Okay, you guys are my brain trust.

I'm putting up pre-hung interior doors today, and driving myself batty trying to get them square, plumb and flush.  I've done two, and am not completely happy with either.  I have eleven to go.  Any of you guys have any techniques?  Do you take them off the hinges and just put the frames up first, or do you leave them as a single unit?

Thanks.

i kicked one in once

put it up as a unit.

And use shims to get them plumb and staright.

But chance are the house isn't square with the world to begin with.

SGatr15

I put them up as a complete unit.  You will most likley have to trim some of the bottom length of the caseing off even if you have carpet.  Have PLENTY of door shims on hand.  You will use more than you think you would. Work from the hinge side first.

Good luck.

Are you using old jams or new? If old, you'll need a planer and a level and some longer wood screws for the hinges and such.

If new. Level, shims, good nails, a little putty and new trim. Rosets are nice...

Are tha casings applied already? It will determine my answer

Use you eyes first of all, if the "jack" on the hinge side of the door is plumb start by securing the hinge side of the door first. if the jack is not plumb use shims at each point you place a nail to make it plumb. The next thing to do is let your eyes follow all the way around the "flush" side of the door, the space between the door & jamb ("reveal") should be equal everywhere, this is done by starting from the top of the hinge side & going all the way around with a wonder bar & shims, it is important to shim by the striker plate because of the movement caused by open & closing. When it's all shimed equally, apply trim or if the door is a "set up "unit with trim applied nail to the jacks at this time. I hope this helps, I'm a master carpenter but I've never tried teaching.

Thanks everybody, I just finished lunch and am about to go at it again, I'll report back.  

With the first two doors, I tried to center the unit rather than start from the hinge side.

After much trial and error, they're both "good enough", but even though they are flush, plumb and square, the door doesn't fit perfectly.  i.e., it closes at the top about a quarter inch before the bottom.  (Like the frame is "twisted").

i did all the doors in my  house. first thing I did was put small pieces of wood on each top corner  to keep them from tipping .. Then I shim the bottom of the frame . This will make the top of the frame level. then I insert  shims on the sides. I have found that the top of the frame be level,it influences everthing else.

It gets easier every time you do it....
www.hometime.com/Howto/projects/window/win_3.htm
www.diynet.com/diy/dr_repair/article/0,2037,DIY_13800_2276826,00.html

Thanks everybody for the good advice.  I got four doors up today and am feeling pretty good about the progress.

Shims are key. I had tons on hand when I hung my first door. It turned out great.

Have lots of shims on hand, and big hammer.