Router Bit for Hinge Jig: The Only One You Need

If your hinge mortises are coming out chipped or oversized, it's probably not the jig — it's the router bit for hinge jig work you're using. Most carpenters reach for whatever bit is already sitting in the router case, and that's exactly why edges blow out on 85mm and 100mm cuts halfway through a hardwood door run.

What Router Bit Do You Actually Need?

Not every router bit that fits your collet is built for hinge jig work. There are three bit types carpenters end up choosing between: HSS (high-speed steel), TCT (tungsten carbide tipped), and solid carbide. HSS is the cheapest and dullest — fine for the occasional softwood cut, but it loses its edge fast on hardwood doors and starts tearing grain rather than cutting it. TCT bits hold up much better; the carbide tip resists heat and wear, which matters when you're routing the same 85mm or 100mm mortise pattern dozens of times a day.

Diameter and shank size matter just as much as the material. Your bit has to match the template opening on your hinge jig and fit your router's collet — 1/4" shank is standard on most trim routers, but check before you buy. A bit that's slightly undersized leaves a sloppy mortise; oversized and it won't sit in the jig template at all. Get the material and the fit right and the jig does the rest — clean, consistent 85mm and 100mm mortises without hand-chiselling the corners square.

Which Router Bit Actually Works With a Hinge Jig?

The direct answer: a tungsten carbide tipped (TCT) bit, sized to your jig's template and matched to your router's shank — not a generic bit from the router's default kit. Fast Hinge carpenters running 5+ doors a day consistently report the same failure pattern with off-the-shelf HSS bits: clean first cut, rough second cut, chipped third cut. Carbide holds the edge through the whole day, which is the entire point of pairing a jig with the right bit in the first place. If you're using a Fast Hinge Template Kit for 85mm or 100mm hinges, the bit needs to match that template's cutting width — a bit built specifically for the jig, not adapted to it, is what gives you a chip-free mortise on the first pass every time.

Choosing the Right Bit for 85mm and 100mm Hinge Jigs

Here's how the three common options stack up when you're cutting hinge mortises all day, not just once:

The pattern is consistent: cheaper bits cost you time, not just money. A $20 HSS bit that needs replacing every second door works out more expensive than a $35 carbide-tipped bit that lasts a week of installs — before you even count the re-cuts and chipped mortises from a dulling edge. For 85mm and 100mm Australian standard hinge sizes specifically, a bit sized and hardened for that exact cut removes the guesswork: you're not adjusting technique to compensate for a bit that's fighting the timber.

Fast Hinge TCT Router Bit — Built for the Jig

The Fast Hinge TCT Router Bit is the bit our own template kits are designed around — carbide-tipped, sized for clean 85mm and 100mm hinge mortises, and built to hold an edge through a full day of professional volume work, not just a weekend job. It's rated 4.9/5 by the 13,000+ carpenters across Australia and New Zealand who already run Fast Hinge tools on site, and at $35 it's the cheapest fix for the single biggest cause of chipped mortises. Pair it with the Hinge Template Kit for the full setup, and remember: orders over $300 AUD ship free.

Frequently Asked Questions

What size router bit do I need for a hinge jig?

Match the bit diameter to your jig's template opening and confirm the shank fits your router's collet — 1/4" shank is standard for most trim routers used with Fast Hinge template kits. Check your specific jig's spec sheet before buying, since template openings vary between hinge sizes.

Can I use a regular router bit with a hinge template kit?

You can, but a generic HSS bit will dull quickly on hardwood doors and start tearing the mortise edges rather than cutting them cleanly. A tungsten carbide tipped bit built for the jig holds its edge far longer and gives a consistent cut across a full day of 85mm and 100mm hinge installs.

Do I need a different bit for 85mm vs 100mm hinges?

The bit itself doesn't change between 85mm and 100mm hinges — what changes is the jig template you're routing against. The same carbide-tipped bit works for both sizes as long as it's correctly matched to your router's shank and cuts clean at the depth your template requires.