Instructions for Prepping an Opening for SOSS Invisible Hinges
IMPORTANT
Use only Porter-Cable Template Guide Bushing #42024 (Lock Face Routing)
and #42237 (Lock Nut) to assure the following guide bushing dimensions:
21/32" I.D., 3/4" O.D., 9/16" distance past base.
To avoid installation problems, we recommend you do a practice installation
on the same type of wood before using the template on your application.
This practice will help ensure proper installation, and reveal any potential
difficulties with the routing equipment and/or tools before using the template
on your finished project.
SAFETY
Protective eyewear should be worn by anyone operating equipment used in
the installation of SOSS Invisible Hinges, as should those in the area where
the work is being performed. For safety, if you are not using the
recommended Amana Tool Router Bits as described in Table B, use router
bits with 1/2" diameter shanks only.
To Mount SOSS Invisible Hinges using the hinge router guide template, you
will need the following:
1. Extra long router bits (See table "B")
2. Template guide bushing and locknut
3. Hinge installation template package
4. Measuring scale, ruler or spacing sticks
5. Electric drill or brace
6. Selection of spade drills or wood bits
FIGURE 1
References the various components of the hinge router guide template. Become
familiar with this terminology as it will be used throughout these instructions.
To determine your path and clearance see chart below:
Recommended Spacing of SOSS Invisible Hinges (Refer to Figure 2)
Notice that the "center" hinge is not shown in the usual location near the middle of
the door. The "center" hinge should be located one-half the distance from the
center of the door to the center of the top hinge. This is to fortify the door against
extra leverage extended on the top hinge.
On applications requiring more than four SOSS Invisible Hinges, a good rule of
thumb is to place more SOSS Invisible Hinges in the upper half of the door than in
the lower.
Instructions for Mounting SOSS Invisible Hinges
Using the Hinge Router Guide Template (continued)
FIGURE 3 illustrates a typical door/jamb where SOSS Invisible Hinges will be
mounted. Become familiar with the terminology as it will be used throughout these
instructions.
Jamb Preparation (Refer to Figure 4)
1 Remove the guide pins from the router guide template.
2 Place the Router Guide Template on the hinge jamb so the locator pins rest flush
against the pull side jamb face, and are on the inside of the intended door swing.
The spacer tab should be flush against the head jamb, and positioned in line with
the template (i.e. tab positioned as packaged).
3 Once the desired position is established, the nails can be tapped-in the door
rabbet to secure the template in place.
FIGURE 4
4 REFER TO TABLE "A" to obtain the proper size drill or spade bit and starter hole
depth.
TABLE A: Starter Hole Depth
SOSS Hinge
Model
Drill
Size
Starter
Hole
Depth*
#101
#103
#203
#204
#208
#212
#216/#416
#218/#418
#220
�"
3/8"
3/8"
3/8"
�"
�"
�"
�"
�"
37/64"
23/32"
27/32"
27/32"
1-1/32"
1-13/64"
1-9/16"
1-23/32"
2-1/8"
*The depth of the starter hole should be at least the values listed. Depths
exceeding those tabulated will not adversely affect hinge operation.
5 Being careful not to nick or gouge the template, drill the starter hole for
the router to the proper depth in the center of the hinge outline of the
template.
Routing the Hinge Outline
6 The chart in TABLE "B" lists the maximum depths to which the hinge
outlines should be routed. It is advisable to check the depth of the cut you
are making prior to removing a significant amount of wood. If desired, the
required depth may be obtained by making multiple router passes.
