Replies

1. 
   ccal | May 19, 2002 10:40pm | #1

   Ive used the bosch template kit and it is very fast once you get it set up. With the fourth hinge  add on it will probably cost 400.00 or so at http://www.toolcrib.amazon.com. I also use a plastic porter cable single hinge template often but you have to move it and measure carefully for each hinge. It works well though. You can set the bosch to the spacing on the jambs and move it straight to the door with no measuring. There is a lot more to hanging doors than mortising hinges though, especially doubles.

2. 
   timkline | May 19, 2002 11:39pm | #2

   The answer is....it depends. We hang and refit one hundred or more doors per year and as a result, we are well equipped. We own two jigs. One is the Bosch ( I also have a couple of old Stanley jigs that are identical ) and the other is a Hingemate which is probably the one you saw advertised in FHB. The most important thing to know here is that there is no industry standard in the residential realm of building for hinge locations. That said, adjustability in a jig is critical. The Bosch is ideal for doing new work where you are going to cut mortises in both the door and the jamb. It is pretty good at allowing you to spread the hinges over a reasonable range of areas on the door. There are threaded pins which are designed to align with preset holes in the spreader bars. Sometimes when matching old work, you must choose a spot that doesn't align with a hole. It still works, it's just not quite as secure. Not a really big deal. The bigger problem is that the 3 jigs or templates cannot be adjusted for small changes in the hinge reveal location. This is a major pain when trying to match existing reveals in existing jambs as in a new door in an old jamb. When you have a rabbeted jamb, the stop is fixed and your new mortises better be the same.

   The Hingemate is more adjustable in this area. The reveal can be adjusted by installing a factory supplied plastic shim in the unit before each use to get it "close enough".  It could have been better. I complained to the owner of the company (also the designer) about this, and he told me that he had to choose what he considered to be a standard for the reveal and design the tool around it. The problem is that the shim works okay to adjust the jig in one direction only. You can't take shims away to go the other direction and it forces you to improvise and waste a bunch of time ( for those of us that use the thing so much)  It could have been so much better.  Blah blah blah.   Anyway, the Hingemate is a great tool that is really well made and  is great for doing door refits and doing new door in old jamb situations just like what you have. The Bosch door requires you to drive small nails into your new door to mount it. The Hingemate has a great clamping system that won't mar your door. You wouldn't believe how fast you can adjust the Hingemate to your hinge size. Forget about using the Hingemate to cut mortises in jambs. NFG.

   I think I need to design my own jig. Any takers ?

   Unless you are going to do a lot of new work setting new doors in new jambs ( who the hell does a lot of this ? ) buy the Hingemate. Oh, and by the way the 4 hinge accessory package for the Bosch costs almost as much as the tool itself.

   http://shop.store.yahoo.com/squaredrive/hm-1100w.html

   carpenter in transition

   
   

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   Edited 5/19/2002 4:49:21 PM ET by TIM_KLINE

   
   

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   Edited 5/19/2002 4:50:26 PM ET by TIM_KLINE

1. 
   KenHill3 | May 20, 2002 12:13am | #3

   Hi, Tim-

   Any experience with the Porter Cable multiple setup?

   Ken Hill

1. 
   timkline | May 20, 2002 12:29am | #4

   Ken,

      Yes. Our company has about 10 of these jigs and a few of them are Porter Cables. I used one about 6 or 7 years ago as a test to see which one to buy. I had been using an old Stanley model that was nicked pretty badly and I knew I wanted to get a new model to keep safe in my van. I was familiar with the limitations of the Stanley/Bosch models and I thought that the PC might be better. It's not. It's the same in many ways and worse in others. The nail in the coffin is the PC case. If you've never seen one, you should. It is a steel case that is like 4 or 5 feet long. Possibly the dumbest marketing mistake made in the history of the company. The case borders on hilarity. Everyone who sees the thing thinks it's a strongbox for expensive pool cues. 

   carpenter in transition

3. 
   PhillGiles | May 20, 2002 01:12am | #5

   I have the Lee Valley system, and it has maybe a couple of dozen doors in its life, but it works. For 4-hinge, you do the top 3 first, then take the top bar/guide off and use the bottom 2 to locate and mortise for the 4th hinge - measure 3 times. If you really feel inclined, you can order a four-hinge extension from the manufacturer (the name escapes me just now). Come to think of it, you could even buy 2 rigs and make your own 4-hinge jig for less than buying the hinge-mate. Critical factor seems to be driving/removing the nails, the plastic guides break with sharp impact or imprudent levering.

   .

   Phill Giles

   The Unionville Woodwright

   Unionville, Ontario

1. 
   brisketbean | May 20, 2002 06:29am | #6

   when I made journeyman, I made my own,    I use wood and avoid all of the metal crap. you can make adjustable ones rather easily with a stick and cope set up and 10 bucks worth of scrap lumber

1. 
   oldpro007 | May 27, 2002 07:35pm | #7

   Hey Brisket; show us the picture! How about it?Old Pro, not quite old, not quite pro, but closer every day on both...