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A "precision" hinge jig that cost me 7 hours in June
I finally gave in after three years of hand marking hinge mortises and bought a popular self-centering jig from a big box store. First job with it was a full set of shaker cabinets for a client in Boise, and the hinge positions looked perfect on the test scrap. But on the second door panel, the router bit wandered because the jig's plastic base flexed on a slight curve I didn't notice. It dug a hole a quarter inch deep right where the hinge plate sits, ruining a $90 pre-finished maple door. I patched it with wood filler and had to order a replacement door, which set me back an extra 3 days. I'd rather go back to my old method of marking each hinge by hand with a razor knife and chisel. For anyone using these jigs on curved or reclaimed wood, has yours ever shifted mid-cut and how did you fix it without losing the whole panel?
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the_rowan8d ago
Did the jig's base have any give on that curve, or was it the clamp slipping?
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