I use the Incra iBox and dado stack to make the fingers for the hinges (rather than a router bit). While I can get very accurate finger joints, I have found it very difficult to get the registration between the iBox and the Hingecrafter to match. That is, the width of the fingers and the width of the slots created on the iBox are not necessarily the same as those set on Hingecrafter. If there is even a few thousandths of a inch difference, it causes progressive errors that can throw the last set of hinge knuckles off by enough that it won't fit in the Hingecrafter. I have found I can shim my dado stack and adjust the spacing on the iBox but it requires many failed sets of hinges before I get one that will fit. As the iBox instructions say, it nearly requires a degree in higher mathematics to work this out. What am I missing?
Bret I have been drinking the Incra cool aide and I was considering the hinge crafter, I have a few of there products and really like them, the TS LS joinery System and the Incra Master Router Lift, with the dust collection Clean sweep and router incerts as well as many of the marking and measuring devices. I do not have the I box since I think the Joinery system will accomplish the same task with a router bit. Having novelty wood hinges are kind of neat but at a steep price. after seeing your comment brass hinges are hard to beat for the price.
@@TheFalconJetDriver I am a bit of a purest when it comes to my boxes. I like to have only wood visible - brass tends to detract from the grain and stain. I am on old Intruder Driver. Thanks for the reply.
After using the IBox and Hinge Crafter for several years, I am updating my original post. Both of these products, true to Incra's Brand, are very precise jigs. The challenge has been to set up the table saw dado stack and the finger width to exactly match the settings on the hinge crafter. For example, if I am making the 1/2" hinge and the dado stack is just shy by 1/32nd of an inch, b7 the time I have cut 8 fingers, the progressive error across the hinge is 1/4" and the hinge won't fit into the Crafter. It turns out it is impossible to shim the Dado stack and adjust the IBox finger width to perfectly match the Crafter - I have spent hours shimming the dado stack and adjusting space between cuts only to be so frustrated that I was looking for a hammer to pound it all together (that doesn't work either). It turns out the solution is to adjust the HInge Crafter. Over every Aluminum insert is a set screw and tiny ball bearing. By loosening the ball bearing, you can adjust the space between each insert. BE VERY CAREFUL to not lose the ball bearings. Here is the way I use the IBox and Hinge Crafter: 1. Set up dado stack to be very close to the width you desire - Note which blades and shims are used. Repeatability is key with these two Jigs 2. Set up the IBox using the Kiss Method in the instructions. (If anyone has found a way to know how to just dial in the IBox for different widths without needing to do a full "kiss" for various widths I would love to hear it) 3. Using a scrap piece the same width as your final hinge, make a couple of cuts and see if it fits the Hinge Crafter. Mostly I am making sure my dado cut is wide enough to fit over the aluminum rods inside the Crafter. 4. Make sure you are cutting the hinges along the end grain. Can't tell you how easy the hinge knuckle will crack off if you cut along the long grain. 5. I NEVER try to get the fingers and cuts exact from end to end on the hinge. Instead I ALWAYS use the method that makes the center finger and cut take up any difference. 6. Make a test cut in two pieces of scrap to ensure the hinges fit snuggly. Sometimes I have found that doing setup on pine will be too tight on a final walnut hinge. Check before you get too far! I still love the look of woodgrain and try not to detract from it with a shiny brass hinge. If you like wood, these are for you. RTFM, go slow, test, learn. I even recently figured out how to keep my hinges "in-line" with the wood panel sothey didn't stick out the side of the box. Looks kinda cool! So yes, I strongly recommend these two jigs.
@@bretrupe5232 Quoted " 2. Set up the IBox using the Kiss Method in the instructions. (If anyone has found a way to know how to just dial in the IBox for different widths without needing to do a full "kiss" for various widths I would love to hear it)" This may seem like a stupid question, but what side of the saw blade are you setting the Ibox up for? I have Ibox set to the tilt of the Table saw and I have the Ibox set up to always be on the arbor side inboard of the arbor nut. That blade on the dado stack is always fixed in place and the width of my dados expands outward toward the arbor nut side. only had to kiss the IBox once and I have cut many box joints. THE ONLY TIMES I HAVE TO RE-KISS ARE IF I SWITCH TO MY FOREST BOX BLADES FIXED SIZE(KERF IS DIFFERENT), PUTTING BACK MY FREUD SET THAT GOES TO 1 1/4 INCH AFTER USING THE FOREST SET. (AGAIN KERF IS DIFFERENT) MY FLAT TOP BLADE (AGAIN KERF) AND IF I RESET FOR MY ROUTER TABLE. I VERY RARELY SWITCH OUT DADO STACK THOUGH. I did make the mistake of setting it up wrong once and nothing would work out for me. So unless I am doing something special I kiss once and cut , cut , cut and cut some more. or is that saw, saw, saw, saw? I mainly make cabinet drawer boxes and only use the Forest set for special things for the wife. I do have the Hinge Crafter only used it once to make my wife a special gift for her birthday a one of a kind maple and walnut sewing box with wooden hinges and she still has it. The arched top was the hardest part to make cause that is where the hinges are I mortised then into the top and into the edge of the top rail for the box. I can not tell you how many times I tested and broke things. to get them to look concealed and still work as hinges. Being a perfectionist can be a hassle at times. I know I do it to myself it is solely my own fault. But form , function and beauty all have to flow together as one.
