Tools for Woodworking -  Hinge Mate HM-1100W Subscribe   
  From:  steinmetz   6/23/2003 11:01 pm  
To:  MIKEK50   (2 of 7)  
 
  12719.2 in reply to 12719.1  
 
Mike, If you have a router with a adjustable fence and a 1/2" hinge routing bit,this will help you. 

Since I've hung many hundreds of wood doors in my 50 or so years in the trade, I made my own templates to do just that.

 Since your router's base is 6"in diameter, and the router bit is 1/2",the distance from the 'cut line'is exactly 2-3/4".  Rip up a few pieces of 1/8" tempered masonitei nto exactly 1- 3/4" x1- 3/4"Squares.

They will be invaluable whenever you want to make templates,jigs and guides for routing rectangular holes or plates (larger than 6- 1/2")

To make a hinge router template ,                 (Make three)

Cut some walnut 1-1/4 "wide x 1/4" thick:

For hinges sized 3- 1/2x 3- 1/2",

  you'll need: Six pieces x 4"x 1-1/4"

and three pieces x 11-1/2"

 

These 3 pieces, when nailed and glued together, will look like a square letter 'C' the two short ones nailed at right angles to the top of the horrizontal one and spaced apart exactly as wide as the hinge plus two 'cut line' spacers.3-1/2 + 2-3/4 +2-3/4 =9" opening.

 

These templates are tacked, (with brads) to the hinge edge edge of the door . Set your router fence to cut all but 1/4"into the door and 1/8" deep

Start at your left and run straight in to the1/4" 'reveal' then continue along the reveal to the right.

Lift the router out and rout the right edge in.

Now starting at the left again, just make a few left to right advance etc etc and you're finished.