Router templates for hinges, latches
Biff_Loman
| Posted in Construction Techniques on
I’m not a production door hanger, but on the occasion that I do mortise a door and doorframe, I’d prefer not to scrape away with a chisel.
In the past, I’ve made my own templates for my router, but these always corralled the *base*, so they were huge. The time has come for me to start doing it the better way, with a guide bushing.
Just offhand, do you think it’s worthwhile for me to buy some templates, or do you simply make your own? Any specific products you can recommend?
Replies
I've got the Porter-Cable model 59381 hinge butt template kit and it works very well. They run around $229 new but I picked my slightly used one on eBay for $80.
Elections belong to the people. It is their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they will just have to sit on their blisters. ~ Abraham Lincoln
I've been thinking of making one for my hinges with a guide bushing. I'm going to make it adjustable as far as the hinge barrel sticking out.
I'm thinking of making it like a T so I can just clamp it to the face of the door.
I got tired of routing them freehand. The last one I did I got careless and routed outside the lines! Oops!
If anyone here is interested, I may have a spare very clean Porter Cable 4-hinge setup in the orig metal box with instructions to sell.Probably go $160 shipped maybe.... kindof heavy.The 3 hinge kits sells for $230 or so as mentioned, but the 4th hinge capability kit adds another $100 or so to the new price I think.Allows you to do the big-a$$ doors.Also - for PC template kit owners here, I may have a few extra template sections that would allow you to add that 4th hinge capability to your set.Email me if interested at julian at juliantracy.comRegards,Julian
I will go one better. I have porter cable hinge template kit, I will let go for $100 plus shipping
Sold, if you are serious and it is in good condition. I live outside Albany, NY.
"It is what it is."
I live in Utica email me.
I don't do that many doors either. I picked up a couple of the plastic templates (PC?) at HD. They're adjustable and work pretty well for the price. I screw them both to a straight piece of 1/2" ply to keep the spacing even between multiple doors/frames. Kind of a poor man's hinge kit.
Mike Hennessy
Pittsburgh, PA
Biff,
I have made a few templates out of plywood also. I gave up on the guide bushing and use a router bit with a top bearing. ( Hinge mortising bit )
The best part about it is no more fooling around with the set back between guide bushing and cutter.
First of all your template cut out's are 1 to 1 ( easier to make in my opinion). If the hinge fits your template it will fit the door and jam every time.
It also helps with lining the template up with lay out lines, once again no set back to fool around with.
The only real draw back is 3/4 plywood works better than 1/2. The extra depth helps with bearing location. 1/2 works, just have to be a little more careful.
Bill
Browse Templaco for ideas/ accessories to build your own or buy theirs
http://www.templaco.com/html/
I do maybe 1 or 2 per year. I mortise freehand.
I usually use a bosch template when I have a whole house to do. On this most recent job, I used the bosch guide for about 15 doors (took about half a day to plane all the doors, and mortise all doors and jambs).
Two double doors got added later on in the project, I didn't have the guide on site, so I made template to use with a top bearing router bit. In my opinion, it worked better, and just as quickly. Made the template out of two layers of 1/2" baltic birch plywood.
zak
"When we build, let us think that we build forever. Let it not be for present delight nor for present use alone." --John Ruskin
"so it goes"
15 doors in 1/2 day!! I'm impressed. That's 16 minutes per door. It usually takes me about 1/3 day to fit, mark and hang 1 slab...but maybe that's more than you were talking about..."The nearest thing to eternal life we will ever see on this earth is a governmental program" -Ronald Reagan
That's 15 doors to plane both edges, mortise hinge locations (2 per door interior), and mortise hinge locations on the jamb stock. Square edge hinges. I think it's a decent time. Planing takes almost no time- Set up the planer so it just takes one pass. I've got a door clamp on my tool box, so I just lay the door on it's side and tap in the wedge on that clamp.I'm not including time to build the jambs (maybe 5 minutes, including cutting the legs to length?) and hang the door (seems like it usually takes me 1/2 hour or 45 minutes, depending on the framing, i'm a remodeler). I know there are people slower and faster than I am on this board. It all depends on conditions, among other things.zak
"When we build, let us think that we build forever. Let it not be for present delight nor for present use alone." --John Ruskin
"so it goes"
Take a look at a Hinge Mate, it is smaller and far more versatile than anything else I have used. It will do a small cabinet hinge or a large ball bearing door hinge and comes in a nice neat package with a router bit for around $120. It is very precise and very easy to set up. I was faced with a 20 door job and every door had to be cut on all 4 edges and mortised for hinges. That is when I decided to scrap the plywood jigs and go with an adjustable set up.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000224L5
I started with a hammer and chisel, then made my own templates, then bought the Bosch hinge mortising jig.
I, like most out there, like to make my own jigs and fixtures. But when faced with hanging a $2500.00 walnut door I wanted precision and piece of mind. You just can't match the level of adjustability, and precision that you get with a store bought jig.
That's my opinion, but I've been known to be wrong :).
Trace the hinge on the jamb and run the router. Its not as hard as it sounds.
It seems to me that setting up a template would just be a PITA for that.
I've done ALOT of doors that way and never had a problem.