Hinge Pockets

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The shop I work in uses a Bosch hinge pocket jig and a hand held router to do our door and jamb pocketing. It is a very handy tool but has some limitations. I am curious what other shops are using. I think it would help to know we build an average of seventy five, 1 3/4" thick, interior doors a year.

JeffD

I probably don't make more than say 10 - 15 passage doors in an average year so I still use shop made jigs with a PC trim router, the good one not the newer cheap version. It's simple and easy and works so I haven't found a need to change.

Curious as to what others use as well.

good luck,
JeffD

Geoff

Jeff,

Thanks for your responce. The Bosch jig is handy, you can change number of hinges, location of hinges, size of hinge, thickness of door and depth of pocket (with router). Maybe it is the best tool available for what I need.

Some times I feel like I work in a vacuum and need to see what the rest of world is doing.

Geoff

Joe Calhoon

We use a Norfield Hingemaster. I would say it is good for 10 to 50 doors per month or so.
You can do the door and jamb at the same time so it is easy to keep the top gap consistent. If your a shop that likes to bevel the hinge side it does not work for that. We can do 1 3/4 to 2 1/4 thick. Hinge size from 3 1/2 to 4 1/4. So not as versitile as the Bosch but a lot quicker. We have a PC hinge jig we still use for odd jobs. From what I see the Bosch is better than PC.

Templaco makes some nice hinge jigs priced less than the Norfield.

Joe

Geoff

Joe,

I agree that speed is one of the week points with the Bosch jig. It is time consuming moving it from door to jamb. It also takes extra time to fill and sand the holes left by the nail hold downs on the jig. I am interested to check out the Norfield and Templaco.

Thanks,
Geoff

Joe Calhoon

Geoff,
Couple more things about the Norfield. To do 2 1/4" thick we have to remove the screw end pads on the holding screws. Not a big deal. It came with an end gauge and rods to set the length between hinges. We use neither and have found it is easier to measure between the hinges for one or two doors and just cut sticks to position the jig on production runs.
Joe

Butch Souter

We just did a run of 20 2 panel beadboard cherry doors ,prehung with all different depth jambs/ We do a mix of things from sculpturestands to stairs ,kitchens , anything wood. I like to make a jig purposed per whatever. For hinging these I just grabbed a 4-5" wide strip of 1" MDF attach a cleat to one edge that hangs out both sides(makes jig reversible) Opposite side gets plotted ofor whatever size and layout of hinges cut EXACTLY.
camp this to door edge(wether its beveled or square(beveled may need a shim so it doesnt ride up when clamped and give a tapered rout) use a top bearing trim router and cut the pockets.Top of jig flush with top of door/
add spacer to jamb for top clearance. do jambs and doors in sequence/ If done correctly you can do 20 sets before lunch. I know for a fact.
when your done, just throw in the woodstove . thats what we do for volume
Butch

Geoff

Joe,

I did look at both Norfield and Templaco web sites.

Norfield has a video of the hingemaster in use. I like the system for keeping the head jamb/door revel consistent (like you mentioned earlier). This is one of the weak spots with the Bosch jig, the part that maintains this revel bends or gets loose easy. Also, can the jig be used with different jamb widths?

The Templaco site didn't have a lot of info. It didn't look adjustable. If that is the case then I would use the Bosch or make one like Butch. Someone out there has used one and can tell us what they think.

Geoff

Joe Calhoon

Geoff,
There are no width limits on the jig. Like I said we do not use the end stops or the rods they supply. They work, we just found it easier to lay a square across to get the top gap. I know well the problems with the gap using the PC type jig.
I don't think the Templaco is adjustable but have no experience with it. I do know a couple shops using those and happy with it. Maybe someone will chime in.
The biggest advantage of the Norfield Is the flexibility for different sizes and hinge placement and the routing of both door and jamb at the same time. It is strictly a prehang jig it is not possible to rout a door in place like with the Bosch.

Joe

jl

I have hung more doors than I care to think about and a good majority with the bosch jig. I have probably bought six or seven of them over the years and literally wear them out. I do own a norfield hinge setup, the one with the stand, and has it's good points but to be honest the bosch is more accurate. The beauty is you can machine some wood sticks for oddball layout and you always work from the top down, no flipping your jig over for rights and lefts. By an extra set and you can do up to six hinges with your own custom spreaders. The key for me has been treat it with care, don't beat the hell out of the nails, hang it on a hook carefully between setups, and don't route the metal guides.

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