Ten tools day 8

When I used to work in residential construction we would have to hang really expensive doors, interior, solid oak, arched doors costing upwards of $2,000.  When your hanging a 2k door you make sure everything is perfect and in order to do that you use the right tools.  Tools like 6ft levels instead of 4ft, Bosch 83038 hinge mortise jig, and self-centering hinge drill bits.

Of all the tools that we used to put in these custom doors only one really transfers into the maintenance field, the self-centering drill bit.  All the other items are a little overkill for our jobs and don't fit into many budgets, killing a mouse with a nuclear bomb type of overkill. (Check out the price of the Bosch...ouch!)

 
Self-centering drill bits can really come in handy but the best part about them is they take the guess work out of installing a new door and speed up the process.  They can also be used to line up a misaligned hinge from another worker, installing cabinet doors, and even installing towel bars.

The bits work pretty simply:  the tip of that chrome metal sleeve that you see in the picture above retracts into the body of the bit slowly exposing the spinning drill bit.  The metal sleeve does not spin.  The tapered end of the bit keeps your bit centered in the screw hole in the hinge, all you have to do is come into your surface at a perpendicular angle and you can't miss!

There are three sizes in the kits that I buy allowing for multiple types of hinges.  The only draw back to these bits is I have had a hard time finding a long enough drill bit in the event that one breaks, but for around $15 for a kit I can live with that.

Check these guys out and see how many uses you can come up with.  If you have any great ideas please feel free to post below!