Hinge Mate HM-1100W Door Hinge Template II

by Hinge Mate

Product Description

Amazon.com

The router is every carpenter’s tool of choice for cutting hinge mortises. However, to cut mortises precisely and quickly, you must use a template, especially if you’re hanging several doors. The Hinge Mate HM-1100W Door Hinge Template II combines fast, easy set-up with the versatility and capacity to handle nearly all hinge-installation jobs.

The rugged, yet lightweight, aluminum template comes with everything needed to rout mortises, except the router. And unlike most other mortise-routing templates that must be nailed or screwed in place, the Hinge Mate clamps directly to the door or doorjamb. The template will cut mortises ranging from 1-inch to 5 inches long, and it has a maximum clamping capacity of 1-3/4 inch thick. Be aware that the template won’t clamp to jambs that are already installed.The Hinge Mate Door Hinge Template II can also be used to rout hinge mortises in wooden boxes and chests, and to cut mortises for strike plates. It comes with a hinge-setting gauge, guide pins, 1/2-inch diameter carbide-tipped router bit, and storage case. Note that you’ll need a 5/8-inch diameter. bit to rout matching mortises for hinges with rounded corners. --Joseph Truini

What’s in the Box: Hinge Mate Door Hinge Template, 1/2-inch diameter ball-bearing-piloted router bit, storage case, instructional booklet

Product Description

Lets you accurately set hinges in minutes. Use it for doors, strike plates, boxes, or other edge routing projects. For hinges 1" - 5" long on stock up to 1-3/4" thick. Precision made of extruded aluminum with built-in clamps, hinge setting gauge, plus scales and guide pins for door and jamb mortising. Includes special 1/2" dia. carbide bit with top bearing, and storage case.

Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 4.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B0000224L5
• California residents: Click here for Proposition 65 warning.
• Item model number: HM-1100W
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #60,541 in Home Improvement (See Top 100 in Home Improvement)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

39 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars There's a catch, September 17, 2005

By 

Michael "bikemanmichael" (Vermont, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hinge Mate HM-1100W Door Hinge Template II (Tools & Home Improvement)

There aren't that many professional grade models to choose from. For a hundred dollars less then the Porta Cable & Bosch, this is is a good pick. If you have a stick or can use a tape measure, you don't need the three hinge erector set type template contraption. Solid Aluminum construction is great. It's the only model I found that clamps to the door. The others you have to nail in which is the last thing I want to do to a new door. For a few dollars more or in place of the 1/4" radius bit provided with a 1/4" shank, the Hinge-Mate should include a bit for 5/8" radius hinges. All I seem to see are 5/8" radius hinges and Amazon doesn't carry the bit. The catch is the 5/8" radius bit only comes with a 1/2" shank. A smaller router with a 1/4" collet is more than enough to route the door but you need to get yourself a big router to accomodate the 1/2" shank. I called DC Precision tools and there is no plan or other accessory offered to make a 5/8" radius with the bit provided nor are there plans to make a 5/8" radius bit with a 1/4" shank.

22 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Highest quality door jamb prep tool out there, ...but, January 13, 2005

By 

inPHILm (Pasadena, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hinge Mate HM-1100W Door Hinge Template II (Tools & Home Improvement)

It should be noted that the Door Hinge Template does not work on installed door jambs.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars After several years of professional use, November 1, 2008

By 

Gregory A. Barnicoat "Door Man" (San Gabriel, Ca) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Hinge Mate HM-1100W Door Hinge Template II (Tools & Home Improvement)

This tool, while having the potential to be a mainstay of every professional Door Guy, has a few shortcomings. The advantages of this tool over the others are no small things. It is designed to clamp to the door not nail to it (for prefinished doors such as plastic laminate or glossy stain grade this is huge). Adjusting to a hinge size is as simple as loosening one finger tight screw and sliding the unit tight on the hinge, then tightening the screw. Setting the height of the template for each hinge on the door is simple and more accurate than most of the competitors products also (because the solid aluminum template contacts the high edge of the door instead of being a small post in the center of the template about 1/4" away from the door edge). I have even customized mine so that I can cut just about any type of hardware that mortices into the edge of a door.
On the other side of the coin, the first thing I noticed is that the template does not cut at a bevel. It only cuts at a 90 degree angle to the face of the door. So your hinge will have to be deep on the high edge of the door to be flush in the back. The screw clamps can wear out if you over tighten them because the template that they penetrate is only aluminum. Also the bases of the screw clamps can mar some of the more delicate finishes which requires some precautionary measures (tape).
All of this said, I would still recommend this tool for anyone that wants to do a little work to build a multi-use template. I have used mine for Hinges, Manual and Automatic Flushbolt, Strike Plates, Roller Latches, Fire Bolts, Center Hung Pivots, Offset Pivots, Concealed Closers, and even Mortice Locks among others. You will want to start with a piece of aluminum angle 3/4 by 3/4 by 1/8 inch thick that you attach to the top front edge of the template to get a bevel.