Kreg KHI Concealed Hinge Jig, Blue

Product Information

There are removable corner inserts, so the Ryobi jig can be used for round- or square-cornered hinges (though the latter will still need finishing manually with a chisel). A high-quality router bit is included, as is a self-centering drill bit for making the actual hinge holes. Both bits are conveniently stored onboard the jig body. Concealed hinges are great for mounting cabinet doors because they stay out of sight, they’re adjustable, and they work very well. Mounting them, though, requires drilling a large hole at a very specific position and depth. TheKreg® Concealed Hinge Jig takes the guesswork out of drilling those holes, and allows you to do it with nothing more than a drill and the carbide-tipped bit that comes with the jig.

A router bit is required with full-size door hinge jigs, and one is often included. Shank size will be either ¼ inch or ½ inch. Neither is better than the other, but the size will determine the kind of router used. Some ½-inch routers include a ¼-inch collet as an option, whereas ¼-inch routers cannot use ½-inch bits.

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How the hinge jig is set up will depend on the type of jig. Some door jigs clamp to the side of the door, while others use locating pins and screws. Cabinet jigs usually need to be held in place using ordinary woodworking clamps, which will not be included. To ensure accuracy, it is important to follow the instructions that come with the jig. Q. How many hinges should a heavy door have? There are a number of cabinet hinge jigs available that mimic the high-quality Kreg model described above. The BI-DTool has a few features that set it apart from many low-cost rivals. It is made from engineered plastic—a synthetic resin noted for increased durability. Cams provide the usual offsets at 3mm, 4mm, 5mm, and 6mm, and there’s a depth stop so the jig can be used for framed and frameless doors. The amount of adjustability provided by door hinge jigs depends very much on the type. Very basic cabinet hinge jigs are simply used to mark hole positions, and any adjustment is manual. More advanced models have rotating cams that give different spacings from the edge of the door. These jigs are usually one size to suit the hinge being used—either 35 millimeters (mm) or 26mm—though some can accommodate both. The Concealed Hinge Jig allows you to drill cup holes for concealed cabinet door hinges (sometimes called "Euro hinges") using just a drill. The jig positions an included carbide-tipped bit exactly at the proper position and offset, and drills to the perfect depth every time thanks to a depth stop collar. The jig is simple to use, and it ensures that you can mount cabinet doors that fit great and work properly. The guide above will prove useful in finding the right jig for full-size interior and exterior doors as well as cabinet doors. Those who want more info or clarification about these tools may well find it below in answers to some common questions about door hinge jigs. Q. Is there a tool to cut out door hinges?

TheKreg® Concealed Hinge Jig consists of a glass-filled nylon base with a hole that receives a drill guide. Indexing cams ensure that the jig positions the bit to drill a hole at the required offset—which is dictated by each hinge—and a built-in stop collar ensures that the cup depth is correct every time. There are even holes that you can use to guide a bit for hinge screw holes. TheKreg® Concealed Hinge Jig comes with a high-quality, carbide tipped bit to ensure great results. Cabinet door hinge jigs are simply held to the inside of the door using any convenient woodworking clamps. Ratcheting types are convenient because they are easy to use one-handed. Two clamps should be employed, one either side of the cutter guide, to ensure that the jig can’t twist.

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The jig can flex if too much pressure is applied when routing, so care is needed. Unfortunately, the included router bit is not very good and soon loses sharpness. Those with numerous doors to hang may wish to invest in a better cutter.

Calling the Everbilt template a cabinet hinge jig is a bit of a stretch, but as a low-cost way to mark out cabinet hinge positions, it works fine. It also includes the necessary Forstner drill bit, though not the 1/16-inch bit for hinge retaining screws. This guide takes a close look at both types of door hinge jigs: those for full-size doors and those for cabinet doors. The two are actually quite different, so we’ll explain their technical aspects before offering suggestions for what we believe are the best door hinge jigs currently available. In addition to the 35mm offset cams, a pair of 26mm cams is also provided. These allow the BI-DTool jig to be used for smaller hinges, though the required cutter is not included. Unlike the Kreg, there is no scale on the edge to help with alignment. Additional clamps are required to hold the jig in position, but that’s typical of this kind of jig. A 1/16-inch drill is provided for retaining screw holes, though care is needed as this can easily cut into the plastic guides on the jig, thus reducing their accuracy. Cabinet hinge jigs almost always include the Forstner bit required to drill the flat-bottomed hole for the main body of the hinge. They may also include a smaller drill for the retaining screws. Most door hinge jigs are made from either injection-molded plastic or glass-reinforced plastic—also known as glass-reinforced nylon or fiberglass. The first is cheaper to produce, while the latter is tougher.

The Milescraft jig will fit 1⅜- and 1¾-inch doors as well as hinges from 2½ to 4½ inches, in ½-inch increments. With the main frame and templates, there are nine pieces in the kit. While this can seem confusing at first, each template is marked with the appropriate size or function.

Concealed hinges are great for mounting cabinet doors because they stay out of sight, they’re adjustable, and they work very well. Mounting them, though, requires drilling a large hole at a very specific position and depth. The Kreg Concealed Hinge Jig takes the guesswork out of drilling those holes, and allows you to do it with nothing more than a drill and the carbide-tipped bit that comes with the jig. Even skilled carpenters usually turn to a door hinge jig to ensure the fast, accurate positioning of door hardware. This tool helps obtain the precise measurements required for the task of installing doors. Most are simple enough to be used by even relatively inexperienced DIYers, and most are very affordable—especially when compared to the cost of ruining a door. The Concealed Hinge Jig takes the guesswork out of installing cabinet doors using concealed hinges. This economical, easy-to-use jig ensures accurate hinge alignment, so you can install doors that fit great and work well. Plus, the Concealed Hinge Jig works with an ordinary drill and the included carbide tipped bit. Durability is assured by the cast-aluminum construction. For transportation, the jig is dismantled into two pieces, and it comes with a carrying case. A guide bush for the router cutter is included, though the cutter itself is not—rather disappointing given the Trend door hinge jig’s high price.TheKreg® Concealed Hinge Jig takes the guesswork out of installing cabinet doors using concealed hinges. This economical, easy-to-use jig ensures accurate hinge alignment, so you can install doors that fit great and work well. Plus, theKreg® Concealed Hinge Jig works with an ordinary drill and the included carbide tipped bit. The Everbilt jig is basically an L-shaped piece of transparent plastic that is held against the door edge. Holes allow pencil marks to be made for the hinge and retaining screws. The jig is then put aside and the relevant holes drilled. Any adjustment for offset will need to be done manually, which could lead to errors creeping in. It is easy to be critical, but for a one-off job, or for someone who has a pillar drill to set depth, the Everbilt does the job at a fraction of the price of most competitors.