Customer Reviews

Hinge Mate HM-1100W Door Hinge Template II

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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.

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

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.

I purchased this item a couple of years ago and didn't get around to using it until late March of this year. It did a fantastic job. The only problem I noted was the same as others have commented on: the lack of the 5/8" radius bit to rout the curved corners of my hinges. However, I had previously purchased the Porter Cable $25 plastic template (which did not work well at all) and I was able to use the appopriate radius curved pieces of that template with this one. Would recommend this product to anyone who has a significant number of doors that need to have hinges mortised. As noted by others, this will not work for mortising the door frame but I didn't need that feature.

Works well except that it will not lock down on 5" hinges.

The Hinge Mate is easy to use and accurate, a great tool. Although, the optional router bit for 5/8 radius hinges should be a little easier to obtain.

This is an excellent product for replacement door installations. I made a door holder to allow the old door to sit next to the new door and transferred the hinge locations and every door went right back up as though it were the original. I liked it so much I purchased another with the door lock installation kit.

I replaced 12 doors in my house, and had to fit them to another person's idea of how they were fitted. If you know anything about installing doors in an older home, you know of the potential for problems. Anyway, with this tool, mortising 11 doors (22 mortises) and a front door, 3 more, I was able to do the job in quick time. I hung the new doors and we sold the house a week later. Hooray!

This is a great item. I have used it for over 100 hinges so far very easy to setup. It may look hard but very simple very good instructions.

Don't wait just buy it . I wish I bought this years ago . I kept putting it off because I may only do one or two doors at a time . Then it might be some time before I do any more . But even if your only doing one door every once and awhile it's worth it . It takes no time to set up and your off . With perfect results every time . The bit that came with mine fits the radius of the older hinges perfectly . You will need to order the bit that fits the newer more radical radius hinges . I don't like the new style round so I use the square hinges which just requires a quick squaring of the corner with a chisel once your done routing . I've heard the larger radius bit only comes in a 1/2 " shank bit either way you want a router with a good size base to use this jig anyway . I will keep a designated router set up all the time for this jig . But even if you have to change bits they show you literally how to set up the depth of cut in a few seconds . And that's all you have to set up on the router and setting the jig itself is just as quick and easy . I guess that's a good way to describe the whole process quick and easy .