Great video thanks. I wish this existed a few months ago. I made a number of these using 3/8 size in all sorts of hard and soft woods. My biggest issue was that during the drilling, the hinge pins would break making the whole thing unusable. I discovered clearing saw dust every few mm helps but I still had some issues. Any tips on the drilling part?
I know im asking randomly but does any of you know a method to get back into an instagram account? I was stupid forgot my password. I would love any tricks you can give me
@Guillermo Brett thanks so much for your reply. I found the site through google and Im in the hacking process now. Looks like it's gonna take quite some time so I will get back to you later with my results.
Guy great vid. Question, where did you get that hold down on top of the fence? If you can, please give model number and where. Love ur videos! I subscribe to your channel too!!
great video. great explanation
Hello dear Guy, fantastic video, I have INCRA IBox and I follow you, can you confirm the measure in inch of the bit used please
Thanks for video.
Thank you the good video.
Do you glue the brass in place? Are the brass ends left naked and exposed?
I use the Incra iBox and dado stack to make the fingers for the hinges (rather than a router bit). While I can get very accurate finger joints, I have found it very difficult to get the registration between the iBox and the Hingecrafter to match. That is, the width of the fingers and the width of the slots created on the iBox are not necessarily the same as those set on Hingecrafter. If there is even a few thousandths of a inch difference, it causes progressive errors that can throw the last set of hinge knuckles off by enough that it won't fit in the Hingecrafter. I have found I can shim my dado stack and adjust the spacing on the iBox but it requires many failed sets of hinges before I get one that will fit. As the iBox instructions say, it nearly requires a degree in higher mathematics to work this out. What am I missing?
Bret I have been drinking the Incra cool aide and I was considering the hinge crafter, I have a few of there products and really like them, the TS LS joinery System and the Incra Master Router Lift, with the dust collection Clean sweep and router incerts as well as many of the marking and measuring devices.
I do not have the I box since I think the Joinery system will accomplish the same task with a router bit. Having novelty wood hinges are kind of neat but at a steep price. after seeing your comment brass hinges are hard to beat for the price.
@@TheFalconJetDriver I am a bit of a purest when it comes to my boxes. I like to have only wood visible - brass tends to detract from the grain and stain. I am on old Intruder Driver. Thanks for the reply.
After using the IBox and Hinge Crafter for several years, I am updating my original post. Both of these products, true to Incra's Brand, are very precise jigs. The challenge has been to set up the table saw dado stack and the finger width to exactly match the settings on the hinge crafter. For example, if I am making the 1/2" hinge and the dado stack is just shy by 1/32nd of an inch, b7 the time I have cut 8 fingers, the progressive error across the hinge is 1/4" and the hinge won't fit into the Crafter. It turns out it is impossible to shim the Dado stack and adjust the IBox finger width to perfectly match the Crafter - I have spent hours shimming the dado stack and adjusting space between cuts only to be so frustrated that I was looking for a hammer to pound it all together (that doesn't work either). It turns out the solution is to adjust the HInge Crafter. Over every Aluminum insert is a set screw and tiny ball bearing. By loosening the ball bearing, you can adjust the space between each insert. BE VERY CAREFUL to not lose the ball bearings. Here is the way I use the IBox and Hinge Crafter:
1. Set up dado stack to be very close to the width you desire - Note which blades and shims are used. Repeatability is key with these two Jigs
2. Set up the IBox using the Kiss Method in the instructions. (If anyone has found a way to know how to just dial in the IBox for different widths without needing to do a full "kiss" for various widths I would love to hear it)
3. Using a scrap piece the same width as your final hinge, make a couple of cuts and see if it fits the Hinge Crafter. Mostly I am making sure my dado cut is wide enough to fit over the aluminum rods inside the Crafter.