TABLE B Shallow Mortise
SOSS
Hinge
Model
Router Bit
Size
Depth
Recommended Amana Tool
Router Bit
#101
#103
#203
#204
#208
#212
#216/#416
#218/#418
#220
1/4"x 2-7/8"
3/8"x 3-1/4"
3/8"x 3-1/4"
3/8"x 3-1/4"
3/8"x 3-1/4"
3/8"x 3-1/4"
1/2"x 4-1/2"
1/2"x 4-1/2"
1/2"x 4-1/2"
7/32"
7/32"
3/16"
1/4"
9/32"
3/8"
15/32"
13/32"
15/32"
43838
46259S
46259S
46259S
46259S
46259S
51310
51310
51310
CAUTION: Do not exceed the listed depths when routing the hinge outline,
as binding of the hinges will occur.
7 Using whatever means of measurement best suited to you, determine the
location of the next hinge to be mounted on the jamb. Mark or measure that
distance so as not to damage the door.
NOTE: Remember the distances you have selected, as you will need to
recall those measurements when mounting the templates on the door.
8 Remove the template from the jamb and move it to the new location you
have chosen, repeating steps 2 through 7 for the number of hinges requiring
installation.
Door Preparation (Refer to Figure 3)
1 Prior to mounting the template on the door, make certain that the door is
properly oriented.
2 The clearance between the head jamb and the door is set with the spacer
tab. It should be positioned one quarter turn so the template will hang from
the top of the door.
3 Place the Router Guide Template on the door so the locator pins rest flush
against the pull side face of the door, and are on the inside of the desired
direction of the door swing.
4 Once the desired position is established, the nails can be tapped in to
secure the template in place.
5 Again, being careful not to nick or gouge the template, drill the starter
hole for the router to the depth listed in TABLE "A" in the center of the hinge
outline of the template.
6 The chart in TABLE "B" lists the maximum depths for which the hinge
outlines should be routed. It is advisable to check the depth of the cut you
are making, prior to removing a significant amount of wood. If desired, the
required depth may be cut in multiple passes.
7 Recalling the measurements you made to determine the hinge spacing on
the jamb, use those identical measurements to position the template for the
next hinge mortise on the door.
8 Remove the template from the top of the door and move it to the new
location repeating steps 3 through 7 for the number of hinges requiring
installation.
At this point, the routing of the outline portions of the hinge mortises is
complete. The next step is to rout the deep mortises.
Place the guide pins into their proper holes on the template. The guide pins
are threaded and must not be hammered or otherwise forced into position.
Care must also be taken that the threaded guide pins are not overtightened,
as this may distort the templates.
Completion of the Jamb Mortises (Refer to Figure1)
1 Starting at the top hinge mortise, position the template so the nails fit into the
holes left in the jamb from the previous rout. The locator pins should be toward the
inside of the door swing as before.
2 Once the proper position is reestablished, the nails can be tapped in to secure the
template in place.
3 To complete the routing of the hinge mortise, it will be necessary to remove wood
to the depth listed in TABLE "C". It is recommended that multiple passes be made,
as opposed to removing all of the wood at once.
#101
#103
#203
#204
#208
#212
#216/#416
#218/#418
#220
33/64"
21/32"
25/32"
25/32"
31/32"
1-9/64"
1-1/2"
1-21/32"
2-1/16"
CAUTION: Rout only the area between the guide pins. Do not remove any
more material from the circular outline or any outside the guide pins.
4 After the deep mortise has been routed, remove the template.
5 Place a SOSS Invisible Hinge into the mortise you have completed and
inspect the following:
A Does the hinge fit "snugly" into the mortise.
B Does any portion of the hinge extend beyond the rabbet of the jamb?
The body of the hinge should fit snugly into the mortise. If the hinge body
extends above the jamb after the hinge has been pushed into the mortise as
far as possible, verify that the mortises have been routed to the proper
depths. Correct as required.
6 Position the template at the next location on the jamb. Repeat steps 1
through 5 for the number of hinges requiring installation.
Completion of the Jamb Mortises (Refer to Figure1)
1 Position the template so the nails fit into the holes left in the door from the
previous rout. The locator pins should be toward the inside of the door swing
as before.
2 Once the proper position is reestablished, the nails can be tapped in to
secure the template in place.
