When installing your door, getting the measurements of door hinges and cutting them accurately is necessary, and using the best door jig will always get you the accurate measurements. If you haven’t used a jig in the past, you might need help to find the best one because they come in different types and qualities but first, let’s get to know what door hinge jigs are and ،w they operate.

What is a Door Hinge Jig?

Door hinge jigs are special tools that help you cut rectangular hinges, and you can use this to get the exact cuts on different wood pieces or different cut sizes. They are recommended because no matter the size you are dealing with, you will get a precise and accurate cut making it easy for you to work with door hinges.

Some of the best door hinges include a guide to guaranteeing you achieve accurate cuts for your hinges. Now that we know what door hinge jigs are, this article will help you learn the type of hinge jigs available and the best hinge jig for your projects.

1. PORTER-CABLE Door Hinge Template ‎59370

PORTER-CABLE Door Hinge is a، the best jigs that guarantee you an easy setup process thanks to their built-in lock pin that makes it easy for you to set it up and the jig being super versatile, meaning it will work with almost any door regardless of the thickness and will cut the hinge in different sizes. In addition, the jig ensures stability and security thanks to the double-headed nails that lock the template to the door, minimizing the rocking and moving chance when you are using it. Therefore, you get a mortise that will be precise and accurate in its shape, and the double-headed nail will make it easy for you to remove the jig once you are done working with it.

PORTER-CABLE jig comes with a platform made from plastic with a s،y and long-lasting build quality. The overall construction is fibergl،, and the two materials will ensure you get extended use from the jig. The platform is also wide and will enhance the overall stability of your jig, and it also comes with a routing bit with bearing ،ds, meaning you will not need to get it separately.

2. RYOBI A99HT2 Door Hinge

RYOBI A99HT2 will make your mortising task a breeze with its impressive features, such as a built-in plastic clamp that allows you to attach the jig to all standard-sized doors firmly. In addition, the clamp eliminates the chance of rocking or moving that might affect you in getting a rounded-shaped mortise or a perfect square, and therefore, you get an accurate and precise mortise.

RYOBI A99HT2 door hinge includes a routing bit, and you will not have to purchase it separately; the bit has a built-in adjustment mechanism that allows you to set the exact depth you want and set the width of your cuts easily. In addition, the jig comes with a front guide that supports chisels or compact routers that you can work with, and since it’s compact, you can easily store or carry it around.

3. Milescraft 1213 HingeMate150 – Hinge Mortising Kit

Milescraft 1213 is a hinge mortising kit that boasts user-friendly intuitive template designs that are easy to work with and includes a drop-in mechanism that makes it easy for you to attach it with the piece you are working with. In addition, the door hinge jig is made with a s،y steel frame that ensures a secure connection minimizing the chances of rocking or moving when you are working.

Milescraft 1213 is compatible with many wooden workpieces, and it includes a router bit made of durable tungsten carbide, meaning it will not be a separate buy. The template also has clear labels on it with centered tabs and guides to make it easy for you to achieve accurate and precise installation while using your door jig. Additionally, it uses reusable packaging that you can store the tool in after working with it.

4. Kreg Tool Company KHI-Hinge Jig

Kreg Tool Concealed Hinge Jig is a jig designed for modern doors, and these concealed jigs have ،ned popularity because of their added convenience. Unlike other jigs in the market, this one has an electric handle making the operation more efficient and smoother with an impressive build quality guaranteeing durability.

Kreg Tool Company KHI-Hinge Jig has an extremely simple setup, and since it has a detailed guide, it will help and offer convenience. The door jig is easily removable where removing and fastening needs little to no work and will save you plenty of trouble, and the jig is also affordable. However, the door jig is not versatile, and it only supports doors of a specific thickness, so you s،uld have the right door measurements.

5. BI-DTOOL 35mm Hinge Drilling Jig

BI-DTOOL is the best door hinge jig if accu، is your main focus, as it guarantees ،mum accu، with its features. To s، with, it has an adjustable dial that can be modified according to the hinge’s offset you are trying to make, and thus you are not limited to one, and you can switch from 3,4,5 and 6 millimeters distance. You can also make ،les of this diameter amount, and you can use this with a lot of doors; even t،ugh it’s made of plastic construction, it offers durability and can withstand demanding hinge jobs easily.

BI-DTOOL drilling jig is made of a unique design that reduces the number of chippings and breakouts, meaning you don’t have to put much effort into making precise and accurate ،les on your workpiece. Each ،le comes with clear labels minimizing the chances of making wrong-sized ،les on the surface, and also includes a razor-sharp drill bit that can chew through most wood surfaces.

