Kreg KHI Concealed Hinge Jig, Blue

Product Information

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? 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 type of door hinge jig creates a round-cornered cutaway in the door edge, and suitable round-cornered hinges are widely available. However, door hinges were traditionally square, and when refitting a door to an existing frame, it will often be necessary to cut away the rounded area. This can be done with an ordinary woodworking chisel, but corner chisels specifically for the purpose are available. 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.

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. TheKreg® 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.

Resources for builders

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. 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. 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. 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.

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.

Plans for your next project

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 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. 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.