scmrak's Full Review: General Tools 292 Self Centering Hinge Bit
For some bizarre reason, I seem to be forever replacing doors. Interior, exterior, wood, metal, solid-core, hollow core; it doesn't make much difference: if it's a door, I'm somehow doomed to replace it. To that end, I own a door lock installation kit and have my very own butt gauge (which isn't as dirty as it sounds). I should probably invest in a hinge template for my router (note to potential gift-buyers), too!
One thing I've learned about doors is that the installation process is quite sensitive to the position of the hinges, or, to be more accurate, to the position of the hinge screws. That can be frustrating - get one screw a little off-center and the process of hanging the door plumb starts involving shims or, worse, a hand plane. So, when I happened upon a General Tools Self-Centering Hinge Bit on the sale table at Lowe's one day, buying it was a no-brainer. In fact, I bought every size they had on hand...
"How does it work?" you ask. Easy: instead of a naked bit, a self-centering bit is a conventional high-speed bit sheathed in a spring-loaded steel guide. The guide's chamfered tip fits into the holes in a hinge. The whole assembly is mounted on a hexagonal shaft for quick and secure loading in your drill. Mount the bit, plug its tip into the hole on the hinge, and then fire up the drill. As you press the bit into the wood (or metal), the guide keeps the bit centered in the hinge's screw hole. Presto: a correctly-spotted pilot hole! which means no more off-center or slightly canted screws with raised heads. And no fumbling with a punch, either, only to watch the drill bit blithely walk away from its target.
Hole depth can be adjusted using a hex-head set screw (allen wrench not included), and the drill bit itself can be replaced (or swapped for one of better quality). The tip has side openings to prevent shavings from building up on the bit.
General's Self-Centering Hinge Bit comes in three sizes: this one, a 7/64-inch (#292) for #5-6 screws; a 5/64-inch (#291) for #3-4 screws, and a 9/64-inch (#293) for #8-10 screws. The small bit is designed for cabinet-door hinges, while the larger bit is sized for full-sized doors. All are competitive with similar bits made by Stanley (e.g., ST-5701), though Stanley claims that their product can be "flipped" to change into a screwdriver, which might be a slight advantage.
Of course, installing doors isn't the only use for a self-centering bit: the mounting of almost anything that screws to the wall, ceiling, floor, or any other surface can be improved with screws that have been placed correctly. Every handyman ought to have a full set of these babies, if you ask me - and they're all the better if you can find 'em on sale!
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