How To Mortise Box Hinges - WOOD magazine

The devil is in the details and you've done a masterful job to this point. Let's put a lid on this project and call it perfected. Learn how to mortise in box hinges that fit perfectly and work flawlessly. WOOD magazine's Craig Ruegsegger will show you how.
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[@dlevi67]

Very useful trick of setting the depth to half the barrel, and not just the hinge leaf's thickness - thank you!

[@mikeygee2465]

This was great! I’m almost ready to add the hinges to my keepsake box and I must admit I’m a little dubious. I feel much more confident after watching this. Thank you for the demonstration.

[@rashadfoux6927]

I love how deliberate woodworking has to be to get it right. Thank you!

[@henryworkswoodandmetal]

Your process makes it easy and straight forward to understand, excellent tutorial!

[@mikekalish6796]

I'm about to try this for the first time. Your video is so good that it has taken away all my excuses. Thanks.......I think!

[@beccabeth2]

This is the best video I have watched on hinges very good.

[@harrypowers9412]

I really get a lot out of your videos-they are well done and instructive; I also appreciate not having to listen to the distracting music that often accompanies so many woodworking videos. 👍🏻

[@gnrrguy7951]

Outstanding instructions. I would never have come up with your sequence of tasks on my own. Extremely well thought out. Can't wait to try it.

[@barbaramajastaroszczyk2024]

Such excellent and thorough instructions!! Full of those tiny details that make all the difference (like marking the inside edges of the mortises using the combination square and the hinge to avoid that tiny gap). Greatly appreciated, thank you!!! ❤️

[@tracykooken2606]

Very nice product 😊. Here is a thought 4u, butt the lid to the box so that the lid/box hinge area is back to back. Then do entire hinge lay out all at one time😊drop a scrap piece into the lid for a flat router surface to work on. This lets you route all hinge area at one time!. There are vix bits that are small enough for your hinge screws ! U can clamp a " stop " for the router so you get the back edge of hinge routed out for you 😉 . This saves chisel time and a clean job. You only need to make the left/right of hinges to clean up. ATB.

[@lurklingX]

great how-to. thank you! nice and clear, no fluff.

[@Kcustom216]

I can't believe this came up. I'm doing to toybox lid today and was looking for references. Thanks.

[@Baertrs1911]

Thank you. This is the best video I’ve seen for setting hinges. Love the idea of clamping each piece together to make sure it lines up.

[@joblowu]

OMG! i wish saw this video before i did my box. LOL, now i know what i have to do for my next box. thank you so much.

[@quirtdrozario9983]

Thank you for this. I will be making a box soon so this video will come as a big help. I saved the video to watch again.

[@keith121261]

Nice little box nice easy intuitions

[@chrisbellis4762]

This has been a most interesting demonstration of fitting hinges on small boxes. It was full of lots of very useful tips, but the best tip has got to be using the self centering drill has a punch, that is so simple and totally wonderful. Thank you for sharing it with us all and going to so much trouble to produce such a superbly shot video, with everything in plain sight. Regards Chris

[@craigleadley2472]

Such a helpful video - thank you so much!

[@nore8141]

I’m working on this. Thanks ❤

[@cristianvel619]

Glad I found this. Thanks.

[@martinmeasures829]

Great video, thankyou for the tips and tricks 😀.

[@coolinken]

That was extremely helpful and explained very well. Thanks!

[@sawdustjoe]

Great demo, thank you!

[@PeteLogan101]

Brilliant, very informative...thank you!

[@j.m.castilla7150]

Great job, thanks for your videos

[@aligned4good]

Great information! Thank you!

[@hassanal-mosawi4235]

Thanks for sharing that!

[@vid1234ful]

Spot on, great help

[@rudyelisarraraz3522]

Thank you teacher

[@weanddiy4712]

Very nice job 👍

[@williambranham6249]

I think the hinge placement is more attractive if the top surface of the hinge is level with the edge of the box side. It's all subjective.

[@Alsaaahir2]

Thank you

[@paulalderson6920]

Can I use a box cutter/Stanley knife as a substitute marking knife.

[@CassStevens]

Excellent video. What would you do if you were making a chess board type box that you want to sit flat when it's opened and turned over? Is there a way, or would you need a special type of hinge?

[@wafaelborjo4323]

So I know that this posting is from 2yrs ago but I hope someone will see this .. i want to repair a box that has broken from where the hinge used to be what material is best to fill in the place of the broken wood ?

[@michaelharp7048]

When you mark out the hing is the hinge folded open? Great video

[@Grumpycat0405]

Do you have a video how did you build the box? Tnx

[@JayJay-wv1vx]

is it possible to drill holes for hinge and lock holes on thermatru doors?

[@timlist4173]

Thanks, Where do you get your box hardware from?

[@tombeck2792]

For brass, use a bees wax or parrafin

[@mikkelchandler5503]

Great video !! Put some olive oil on your hands it will keep them from drying out ..

[@euridious1458]

I want to add a mirror to the bottom of the lid is there any way to adjust the lid to stay at 90 degrees so one can use the mirror

[@billballeza377]

No, but there are stop hinges available at a higher price point.

[@stevebailes8590]

Why did you include half the barrel in your markout for depth and posterior dimension when the barrel stays completely out of the mortise when it is screwed in?

[@dlevi67]

Because it allows the box to close flush (depth) and only half the barrel to be exposed (width - you can see the hinge being pulled in a little bit at 14:05 - 14:09).

[@randsipe224]

This is a very fiddly operation in my experience. It takes several adjustments especially when you have a liner in the box. I find I may have to fill the holes with toothpicks and relocate the holes.

[@TermiteUSA]

Far better to use the hand router plane than that noisy thing.

[@in2rock]

Why not layout the lid at the same time as the box? Your marking gauge is already set so your lines will be exactly the same on the box and the lid. Using the box to reference the lid layout leaves room for error if the lid is not EXACTLY in line with the box, which it ever is.

[@davidbrooks1971]

Check out 1530 onwards. Absolutely rubbish hinge rebate! Why all the cooing - this is a really bad job...

[@dwijendrabanerjee2682]

This was great! I’m almost ready to add the hinges to my keepsake box and I must admit I’m a little dubious. I feel much more confident after watching this. Thank you for the demonstration.

[@dwijendrabanerjee2682]

This was great! I’m almost ready to add the hinges to my keepsake box and I must admit I’m a little dubious. I feel much more confident after watching this. Thank you for the demonstration.