3 To complete the routing of the hinge mortise, it will be necessary to
remove wood from the door to the depths listed in TABLE "C". Again, it is
recommended that the wood be removed by making multiple router passes.
4 After the deep mortise has been routed, remove the template from the
door and position it at the next hinge location on the door.
5 Repeat steps 1 through 4 for each hinge requiring installation.
Mounting the Door to the Jamb
Having completed the routing of the hinge mortises, notice that the hinge
mortise is not centered within the thickness of the door. The "thin" section
corresponds to the inside surface of the door.
1 Place the SOSS Invisible Hinges into the mortises so the hinge bodies
straddle the thin section of the door. Using the wood screws supplied with
the hinges, secure the hinges to the door.
2 The door can then be moved into a position where the remaining hinge
bodies can be placed into their respective mortises in the jamb.
3 Secure the jamb side of the hinges with the remaining wood screws.
4 Exercise the door to see that it opens and closes freely throughout the
required amount of opening.
Instructions for the SOSS Invisible Hinge
Multiple Router Guide System
1 Place the routed side of the wood router guide (refer to illustration below)
into a slotted aluminum channel rail. Slide the guide to the end of the
channel so the wood is flush with the aluminum.
2 Place small washer on wood screw. Slip screw through the slot in the
channel and screw it into the wood hole closest to the flush end. Tighten.
3 Turn the steel clip on the flush end of the guide one quarter turn.
4 Put screws and washers into any two remaining router guide holes and
tighten.
5 Slide a second router guide into the other end of the above channel/guide
assembly. Slide the guide about two inches into the channel.
6 Place a small washer on a wood screw. Slip the screw through the slot in
the channel. Turn it into the hole in the wood. Do not tighten.
7 Place another channel on the guide and insert two washers and screws as
before. Do not tighten them.
8 Turn a machine screw in each tapped hole in the angle rail so that screw
head is inside the rail’s corner.
9 Place the angle rail into the end of the channel so one screw extends into
the slot in the channel and the angle extends 6" beyond the channel.
10 Place a large washer over the screw, turn on a wing nut. Do not tighten.
11 Place the third channel over the angle and secure with machine screw
washer and wing nut but do not tighten.
12 Put the remaining router guide into the channel and secure with three
screws and washers. Do not tighten.
13 Put nails into the holes in each end of the guide
14 Hang the assembly from the top of the door, using the steel clip in step
3. Rotate clip a half turn if required. The two locator pins in each guide
should be against the pull side face of the door. Lay the door on its side as
shown in the illustration below.
15 Slide each router guide to the desired location and tighten all loose
screws. See attached "Instructions for Mounting SOSS Invisible Hinges Using
The Hinge Guide Template" to determine each guide’s location.
16 Partially drive the nails into the door, only far enough to secure the
location of each router guide.
17 To rout the mortise, follow the procedure on "Instructions for Mounting
SOSS Invisible Hinges Using the Router Guide Template".
18 After routing the door, pull the nails out of the door. It is not necessary
to pull the nails out of the pre-drilled holes in the guide.
19 Rotate the steel clip back to the original position. Place the entire
assembly against the hinge jamb with the steel clip snug against the head
jamb. The locator pins should be against the pull side face of the jamb.
20 Drive nails into jamb just far enough to secure the position.
21 Rout the jamb mortises in the same manner as used on the door.
SOSS
Invisible Spring Closer Installation Instructions
SAFETY
Protective eyewear should be worn by anyone operating equipment used in
the installation of SOSS Invisible Hinges, as should those in the area where
the work is being performed.
IMPORTANT! Read these instructions prior to undertaking the installation of
the SOSS Invisible Spring Closer. These instructions pertain only to the
installation of the SOSS Invisible Spring Closer. Instructions for the
installation of standard (non self closing) hinges are enclosed in the package
containing the hinges.
