Essential Hinge Jig for 3" Hinges

Benchdogs has proudly collaborated with Dan Cox from Essential Carpenter Tools. Also based in the UK, Dan approached Benchdogs to help produce his idea of a Hinge Jig, which he had wanted to make for many years. With lots of meetings with the Benchdogs team, we worked on improving those already on the market.

What is a hinge jig?
A hinge jig, also known as a hinge template jig, is a woodworking tool used to accurately and consistently create recesses for door hinges. It helps ensure the hinges are correctly aligned and fitted, resulting in precise and professional-looking installations.

The jig typically consists of a sturdy base plate made of metal or high-quality plastic, with holes or guides corresponding to the size and shape of the hinge used. These guides are usually adjustable to accommodate different hinge sizes and styles. The base plate may also have features like measuring scales and alignment markings for accurate positioning.

How to use a Hinge Jig?
The first step is to position the jig on the door or frame where the hinge recesses need to be cut. The jig is then secured using clamps or other fastening mechanisms to prevent it from shifting during cutting. Next, a hand router is used to remove the wood within the guide holes of the jig. The router guides along the edges of the jig, ensuring the recesses is cut to the precise dimensions required for the hinge.

The hinge jig helps maintain consistency throughout multiple hinge installations, allowing for quick and efficient work while ensuring a professional finish. It eliminates the need for measuring and marking each hinge location individually, reducing the chances of errors and inaccuracies. 

Hinge jigs come in various designs and configurations, catering to different types of hinges, such as butt hinges, concealed hinges, or Euro-style hinges. Some hinge jigs also include features like self-centring guides or built-in clamps for convenience and ease of use.

Overall, a hinge jig is a valuable tool for carpenters, woodworkers, or anyone involved in door installation or furniture making, providing precise and efficient mortising for hinges, ultimately resulting in well-aligned doors with the smooth and functional operation.

So how does ours differ from the rest?
We have put our heads together to iron out 99% of the issues seen in many hinge jigs. First and most notable is the number of Hinges out there and their different shape and size. Our open aperture and stepped blocks allow for complete user calibration of the hinges being fitted. And also, an exclusive first in any hinge jig is its built-in clamping system, so no reaching out for additional clamps. Using the clamps built in makes your life a breeze when using the jig. The added fire check block used to set a hinge 100mm from the top hinge helps fit these doors as simply as possible. We have even thought of the height of the doors as well. With the use of Metric and imperial-sized doors, we have the correct set-up for you with the suitable inner extrusion for the job, and each centre extrusion is marked to allow quick set-up with its accurate centre line scale gauge. You can choose a 3" hinges or 4" hinge jigs set-ups, and the system is colour coded to give a visual identifier of which hinge size you are using. Another helpful feature is that there are no fiddly screws or accessories that are needed that can be lost or need to be hunted for, and everything is there in one great kit. It also comes supplied in a carry case without the extra cost.

Please note:

You will need a guide bush that is 4mm larger than your cutter, not made for router bits with a bearing. So if using a 12mm, then 16mm would be required. If using a 12.7mm you would need a 16.7mm. 

What's in the kits?

3 Inch 2040mm (Metric) Kit
3 x Extrusions (2 x 625mm 1 x 715mm)
6 x Joining Bars with 2.5mm Hex Key
3 x Clamps with fixings
6 x 3" Hinge Blocks with clamp Stops
1 x 2mm Head Hook and Stop
1 x 3mm Head Hook Stop
1 x Teletube for transportation

3 Inch 1981mm (Imperial) Kit
3 x Extrusions (2 x 625mm 1 x 655mm)
6 x Joining Bars with 2.5mm Hex Key
3 x Clamps with fixings
6 x 3" Hinge Blocks with clamp Stops
1 x 2mm Head Hook and Stop
1 x 3mm Head Hook Stop
1 x Teletube for transportation

3 Inch Blocks Only
6 x 3" Hinge Blocks with clamp Stops
1 x 2mm Head Hook and Stop

3 Inch 2440mm Extension Kit
2 x Extrusions (2 x 200mm)
4 x Joining Bars with 2.5mm Hex Key

3 Inch Single Kit
1 x Extrusion (456mm)
1 x Clamps with fixings
2 x 3" Hinge Blocks with Leaf Stops
1 x 2mm Head Hook and Stop
1 x 3mm Head Hook Stop

* Orders placed from the 7th of November 2023 will already receive these Thumbscrews with your Essential Hinge Jig.