Key Features
Consistent Hinge LayoutBuilt to lay out and route hinge gains quickly and repeatably on multiple doors and frames. That matters when you need the door to match the jamb without wasting time measuring each hinge by hand. Handles 3 or 4 HingesThe Porter Cable 59381 Hinge Butt Template Kit is set up for both 3-hinge and 4-hinge doors. That gives you coverage for common interior and taller door work without switching to a different jig. Ready To WorkIncludes metal templates, steel rails, a carbide-tipped router bit, template guide, corner chisel, gauges, screws, and case. You get the core setup needed to start routing standard 1/4 inch radius hinge corners.
Overview
Porter Cable 59381 Hinge Butt Template Kit is a door hanging jig system built for routing hinge mortises on doors and frames with repeatable spacing and clean alignment. This is a hinge butt template kit designed for hanging doors and matching hinge locations between the door and jamb. Model Number: 59381. If you install doors for a living, or you are doing several openings in one job, this kit cuts out the slow part of the work: measuring, marking, and hoping every hinge lines up the same way.
The big selling point here is capacity. The kit can be configured for both 3-hinge and 4-hinge doors. In 3-hinge setup, it handles doors and frames between 6 feet and 7 feet high. In 4-hinge setup, it handles doors and frames between 7 feet and 8 feet high. It also accommodates hinge sizes from 3 inches to 6 inches in 1/2 inch increments, which gives you flexibility across common residential and light commercial door hardware.
This kit is also built to work with a range of door thicknesses, including 1-3/8 inch, 1-3/4 inch, 2 inch, 2-1/4 inch, and 2-1/2 inch doors. That matters because you are not boxed into one narrow application. Whether you are hanging interior passage doors, heavier entry doors, or thicker specialty slabs, the jig has the adjustment range to stay useful instead of becoming a one-job accessory.
From a build standpoint, the Porter Cable 59381 Hinge Butt Template Kit uses metal hinge templates and steel rails, which is exactly what you want in a jig that needs to stay straight, clamp securely, and hold its settings over repeated use. End gages make it easier to set distance from the template to the top and bottom of the door, and the full-length locator on each template section helps with consistent placement. The included corner chisel is there for square hinge corners when the install calls for them.
For routing, the kit includes a carbide-tipped router bit, template guide, and lock nut for 1/4 inch radius hinges. That gives you the core cutting setup right in the case instead of sending you off to piece together the accessories separately. If your job uses 5/8 inch or 5/16 inch radius hinge corners, those can be accommodated with separately sold bits and template guides. That is worth knowing up front if you work across mixed hardware specs.
On the jobsite, this kind of jig earns its keep on speed and repeatability. When you are hanging multiple doors, a hinge template kit like this helps you reduce layout errors, keeps hinge locations consistent from opening to opening, and makes it easier to get a clean fit between door and frame. The included carrying case is a practical plus because there are a lot of parts here, and a kit only saves time if you can keep everything together and ready to grab.
This Porter Cable jig makes the most sense for finish carpenters, remodelers, millwork installers, door shops, and serious DIY users who want pro-level accuracy when mortising hinges. If you only hang one door every few years, it is probably more jig than you need. If you hang doors regularly, especially in batches, this is the kind of setup that saves time, keeps the work consistent, and pays for itself in fewer mistakes.
Set Up Doors Fast And Keep Spacing Consistent
Once the rails and templates are set, you can position the jig on the door and keep your hinge layout repeatable from slab to slab. That is the difference between a one-off setup and a tool that actually speeds up production door hanging.
- Supports both 3-hinge and 4-hinge door setups
- 3-hinge configuration fits doors and frames from 6 feet to 7 feet high
- 4-hinge configuration fits doors and frames from 7 feet to 8 feet high
Route Clean Hinge Mortises With The Right Hardware Range
The jig is built around the real hinge sizes and door thicknesses installers actually run into. Instead of improvising with story poles and hand-marked layout lines, you get a controlled routing setup that helps keep the cut where it belongs.
