Kreg KHI-HINGE Concealed Hinge Jig

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.

Kreg Concealed Hinge Jig I'm not a cabinet maker, but I like useful tools, even if I don't use them frequently. My first Kreg tool jigs was the pocket hole drilling system. This time, I had a need to install some Euro hinges on an outdoor shed. I started by just using the paper template supplied with the hinges. I works, but was tedious and slow. I could not afford to make a mistake and wreck my project. That's when I decided to find a jig to simplify the work. The Kreg Concealed Hinge Jig was the perfect solution to installing simple Home Depot type Euro hinges. The jig consists of a 35-millimeter forstner bit with a depth stop and a plastic positioning and guide jig. The forstner bit alone is worth half the price of this product. And according to the label, it's all made in the USA. With the bit guide and depth stop, creating the holes was a breeze. The bit was always straight and vertical, all without the need for a drill press. The plastic template has two dials for adjusting the offset from the door edge to the drill point. It's range of distance is in discreet increments from 3mm, 4, 5, or 6mm with no fractional increments. That's 1/8”, 5/32, 3/16, and 1/4". If you need something different, this is not your tool. Finally, you need two clamps to secure the template to the door before you start drilling. There are also 2 small 1/16” guide holes for drilling pilot holes for the hinge. The forstner bit was high quality. I can't say if the plastic template will survive for long. I just have to respect the quality of Kreg tools that I have used.