How to Install Door Jigs

Latch the tape measure onto the top of the door. Align the tape measure with the edge of the door where you will install the hinges. Measure down from the top of the door to the desired location of the top of the upper hinge's barrel, usually 5 inches down from the door frame's inset. Mark the location on the door's edge with a pencil.

Move the tape measure to the door's bottom edge. Align the tape with the edge of the door that you are working on. Measure up from the bottom edge to the desired location of the bottom of the the lower hinge's barrel, usually 10 inches above the finished floor height. Mark the location on the door's edge with a pencil.

Measure the distance between the marks. Divide the distance by two. The result is the center point of the middle hinge. In general, doors over 5 feet tall require a center hinge. Stretch the tape between the bottom and top hinge marks and mark the center point of the middle hinge on the door's edge with a pencil.

Lay the hinge jig's large face on the edge of the door and set the small face over the side of the door that will swing outward. Align the hinge jig's top mark with the lay out line that represents the upper hinge. Hammer the hinge jig's anchoring nails through the jig to secure the jig to the door's edge. If your jig is a clamp-type, tighten the clamps to secure the jig to the door.

Attach a hinge mortising bit and router bit guide to the router. Select bits and guides according to your jig manufacturer's specifications; the depth of cut and thickness of guides vary according to the size of the jig. Rout through the center of the template to create the mortise for the top hinge. Pry the jig's nails from the door's edge or loosen the jig's clamps to remove the jig from the door.

Align the jig's bottom mark with the layout line that represents the bottom of the lower hinge. Nail or clamp the jig to the door's edge and rout the mortise for the lower hinge. Remove the jig from the door. Align the jig's center mark the middle hinge's layout line, secure the jig to the door and rout the mortise for the middle hinge.