opening and glue-laminate them to the 1x2s or 2x2s you already
are using to get you the true 2 inch thickness dimension you need.
I hope this hasn't been too confusing or wordy ! Trying to be precise in directions
can lead to higher word counts, and keeping track of all the referenced dimensions
can also make things a little more intense. I have made use of this described
technique in a couple of household repair projects, so I know it is a workable approach.
Cheers,
Norm/mezmo
If you have a house - you have a hobby.