Knife hinges are an excellent alternative to butt hinges if you’re looking for a low profile look. For inset cabinet doors, you’ll need to install the offset variety, which allows the door to swing out and free of the cabinet’s case. An offset knife hinge requires an L-shaped mortise which can be cut by hand, but using a template, and a router outfitted with a guide bushing makes installation easier, and less prone to error.

 

This simple template can be built in under an hour, using your router table. It’s easy to index against layout lines and is double-sided, thanks to a repositionable fence that rests within a dado cut into the template.