Kreg KHI-HINGE Concealed Hinge Jig

This relatively small jig allows you to drill the necessary holes for concealed hinges (sometimes called european style hinges) without having to use a drill press. All you need is a small hand drill and a 1/16 inch drill bit. The instuctions that come with it are straightfoward and easy to understand. I would recommend this to any hobby woodworker that wants to build cabinets or storage units. Another plus is that the jig is fairly small and takes up very little space. It is about 4 x 8 inches.

First of all, if you are professional cabinet maker or a really serious amateur, you probably have a much more expensive and more versatile version of this jig already, so you can pass on this purchase. On the other hand, if you are a casual woodworker that occasionally tackles building or customizing furniture, this Kreg Hinge Jig is worth a serious look. Euro Style hinges are some of the most common found in today's cabinetry. They are versatile and adjustable enough that you can recover from minor measurement errors made during the build process. Something that a professional would never have to deal with (well, hardly ever), but would be fairly common for a part timer or beginner. In addition to the jig itself, you will need a couple of clamps to hold the jig in place while boring out the hole. Kreg recommends only using their clamps, but any non-marring clamps will work. The old carpenter's adage "measure twice, and cut once" certainly applies for this product. More importantly, you really need to practice on scrap wood before tackling your final hinge installation. That practice will ensure that you are not drilling holes too deep or far from the edge - neither of which there is a recovery for on your final product. Some folks have complained about the sharpness and durability of the supplied bit and others have complained that the jig adjustments are in 1 mm increments (opposed to 1/2 mm increments). The jig adjustment issues can be solved by either purchasing hinges that match what the jig can handle (the easy way), or by adding a 1/2 mm shim to offset the jig to fit (the hard way). As for the bit, again, this tool if for the casual woodworker. It is not designed for somebody trying to build 200 cabinets out of extra dense wood. For the casual user, the bit should last for several projects before it needs to be replaced. Overall, I would definitely recommend the Kreg Euro Hinge Jig to any beginning or casual woodworker. That will help you get started. Once you decide to step up to the next level, there are lots of choices out there that can meet those needs.