When woodworkers in smaller woodshops want to install hinges, the scenario probably runs like this: A hinge installer drills three holes — two 8mm and one 35mm. The next step involves a Phillip’s screwdriver and hammer to install the hinge, with or without plastic inserts. After the hammer has been applied to tap the hinge in — a step that sometimes causes serious damage — the screws are generally manually turned and tightened.

Those are the steps described by Conquest Industries, which has developed a more automated process for these steps with a pneumatically driven hinge setter. Headquartered in Santa Fe Springs, CA, with branches in Guadalajara and Mexico City, Mexico, Conquest Industries (conquestind.com) says many firms have moved beyond the purely manual approach, with a manual down-feed handle and magnetic flip down fixture that holds the hinge while boring the three holes. The swing arm aligns the hinge position and the manual down-feed handle presses the hinge into the holes.

The downside of this approach is the various hinge brands need up to three heads to hold them in alignment, and costs can range into the thousands.

“All that labor can be replaced pneumatically, with more options,” says Conquest Product Manager Jim Brady. His firm’s pneumatically driven hinge borer is aimed at the small operation, or possibly work cell settings in a custom shop.

Compatible with most Blum, Hettich, Lama, Mepla, Salice and other brand hinge installations, Conquest’s hinge borer weighs in at 270 pounds and comes crated 30 x 30 x 30 inch, with a 15 x 28-inch working table.

The U.S.-made hinge boring machine includes a machined cast-steel base, pneumatic hold-downs, precision extruded 30-inch aluminum fence and ruler with two extensions for each side, 1-1/2 hp motor, and runs at 3,450 rpm. Driven by 80 to 100 psi working pressure, it features a variable speed pneumatic hinge press installer arm (optional interchangeable head is available) and the operation requires 80 to 110 psi air pressure.

This pneumatically driven hinge borer is designed for short run work in the small shop setting.