What is a Forstner cutter?
The purpose of Forstner cutters is to form blind holes with a flat bottom in wood, MDF, chipboard and other similar materials. The equipment consists of auxiliary cutting edges that cut wood fibers along the contour. ... For precise alignment, Forstner drills have a central point.
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What is a drill for furniture hinges
Milling type tool. It is used to create an indentation in the material. After use, you get a smooth blind hole into which the loop is inserted.
When installing furniture connecting elements, it is convenient to use a drill using a special drill.
When choosing, it is important to take into account the thickness of the panel and select a device whose diameter will match the parameters of the loop. Used for working with sheet materials - chipboard, laminated chipboard and MDF.
Screw the hinge exactly 90 degrees relative to the door.
How to choose a drill
The most important thing is to clarify the dimensions of the fittings. It depends on them what size drill you need to purchase.
Take measurements carefully before drilling.
The most popular diameter is 35 mm. It is almost universal: you can install hinges for any furniture in such a hole.
It is advisable to practice on a piece of chipboard before drilling a hole on the door.
When purchasing, you need to pay attention to the quality of the material. Products made from HSS (high-speed steel) have the best performance. Such a drill will not become dull and will not leave chips on the product.
Take measurements carefully before drilling.
Loop insertion order
1. Mark the furniture door based on the recommended distances between the hinges.
2. Using the stopper against the end, place the template on the door and secure it with a clamp.
3. Place the router in the work area, lower the tool body until the cutter touches the surface of the workpiece and clamp the locking lever.
4. Lower the depth gauge to the position support.
5. Count 11.5 mm on the scale and set the stopper position.
6. Tighten the routing depth adjuster lock.
7. Adjust the parameter using a micrometer screw.
8. Release the locking lever.
9. Rotate the positioning support to set the depth of the first pass.
10. Start the router, press the body and fix the position. Smoothly moving the tool along the surface to be processed, cut out the material, starting from the circle and moving to the center.
11. Once you have completed the passage, release the latch. Rotate the support to the next position and repeat the process until the recess is completely exhausted.
Advice. If there is no sawdust removal system, it is recommended to clean the work area with a vacuum cleaner after each pass to avoid milling defects.
12. A neat seat is ready.
13. Insert a loop into the recess, align and mark the location of the screws.
14. Drill for screws, limiting the drilling depth.
15. Screw the hinges with countersunk screws.
After inserting the hinges, proceed to the door hanger, for which mark the location of the mating parts. In our example, the markings for the screws are 37 mm from the end of the chipboard. For other modifications of the fittings, determine the size locally: having assembled the hinge and positioning the front adjustment screw in the middle, lean the door against the side with a gap of 2 mm and place marks through the oblong holes. Complete the work with adjustment operations.
Adjustment screws: 1 - height; 2 - in depth; 3 - in width.
In a similar way, it is easy to calculate and make templates both for installing cup hinges of other sizes and for cutting other holes.
The furniture hinge has a cup on one side that cuts into the door mass. The standard cup diameter is 35 mm. To install the hinge yourself, you need to get a forstner drill and do the following:
Place the door against the cabinet body and mark with a pencil where it joins the shelves. Measure in several places at right angles from the edge of the door 22 mm. Connect the points into one line. Mark the centers of the recesses at a distance of 10 cm from the top and bottom of the door slab. If the points coincide horizontally with the shelves inside the cabinet, move them vertically. With the slab on the floor or workbench, carefully use a forstner drill bit (ø 35 mm) to make recesses
This must be done very carefully so that the drill does not come out. The best option is to purchase a drill with a stop; it will stop at the desired depth. As you drill, insert the cup of the hinge into the groove until, when you press on the transverse bars with holes, they swing
When working with a limiter, this is not necessary. Lower the hinge cups into the openings so that the line of the slats' holes is strictly parallel to the side edge of the door. Secure the hinges with screws. Lean the door against the body so that the hinge arms are against the cabinet wall. Screw the fasteners through the holes in the second half of the hinge. Two hinges are installed on the doors of wall and floor cabinets. In the case of installing a door leaf of a pencil case with a height of more than a meter, three hinges are installed.
When installing double-leaf hinges, you need to determine the thickness of the plates. Usually this size does not exceed 2 - 3 mm. Having determined the attachment points on the end surface of the side pillars of the door frame, attach the hinge halves to the wood and trace the outline of the plate with a pencil.
Detachable hinges can be left or right. Their correct location should be as follows: the plates with the pin are mounted in the cabinet opening with the axis up. The door hinge plates are installed with the sockets facing down.
At the end of the door where the hinge is installed, mark the thickness and length of the plate. Carefully remove excess wood with a chisel. If you own a hand router, then the recesses for the hinges can be made easily and quickly.
Having placed the plate at the installation site, use a pencil to outline the holes for the screws. Having removed the loop, use a drill with a thin drill to make shallow holes (5 mm) at the marking points. Using a screwdriver, you can easily secure the hinges with self-tapping screws on the doors and cabinet body.
