Cup Hinge Boring Jigs — Advice, Please!
I’m setting up a semi-commercial shop, and intend to manufacture small, specialty runs of uniquely-designed kitchen cabinets, bath vanities, and other “box-ware” for the carriage trade in and around Aspen, CO.
As with any new venture, I’m anxious not to invest too heavily in any one tool or area of the shop. I’ve made all the major tool purchases, and now I’m down to the little stuff. But — and, here’s “the rub” — the little stuff ain’t cheap.
I read an article from FWW’s archives, “Seven Jigs for Drilling Cup-Hinge Holes,” and was intrigued by some of the portable set-ups that can be used for drilling 35mm hinge holes. Unfortunately, in the month/years since the article was published, several of the jigs (two of my favorites) have been discontinued, and the remaining “best choice” has more than doubled in price.
The Blum “EcoDrill,” once available for $169.00, is now selling on Amazon.com for $257.00!, and — as with everything else — it’s just the beginning of the jigs and templates required to install cup hinges in the door and align/drill the mating screw-holes in the stile of the cabinet boxes.
Rockler makes its “Jig-It” version, which has some appeal, although it requires more manual dexterity, more set-up time, and more keeping track of various loose parts.
I’m torn between purchasing one of these portable units, or just springing for a drill-press-related set up, since 99.9% of the hinge-drilling and cabinet assembly will take place in my shop.
I would appreciate anybody’s experience on this question; what do you use, now, and what would you use — if you had it to do all over — and “money was no object”?
Replies
I've been using the rockler jig for about 15 years now. The only thing I've had to replace was the forstner bit(worn out!) I'm no production shop, and probably only make between 75 and 100 doors per year. If you're cranking them out, then speed and time saved will certainly justify a dedicated tool purchase. I've never felt the need to improve on my cheapo $30 jig. (I have no idea what they want for it now.)
Jeff
Hi Sasquatch,
Drill press related set up? You bet. Before I got my Blum insertion/ line boring gizmo I used my drill press with a simple shop made jig to drill all my cabinet doors for the 35mm cup hinges.
It consisted of an auxiliary table( large enough to help support my largest door) with a movable fence. Then I attached 2 butt hinges, one at either side of drill bit center, set at the distance I needed from the top and bottom of my doors. The hinge setback is adjusted by moving your fence back and forth. The hinge allows you to flip the other out of the way when drilling one end or the other. If you need more adjustability, there are flip stops that are commercially available that slide along the fence. The key being the stops need to flip out of the way to allow your door to pass underneath. Simple and effective. Plus, it's cheap.
Paul
ps if you use butt hinges find ones that are as tight as possible. less play
Hi sasquatch ,
My advice to you is to talk with your hardware supplier , if you don't have a relationship with one , try and get one , you'll need them .
Once you know what line or brand hinges you will use , you can better determine exactly what equipment may be needed and most of all what is offered from the hardware distributor .
I use Mepla and have a dedicated hinge boring and insertion machine , I can take it to a job if need be , but as you say most all hinge boring is done in the shop .
There are package deals out there where say you buy a case of hinges and they sell you the machine at a reduced price or there may be used hinge machines also available from the same source .
I started with a mini press that went on a drill press , traded it back to my supplier and for a few hundred got a the used machine that I still use .The mini drill press version works but lacks leverage in comparison to the longer handled boring machines ,imo .
Good Luck dusty
Dusty's advice is exactly what I would have said. If you're using commercial quantities of hinges, drawer parts, etc. from one supplier you can pressure them to get you a drilling/insertion machine either for cheap or for free. Don't be polite, either. Take offers from competitors and use them against each other to get the best deal.
David Ring
http://www.touchwood.co.il/?id=1&lang=e
Hello David ,
When I first started using euro hinges Blum was already huge , they didn't need to make any offers to small timers in general . Mepla came along and wanted to dig into the marketplace and made their tooling available at very reasonable costs so we could buy their product , made good marketing sense to me .
When I handed the Blum hardware guy a Mepla and a Blum hinge and asked him to show me the difference , he hesitated and was unable to back his claims . I showed him the difference in costs , he understood but would not or could not meet the price .I respected their decision .
regards dusty
A little off topic but not, a great supplier for hinges & most hardware for that matter including machines, go to Custom Service Hardware, 1-800-882-0009 or http://www.cshardware.com Prices are very good & get better with quantity, very nice people to work with. I have the good fortune of living only 4 miles from their showroom. They adding to their product line all the time, I was just there this afternoon & see they may be adding Festool to their catalog. I think you find they really cater to your type of business.
Good luck with all you do.
Paul
If you're able to buy in volume that gets the interest of the hardware vendors, then the suggestions to work a deal with them is the right advice. If you don't anticipate that volume of business and need to buy a jig, then I put in another vote for the Rockler Jig-IT jig. They have them on sale (or did last week). With or without the sale, the price is right and the tool is a good one, follows the KISS principle too!
Jeff
hi Jeff ,
Many shops use the Euro hinges with the insertion dowels or pins .Most of the Blum , Mepla and other brand machines and jigs drill the 3 holes at the same time , then have the ability of inserting the hinges or pressing them into the door . I am not well versed on the Rockler jig you speak of and wonder if it will also drill 3 holes at the same time ? Or does it limit the type of hinges you can use with it ?
Before I had any jig or machine I used a 35mm bit and a drill press and then screwed the hinges on to the doors. So for any production work having the ability to drill the 3 holes at once is truly a benefit and adds to accuracy and speed .
regards dusty
ANother option - I Just purchased a Blum knockoff from sommerfield tools, looks to be well made, is approx $150, and the biggest difference I see is that is yellow.
Sasquatch,
Just read all the other posts and it I pretty much agree with all thats been said. I recently did some cabinets in my own hallway and began boring the 35MM hinge holes with the Rockler jig mentioned by others. Like you I didn't want to put out the money for the other more expensive jigs by Blum and others. The Rockler jig works pretty well for and inexpensive jig. I had only done one door when one of my friends who owns a cabinet shop invited my over to use his Blum hinge boring and insertion tool. Wow! What a difference in speed and accuracy. Just this last week a cabinet shop in my area went out of business and I came a day late and missed purchasing one of these boring machines. They had two of them and each sold for $500.00. Sometimes you can find these on e-bay or Craigs list but they go pretty fast. If your going to do a lot of doors you really should find one of these used or do like others have suggested and pick up one from who you buy your hardware from. They give you a discount on the purchase if you buy a specified amount of hinges from them each month. I've used the drill press before as well, but it just seemed to slow. If you don't want to be spending a lot of time drilling holes then get a hinge boring machine. It will pay for itself very quickly.
Thank you, all, for your thoughtful ideas and suggestions.I think I'm going to test the waters with the Rockler multi-jig, and then add a more sophisticated -- maybe automated -- boring jig as clients and finances permit.I've ordered the Powermatic 2800, which has a decent expandable fence, t-slots, stops, and other options, so it should be helpful in 35mm boring operations, too.Thanks, again, for you help.
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