hinge drill bit or center punch?

Pawl

I need a recommendation for aligning the holes for the hinges on pre hung interior doors. Jiffy Self Centering Punch or General tools Hinge bit.One review I read regarding the hinge bit tool the guy said it broke after two attempts so he bought a 2nd one and it broke. His review was from 2003 so it might have been improved.Or is there a different tool I should be using?

Double A

Sounds like user error to me. I prefer the vix bits (hinge bit) over the center punch, but you must hold the hinge steady while starting your cut and make sure the bit is not touching the wood of the door when you start up the drill motor.

The bit needs to be turning rather quickly to prevent it from wandering when it starts cutting.

Sounds much harder than it is.

Pawl

Do I need the #8 / # 10 vix drill bit to use # 9 hinge screws in my hinges?

troubleseeker

That will do it. And yes, the bit is no less than 1000 times better than a center punch. The best is the original "Vix" brand , but the "General" brand (about $6 at Lowes) works pretty good. The "Ryobi" brand that HD has is trash. They do work better at the higher rpm's of an electric drill, but a cordless will be ok, they just don't seem to clear the chips as well.

Quiglag

I have broken General hinge bits in hard wood doors, and on the first day of use too. I learned my lesson, buy Vix or nothing. I have had the same Vix's for years now.

troubleseeker

You will get no argument from me that the VIX are still the best , but they are not commonly available at local retailers. I believe that a HO doing a few doors will be served OK by the General.

Quiglag

I agree. For a few doors, the Generals should be fine, just go slow and let the drill bit do the work.

It is a shame that Vix bits are so hard to find. I cant even get them at my local tool store, and they have just about everything. I ended up getting mine by chance. I was on a weekend job 100 miles away from home, and a tool store next door was having a tool sale that day. Boy was I happy.

Pawl

Pawl here,
These are the first pre hung doors ( Masonite ) I have ever hung. Everything is going fine except for the screws in the hinges.I don't know exactly what the jambs are made of but the screws keep turning once they are tight in the hinge and they are barely long enough to attach to the jamb so I have placed a 2 inch screw in one of the 3 holes in each hinge so it bites into the rough opening.The screws even spin in the hinges on the doors so I have packed some toothpicks and carpenters glue in the holes to get it to snug. Am I on the right track with what I am doing? The ones I have hung are fine.I just wonder over time what will happen. I am tempted to put long screws in all of the hinge holes.Is there anything else anyone can recommend.I cant square up the door with the jamb if the hinge keeps moving?