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How to Drill Cabinet Door for Cup Hinges

February 1st, 2010 Leave a comment Go to comments

If you don’t want to pay for an expensive drill bit, here’s how to drill for the special cabinet door concealed cup hinges. European hinge is the technical name for this piece of hardware. The proper bit is going to cost upwards to thirty dollars. It is generally inserted into a drill press. It’s not really possible to use the special bit without a drilling machine.

I will explain a method that worked well for me using a hole-saw drill bit set in combination with an elictirc hand-held drill.


Using the hole-saw set method
The chances are really good that you will not be able to find the correct size bit to use in your hole-saw set. Just find the one that is the closest size to what you need. The chances are really good that the bit is going to be too big. Obviously it won’t be too small! You are going to need an extra piece of wood to use as a guide. This pieces of wood should be about six inches wide and ten inches long. Prior to starting this operation, determine how deep the hole is going to need to be drilled in order for the cup hinges to seat properly. You are going to need two clamps also. Perferably not the sqeeze kind, but good solid grip clamps

1) Drill a hole in the extra piece of wood in the exact position that the hinge specifications require. The wood should be at least five eights of an inch thick. Go all the way through the template piece of wood.
2) Clamp the template board onto the new kitchen or bathroom vanity cupboard door in the exact location where the hole needs to be drilled.
3) Remove the pilot bit from the hole-saw set-up and just use the cutter without the pilot bit. This is usually done by removing a small allen-head screw that holds the bit securely in place.
4) Pre-drill the cabinet door about a quarter of an inch deep. Remove the template so that you will be able to gauge the depth of the hole you are drilling.
5) Drill the replacement or new cabinet door the rest of the way. DO NOT drill it too deep.
6) Using a small chisel remove the wood inside of the area where you drilled the hole.
7) Place the cup hinge in the hole to assure that it will seat properly or the hole is deep enough.

When you are doing the previously mentioned operations, it is important that you take your time and do things without haste. Remember that haste makes waist. This is the only way that I know how to drill doors for European cup hinges without using a drill press and purchasing the expensive specialized hinge drilling bit.

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