Installation of various types of hinges
Methods for installing hinges for gates, doors and furniture facades are somewhat different from each other. Let's look at each method in more detail.
Furniture hinge installation
Installation of internal hinges on furniture facades is carried out according to the general scheme shown in the figure.
Layout and installation diagram of the main elements of the loop
During the installation process, it is recommended to proceed as follows:
- The first stage is to apply markings at the locations of the loops. Since a furniture hinge consists of two main elements (a cup and a striker plate, which are respectively installed on the front and frame of the cabinet), markings must be made on both surfaces;
In order to avoid making numerous measurements and calculating the location of the loop components, you can use a template during installation.
- the next stage is drilling holes for the hinge cup and fasteners. To perform the operation, a drill with various attachments and drills of suitable diameter is used;
- installation of the main part of the loop, equipped with a cup;
Attaching a furniture hinge to the facade
- installation of a strike plate;
- The final stage is adjusting the loop, which can be done in three directions.
Aligning the door relative to the furniture body
Installing a door hinge
To install internal hinges for doors, you need:
- Mark the area where the hinges will be installed on the side of the door leaf and the door frame. For convenience and speed of marking, you can use specialized templates;
Determining where to install hinges
The optimal place to install the hinge is considered to be an area located at a distance of 15-20 cm from the upper and lower edges of the door leaf and frame.
- In the door leaf, using a milling machine (in the absence of a device with a hammer and chisel), a piece of wood is removed to make a recess. If the installation is carried out on a metal door, then the hinge is located between the door leaf and the casing;
Preparing holes for mounting a door hinge
- holes for the mounting bolts are drilled with a drill;
- the loop is fixed and, if necessary, adjusted.
Screws for adjusting the door inner hinge
Additionally, you can watch a video about the correct installation of internal hinges on an interior door.
Installing a hinge on a gate
To install internal hinges on a gate or gate with your own hands, you will need a welding machine, since the connection between the hinge and the metal surface of the gate (wicket, support posts, etc.) is considered unreliable.
Installation when using welding is carried out in the following way:
- places for installing loops are selected. The number and dimensions of the hinge are calculated based on the weight and overall dimensions of the gate. If it is necessary to install two loops, then they are located at the top and bottom at a distance of 15-20 cm. The third and subsequent loops are mounted evenly in the space between the two outer ones;
For a door weighing no more than 30 kg, installation of additional hinges is not required.
- after determining the location, it is necessary to apply preliminary markings;
- the area in which the welds will be located is cleaned of dirt and rust. To do this, you can use a simple metal brush or a special attachment for a drill;
- steel internal hinges consist of two parts connected to each other by a pin. First of all, the part of the hinge intended for installation on the gate or wicket is welded. The weld seam must be located along the entire length of contact between the hinge and the gate facade;
Recommended type of weld to be used
- the correct opening of the gate leaf (gate door) is checked. Defects are eliminated by hitting the loop with a hammer;
All loops must be on the same line and in the same plane.
- the second part of the loop is welded onto the support post or metal gate frame (depending on where the loop is installed);
- two parts of the loop are connected by simply hanging one part on the pin of the other component;
- Weld seams are leveled and cleaned before further processing.
The choice of hinges for installation is made based on its purpose, since furniture, door and gate hinges differ significantly from each other. Installation of various types of hinges is done with your own hands if you have the simplest tools and acquired knowledge.
Types of drills for furniture hinges
To install hinges, drills of different diameters are used. The nozzle is selected depending on the size of the furniture hinge bowl.
Choose quality drill bits.
Forstner drill
This tool is used to create a blind hole. It consists of a head with 2-4 sharp tips and another tip for centering.
We decided to install the hinges locally so as not to end up on the shelf in the closet.
It is installed in the intended middle of the hole. Attach the drill to a screwdriver or drill.
To install the cabinet you need a drill and other tools.
The head can have a diameter of 26, 35, 40 mm. Typically the hole is made to a depth of 9 mm.
Other
Other drills are also available in several diameters: 26, 35, 40 mm. 35 mm cutters are considered the most popular, since such hinges are in greatest demand.
A drill will help make a hole to the required depth.
Manufacturers also offer drills for non-standard hinges and special attachments for professional milling machines.
There are special screws that should be used to fasten the hinges.
How to cut a hole for a hinge correctly
To work, you will need a drill or screwdriver, as well as several additional devices:
- awl;
- screwdriver or bit for self-tapping screws.
A screwdriver will help unscrew the hinges.
How to properly drill a hole for a furniture hinge:
- apply markings on the facade of the product, mark the center (at a distance of 22-23 mm from the edge);
- measure the height of the bowl to maintain the depth of the hole. If the bowl does not fit correctly, the facade will be damaged.
To avoid drilling through the part, you can use a special stop. The rod is attached directly to the tool or to the drill.
