Euro-Eze - Euro-Eze II Boring Jig
The Euro-Eze II hinge-boring jig features an adjustable depth guide for a variety of operations.
Apr 01, 2001
Jigs for drilling cup-hinge holes come in a variety of designs. Some offer stark simplicity at a low cost. Others are more sophisticated and come with a price that reflects that refinement. But all of the jigs have a couple of things in common. They get their power from an electric or cordless drill. And they serve as a surrogate tool for the drill press, supporting the 35mm bit when a drill press can’t be used. Without that support, a large bit like this will skitter around the wood. These jigs are especially handy when you’re faced with drilling cup-hinge holes in a door that’s large and unwieldy, or if you’re at a remote site where there’s no access to a drill press. We gave seven of these jigs a workout to see how they would perform.
A removable stop block attached to the underside of the Euro-Eze II is used to establish any of eight backset options. A Forstner bit is included.
The clamp works okay. And the backset is easy to set up. However, even though I’d given the brass nut on the depth stop a good hand-tightening, the stop slipped about 1/8 in. after drilling a few holes in oak. I then discovered the nut could be hand-tightened another quarter turn or so, apparently because the bit heated during the cuts and softened the plastic collet and hub that are part of the stop system. The stop stayed securely in place after that second tightening. A self-centering bit is available as an option. It fits nicely into predrilled holes for the mounting screws.
This jig has a low price and is simple to use. If your budget is limited, and you have only an occasional need to drill holes for cup hinges, the Euro-Eze II is worth considering. But keep an eye on the depth stop.
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