Double-Faced Tape Holds Shifty Lids

Aligning a hinge with the lid of a box while you try to drill the holes for the hinge screws often proves tricky. Here's a solution that's fast and simple.

Cut your hinge mortises and screw the hinges to the box. Next, place a strip of double-faced tape on the top of the hinge and align the lid in the closed position on top of the box. Press firmly over the hinge to get a good bond between the lid and the tape.

Carefully open the lid and drill the pilot holes for the hinge as shown at top. Remove the lid from the hinge and take off the tape. Now, reinstall the lid by driving the screws through the hinge and into your perfectly aligned pilot holes.
—Alan Holtz, Torrance, Calif.