Recommended Equipment:
Hinge drilling
template (supplied)
Spade drills or wood bits
as follows:
Sharp chisel
for #216: 3/4" drill for
drilling spring clearance
hole
1" drill for drilling
hinge body mortises
Drill or Brace
for #218: 1" drill for
drilling spring clearance
hole
1-7/8" drill for
drilling hinge body
mortises
Suitable extension
shaft for spade bits
for #220: 1" drill for
drilling spring clearance
hole
1-3/8" drill for
drilling hinge body
mortises
INSTALLATION USING THE DRILLING TEMPLATE
1 Make the required measurements on both the door and jamb where the hinges
and closer shall be mounted. Make certain that clearance is provided between the
top of the door and the jamb to permit free movement of the door after installation,
NOTE It is recommended that the SOSS invisible Closer be mounted such that the
spring-bearing portion of the hinge is situated in the door if possible.
2 Fold the mounting template card along the scored line on the template
3 Using a punch or similar object, punch holes into the door at the locations
marked by the drill-point indicators (crosshairs). Note the drill-point indicator
marked with an X. This is the point where the clearance hole for the spring must be
drilled.
4 Remove the template from the door prior to doing any drilling.
WARNING
It is imperative that all drilling be done with the utmost precision and care.
Special attention must be directed to the the drilling of the spring
clearance hole. You will be required to drill a relatively large diameter hole
over 7" deep (in the case of a solid-core door). Special precautions should
be taken to assure that the holes you will be drilling are perpendicular to
the mounting surface.
5 At the punch point corresponding to the X, a small diameter hole (approximately
1/8" diameter or less) should be drilled at least 23/4" deep.
NOTE: This is the start point for the eventual drilling of the spring clearance hole.
The spring clearance hole will be drilled after the hinge mortise has been formed.
Do not drill through it, or you will have to visually ascertain its location at a later
time.
DRILLING OF HINGE BODY MORTICES
6 At the punch points marked with A, drill the required size holes to the depths
listed below by hinge size.
CLOSER MODEL
DRILL SIZE
DEPTH OF
HOLES
#216
#218
#220
1"
1-1/8"
1-3/8"
2" DEEP
2-1/8" DEEP
2-1/2" DEEP
7 At the punch point marked with B, drill the required size hole according to the
following chart
CLOSER MODEL
DRILL SIZE
DEPTH OF HOLES
#216
#218
#220
1"
1-1/8"
1-3/8"
1/2" DEEP
7/16" DEEP
1/2" DEEP
8 Using a chisel or router, remove the wood protruding into the hinge outline
to form a smooth mortised surface.
9 Locate the spring clearance starter hole, and remove any excess wood
preventing the drill from entering the starter hole.
10 Make sure that the proper size drill bit is being used for the spring
clearance hole!
The spring clearance hole must be drilled centered in the starting
hole, and must be drilled perpendicular to the edge (thickness) of
the door.
11 In drilling the spring clearance hole in hollow-core doors, you will drill
into the cavity of the door, thus completing the drilling on the door side of
the SOSS Invisible Spring Closer. Solid-core doors will require drilling the
spring clearance hole 7" deeper than the hinge-body mortise.
12 To create the hinge-body mortise for the jamb side of the closer, repeat
this sequence of instructions ignoring everything pertaining to the drilling of
the spring clearance hole. Ignore that indicator on the template.
13 Once the hinges are installed and the door swing found to be
satisfactory, the door closure speed may be set by adjusting the socket-head
fastener (requires 5/32" hex wrench). Turning the fastener in a clockwise
direction increases spring tension and door closing speed. The spring tension
should be adjusted gradually until the desired closing speed is achieved.
14 If all tension is removed, it cannot be added once installed. The hinge will
have to be removed to add spring tension, then reinstalled.
15 Lubrication may be used.
WARNING:
Self-closing doors are potentially dangerous to animals, children and
the handicapped! Suitable measures should be taken to prevent
anything from being caught between the door and the jamb!
