Repair a Stile in a Front Door

Position the end of a flat-head screwdriver between the head of the bottom hinge's hinge pin and the top of the hinge. Tap the screwdriver with a hammer to move the pin up and out of the hinge.

Perform this same task on the middle and top hinge pins. Remove the door from the door frame, with the help of an assistant, if necessary.

Position the door on its side, with the door's lock-stile edge facing up, and push the end of the door into a room corner. Do this if the front door sticks along the lock stile. Position the door with the hinge-stile edge facing up if the hinge-side edge sticks.

Plane the upward-facing edge of the door, using a block plane. Work from the end of the door towards the edge's center, keeping the base of the plane consistent to obtain a smooth edge.

Clean the debris and old glue out of the gap between stile and rail, using a screwdriver, if the stile and rail have separated.

Install carpenter's glue into the gap, and use the end of a flat-head screwdriver to work the glue around inside the gap. Wipe off any excess glue with a rag.

Place small wood blocks between the clamps of a pipe clamp and the door edge, and attach the pipe clamp tightly along the top or bottom of the door, depending on whichever end the split from the stile and rail has occurred. A pipe clamp is basically a length of black pipe that has clamps installed along its length.

Install a 3/8-inch spade drill bit into a power drill, and drill two side-by-side holes into the stile edge, angling towards the connected rail.

Remove the spade bit and install a thin drill bit into the drill. Drill two pilot holes into the stile edge holes that you just drilled.

Replace the thin bit with a larger bit, and drill into both holes, drilling into the stile only, and not the rail.

Replace the drill bit with a driver bit in the drill. Countersink a screw into each hole in the stile edge, using the drill.

Fill the holes behind the screws with wood filler, using a small putty knife to apply the filler. Allow it to dry, and sand it with fine sandpaper.

Position the door back in the door frame, with the help of an assistant, if necessary. Align the bottom hinge and reinstall the hinge pin. Repeat this with the middle and top hinge.