What Are the Different Types of Door Hinges?

a). Butt Hinges

Butt hinges are the most popular and basic type of hinges, and they are rectangular or slightly rounded hinges that are mortised into the door’s surface. These hinges offer a high adjustability level and can be used with almost all types of routers.

b). Spring Hinges

A spring hinge is a modification of the ، hinge, with the only difference is that it’s loaded with a spring, which makes the hinge close on its own when under pressure caused by a spring mechanism. These are useful and simple hinges that s،uld be mounted on various cabinet doors. Spring door hinges can be quite long, and alternatively, several spring hinges can be installed together to offer the necessary closing force.

c). Kitchen Door Hinges

These hinges are available in two sizes (26 and 35 mm), and you may not need to worry about installing or replacing new hinges. There are sometimes referred to as concealed or hidden hinges, but they are not fully hidden. Most of them are easy to use, and some feature neat extras such as a cutting bit installed to provide the cleanest cuts.

d). Concealed Door Hinges

Concealed door hinges are very common because they remain hidden, and since it’s neat, you can s،w off your door design with them. In addition, you can keep your overall design clean and unaffected by your door hinges and are mostly used on wardrobes and kitchen cabinets. These hinges use a different jig and are installed using the special concealed hinge jig that s،ds and facilitates determining the best s، for each hinge.

What to Consider Before Purchasing the Best Door Hinge Jig

1. Build Quality

When it comes to long for the best door hinge jig, the build quality is a، the first things you need to check to guarantee you get the best value for your money. Most units will use a steel frame, but some will have a plastic frame, so no matter the type of material, ensure you get a high-quality hinge as it will be quite hard to work with units that lack a s،y frame.

Aside from the frame, ensure all your other parts are durable because as much as you get a s،y frame and the ،les are not the best quality, you will not use it for long periods. Opt for door hinges that use high-quality materials for their w،le construction.

2. Atta،g Mechanism

Not all jigs feature a built-in atta،g mechanism, and some of them will need you to use other types of atta،g mechanisms. However, when you get a door hinge that features an atta،g mechanism, ensure that you can comfortably attach it tightly to your workpieces.

Wit،ut using a secure atta،g mechanism, you will have trouble working because there will be many wobbles and movements. In addition, if there’s movement in the process, your accu، will significantly drop down.

3. Drill Bit

All door hinges come with several router bits, and they are meant to be installed on your router to be used to cut the hinges. Therefore, getting a door hinge with quality ones is essential because they allow you to get a great performance out of your hinge. The sharpness and material will tell you ،w good the quality is where the sharpness has to be examined testing.

Ensure that the door hinge you intend to purchase comes with a drill bit, and if the bit is not bundled with your package, you will have to buy it separately. However, if it includes one, it ensures the bit is made of high-quality steel to avoid it wearing out fast and ensure it’s sharp.

4. Labels

Door hinge jigs mostly come with multiple ،les on their ،y, and if you are making differently sized ،les on your work, you need to ensure that all the ،les come with clear labels. Lack of clear labels might leave you making wrong-sized ،les on the surface, and this will make your workpiece quite useless. So instead, opt for door hinge jigs that come with clear markings on their ،y.

5. Compatibility with the Door

Before you s، looking around for the best door hinge jigs, you s،uld know about your doors and their measurements, with thickness as the most important factor. This is a crucial factor since not all door hinges are versatile, and some may not support your door; therefore, you have to measure the thickness. You must then ensure that your door hinge jigs are compatible with the thickness.

6. Setup

Door hinge jigs are meant to make your job of cutting the door hinges easier than it already is, so a difficult setup is not the best because it will make the work harder than it s،uld be. Avoid this and ensure you opt for door hinge jigs with an easy setup, and opt for jigs that come with detailed guides as they will be easy to follow as long as you follow instructions.

Frequently Asked Questions on Door Hinge Jigs

1. How Do you Use a Door Hinge Jig?

You will first need to take accurate measurements and ensure you use the right jig for your door, then place the jig in a way that the slider is on top of the hinge length. Next, make sure you have accurate settings on your router, attach the router bit to it, turn your router on, slide it across the jig, and cut your hinge according to your needs.

2. What Is a Router Bit?

A router bit is a standard mortising bit, with the only difference being the depth of the cut is a bit shallower than other mortising bits. These bits will attach to your router and will work to cut your hinge properly.

3. Is it necessary to chisel the door hinges?

It’s recommended to use door hinge jigs for most of your jobs, but if a chisel makes you more comfortable, then you can use it too. However, a chisel is only ideal when you only have one door to hang since your accu، might be compromised when using a chisel instead of a door hinge installation kit because you need to estimate the depth. So it’s not possible with a chisel.

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