- Accommodates hinge sizes from 3 inches to 6 inches in 1/2 inch increments
- Works with 1-3/8 inch, 1-3/4 inch, 2 inch, 2-1/4 inch, and 2-1/2 inch doors
- Includes carbide-tipped router bit and template guide for 1/4 inch radius hinges
Built Like A Real Shop And Jobsite Jig
This is not a throwaway plastic jig. Steel rails and metal templates give the system the rigidity needed for repeat work, and the case keeps the whole kit organized so you are not hunting for gauges and screws between jobs.
- Metal hinge templates and steel rails for durability
- End gages help set top and bottom door offsets
- Carrying case helps keep the full kit together
What’s in the Box
- (4) Metal hinge templates
- (3) Short steel rails
- (2) Long steel rails
- (1) Carbide-tipped router bit
- (1) Template guide
- (1) Lock nut
- (1) Corner chisel
- (2) Pairs of end gages
- (8) Small thumb screws
- (6) Large thumb screws
- (1) Hex key
- (1) Carrying case
- (1) Instruction sheet
Bits and template guides for 5/8 inch and 5/16 inch radius hinge corners are sold separately.
Key Specifications
| Tool Type | Hinge butt template kit |
|---|---|
| Hinge Capacity | 3 in to 6 in, in 1/2 in increments |
| Door Height Capacity | 6 ft to 7 ft in 3-hinge setup; 7 ft to 8 ft in 4-hinge setup |
| Door Thickness Compatibility | 1-3/8 in, 1-3/4 in, 2 in, 2-1/4 in, 2-1/2 in |
| Hinge Corner Radius | 1/4 in with included bit and template guide |
| Material | Steel templates and rails; plastic carry case |
| Weight | 24.0 lbs |
| Size | 31 in (L) x 17.5 in (W) x 5.5 in (H) |
Compatibility
Included Routing Setup Includes a carbide-tipped router bit, template guide, and lock nut for routing 1/4 inch radius hinges. Additional Hinge Radius Options 5/8 inch and 5/16 inch radius hinge corners can be accommodated with separately sold bits and template guides.
Built For
Finish CarpentryDoor HangingRemodelingMillwork InstallationGeneral ContractingWoodworkingInterior Door InstallationShop Production Work
Pro Tip
If you are hanging a run of matching doors, take the extra minute to dial in the end gages and leave the template setup alone until the batch is finished. That is where a kit like this really saves time, because every door comes off the jig with the same hinge spacing.
Warranty & Support
3 Year Limited Warranty, 1 Year Free Service, and 90 Day Money Back Guarantee.
Tool Nut’s Take
Tool Nut’s Take
Porter Cable 59381 Hinge Butt Template Kit Is A Time Saver For Real Door Work
If you hang doors often enough to care about speed, repeatability, and not reworking hinge locations, this kit makes a strong case for itself fast.
- Who it’s for: Finish carpenters, remodelers, door installers, and serious woodworkers doing multiple openings or repeat door work.
- Why it stands out: You get steel templates and rails, support for both 3-hinge and 4-hinge doors, a wide hinge size range, and the included router hardware for standard 1/4 inch radius hinges.
- Worth knowing: This is a full-size jig system, not a casual one-door gadget. It makes the most sense when consistency and speed matter, and 5/8 inch or 5/16 inch radius setups require separately sold accessories.
Common Questions
- What kind of product is this? This is a hinge butt template kit used to route hinge mortises on doors and frames for door installation work.
- Can it handle both 3-hinge and 4-hinge doors? Yes. It is designed for both 3-hinge and 4-hinge door setups.
- What hinge sizes does it support? It accommodates hinge sizes from 3 inches to 6 inches in 1/2 inch increments.
- Does it include the router cutting hardware? Yes. The kit includes a carbide-tipped router bit, template guide, and lock nut for 1/4 inch radius hinges.
- What door thicknesses can it work with? It accommodates 1-3/8 inch, 1-3/4 inch, 2 inch, 2-1/4 inch, and 2-1/2 inch doors.
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