How to Use a Door Hinge Template

Door hinge templates make hanging doors faster.

A door hinge template is also called a router hinge template--a metal device that is used to quickly cut the hinge depressions out of a wooden door. The metal template is secured into place along the edge of the door before using a router saw to cut out the hinge area. This makes hanging a door, or multiple doors, much quicker because you do not have to measure each individual hinge.

Things You'll Need

• Hammer
• Safety glasses
• Router with 1/4 inch cutter

Instructions

1. Lay the new door on its side so that the area where the hinges will be installed is facing upward.

2. Place the metal hinge template on the side of the door approximately 5 1/2 inches from the top of the door.

3. Locate the metal pins positioned at the corner of the template whichlook like small nails. Tap the top of each pin with a hammer to drive it into the wood and hold the hinge template in position. Some hinge templates use screws instead of pins.

4. Put on safety glasses and turn on a handheld router set to a 1/4 inch depth.

5. Turn on the saw and insert the tip onto the center of the rectangular cutout of the hinge template. Move the saw around the entire interior of the rectangle to create a 1/4 inch depression in the wood. Turn the saw off.

6. Remove the template by inserting the pronged end of the hammer underneath each of the corner pins and prying them up. If the template uses screws, remove it with a screwdriver. Repeat the process to cut the remaining two or three hinge depressions at equally spaced distances along the side of the door.

References

• Bob Villa: Router Hinge Template
• Tools of the Trade: Door-Hanger's Toolbox
• Hammer Zone: Custom Door Hanging