4. Make sure you are cutting the hinges along the end grain. Can't tell you how easy the hinge knuckle will crack off if you cut along the long grain.
5. I NEVER try to get the fingers and cuts exact from end to end on the hinge. Instead I ALWAYS use the method that makes the center finger and cut take up any difference.
6. Make a test cut in two pieces of scrap to ensure the hinges fit snuggly. Sometimes I have found that doing setup on pine will be too tight on a final walnut hinge. Check before you get too far!
I still love the look of woodgrain and try not to detract from it with a shiny brass hinge. If you like wood, these are for you. RTFM, go slow, test, learn. I even recently figured out how to keep my hinges "in-line" with the wood panel sothey didn't stick out the side of the box. Looks kinda cool!
So yes, I strongly recommend these two jigs.
@@bretrupe5232 Quoted " 2. Set up the IBox using the Kiss Method in the instructions. (If anyone has found a way to know how to just dial in the IBox for different widths without needing to do a full "kiss" for various widths I would love to hear it)"
This may seem like a stupid question, but what side of the saw blade are you setting the Ibox up for? I have Ibox set to the tilt of the Table saw and I have the Ibox set up to always be on the arbor side inboard of the arbor nut. That blade on the dado stack is always fixed in place and the width of my dados expands outward toward the arbor nut side. only had to kiss the IBox once and I have cut many box joints. THE ONLY TIMES I HAVE TO RE-KISS ARE IF I SWITCH TO MY FOREST BOX BLADES FIXED SIZE(KERF IS DIFFERENT), PUTTING BACK MY FREUD SET THAT GOES TO 1 1/4 INCH AFTER USING THE FOREST SET. (AGAIN KERF IS DIFFERENT) MY FLAT TOP BLADE (AGAIN KERF) AND IF I RESET FOR MY ROUTER TABLE. I VERY RARELY SWITCH OUT DADO STACK THOUGH. I did make the mistake of setting it up wrong once and nothing would work out for me. So unless I am doing something special I kiss once and cut , cut , cut and cut some more. or is that saw, saw, saw, saw?
I mainly make cabinet drawer boxes and only use the Forest set for special things for the wife. I do have the Hinge Crafter only used it once to make my wife a special gift for her birthday a one of a kind maple and walnut sewing box with wooden hinges and she still has it. The arched top was the hardest part to make cause that is where the hinges are I mortised then into the top and into the edge of the top rail for the box. I can not tell you how many times I tested and broke things. to get them to look concealed and still work as hinges. Being a perfectionist can be a hassle at times. I know I do it to myself it is solely my own fault. But form , function and beauty all have to flow together as one.
@@jwar2163
thanks for the reply. I will take a look at where I have the iBox on my saw. Maybe moving it to the other side will help with setups!
What are the advantages of using the inbox jig over the Incra jig?
Thanks for video. Well done.
Great video thanks. I wish this existed a few months ago. I made a number of these using 3/8 size in all sorts of hard and soft woods. My biggest issue was that during the drilling, the hinge pins would break making the whole thing unusable. I discovered clearing saw dust every few mm helps but I still had some issues. Any tips on the drilling part?
I know im asking randomly but does any of you know a method to get back into an instagram account?
I was stupid forgot my password. I would love any tricks you can give me
@Zahir Russell Instablaster =)
@Guillermo Brett thanks so much for your reply. I found the site through google and Im in the hacking process now.
Looks like it's gonna take quite some time so I will get back to you later with my results.
@Guillermo Brett It worked and I now got access to my account again. Im so happy:D
Thanks so much, you saved my ass :D
@Zahir Russell you are welcome :D
Exelente, como las encuentro en ebay o amazon todo lo q se indica al inicio gracias.
For how brands frezer have plates at Incra tables?
Is it possible to install a Festool 1400?
What router fence are you using?
That is the Incra LS positioner wonder fence / super fence.
Guy great vid. Question, where did you get that hold down on top of the fence? If you can, please give model number and where. Love ur videos! I subscribe to your channel too!!
What kind of clamp were you using in the ibox jig?
I wondered the same question....I'm thinking these. www.amazon.com/dp/B00008K2TD/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_6V5GFb52TR9P6
So, a hundred and twenty dollar drill guide called the Hinge Crafter…
Incra is not for the faint of wallet