First you must decide how many hinges you will install and their exact location.
The device will help you maintain proportions when drilling, but you still shouldn’t forget about accuracy. Limiters will be useful in the work of a novice home craftsman.
Furniture hinges, attached after processing the base with such a tool, “sit” evenly and securely.
Advice. For the design to work properly, the bowl must fit entirely into the hole, but not rest against the slab.
Experienced craftsmen recommend that beginners practice using leftover material. Typically, sheets with a thickness of 16 mm are used for furniture, which is smaller than the size of a drill.
Consult with a specialist regarding the correct screwing of the hinges.
Therefore, before work, you need to learn how to adjust the depth of insertion of the tool.
Advice. To reduce operating time, you can slightly change the angle of inclination of the tool. Then you will be able to remove excess material from the part faster, and the drill will not overheat.
A Forstner drill is an inexpensive tool; it is better to purchase one before starting to assemble furniture. But if a special device is not at hand, you can replace it with a feather drill for wood.
You should select milling elements in specialized stores.
Some craftsmen recommend grinding off the central tenon, leaving 1.5 mm for adhesion to the wood. It is also necessary to grind off the cutting edges horizontally, leaving 1 mm spikes along the edges.
In order for the cabinet to last a long time, you need to adjust the hinges on the doors in all directions at once.
Other craftsmen advise using a regular feather drill (without modernization), and then processing the hole with a chisel.
You should always have a screwdriver on hand.
The tool must be set to low speed. You can also drill a hole for the loop using a homemade “ballerina”, selecting the center with a chisel.
What types and modifications exist?
Today, many companies are engaged in the production of Forstner drills, each with its own approach. The former are committed to improving the quality of the products they provide, for which they are constantly upgrading alloys so that the work is completely uncompromising. The latter focus on the traditions of the original source and try to maintain absolute accuracy in preserving the parameters of the instrument configuration.
Manufacturers have also gone far in terms of size. Despite the fact that the most popular drills are those with a diameter of 30 to 40 mm, you can often find both 10 mm and 60 mm products on sale.
You should also pay attention to the accompanying documentation, which precisely indicates the recommended speed of a particular product.
As mentioned above, today the Forstner drill is available in several versions on the market:
- Forstner drill with toothed rims. Each product has special cutters on the entire cutting rim that resemble teeth in shape. Such drills have a lot of advantages, but what stands out is that they practically do not heat up. This is ensured by the fact that the teeth themselves have virtually no contact with the wood. It is for this reason that all products with a diameter greater than 2.5 cm are usually manufactured with these teeth. The disadvantages include the relatively short design (about 100 mm). For this reason, it is often necessary to use specially designed extension cords. Another drawback is that drilling sometimes ends in failure when working at an angle or at the edges of the surface of materials.
- Drill equipped with carbide cutters. Such drills provide for the construction of cutters exclusively from carbide materials. In fact, such drills are analogues of the original version of Benjamin Forstner. They are expensive, are not sold in all stores and are very often subject to counterfeiting. Among the disadvantages, which by the way are present, it should be noted that the original version is subject to vibration and disruption from the surface. This happens because the circumference of the lateral incisors is very small.
Guide for installing accessories
A special template for drilling holes necessary for attaching handles to doors and drawers without preliminary marking.
The top and side stops are installed along the edges of the part and aligned with rulers. Then all that remains is to move the movable bushings to the required distance and drill holes. A convenient template with which you can quickly and easily attach guides for drawers without fussing with markings. To do this, you just need to install the jig at the desired height, fix it with a vertical stop, and then put the guide on top and secure it. The second part is mounted opposite in the same way.
Expert opinion
Strebizh Viktor Fedorovich, leading construction foreman
The fact is that steel that heats up to hundreds of degrees in high-quality cutters is used, hardened, and will become much softer and more ductile. If you want to clarify something, please contact me!
What is it and how does it work?
A drill for furniture hinges is a special milling attachment that allows you to work with wooden and plastic bases of sufficient width. With its help, you can make the desired hole in a solid panel, MDF, chipboard or laminated chipboard.
With its help, you can make the desired hole in a solid panel, MDF, chipboard or laminated chipboard.
You can find both standard and non-standard drills with a quality certificate and a guarantee from well-known manufacturers.
The nozzle is a base with a bridge and three teeth. The middle spike is installed in the center of the future circle, which is outlined using a prepared gauge, and the rest make a round hole of the required diameter. Typically the depth of the final cut is about 9mm.
The nozzle is a base with a bridge and three teeth.
Elements that are too cheap are an indicator of a low-quality product, so it’s worth considering options with prices below the market average.
Furniture hinges for which a drill is used are mainly four-hinged. The hole for each is made almost instantly. When working, the drill is held slightly inclined, and not straight, so that the waste material is selected to the desired depth and evenly.
Typically the depth of the final cut is about 9mm.
This cutter is reliable and will last a long time.
