4 - Use a combination square, butt gauge or butt marker to lay out the area to be cut out for recessed hinges. 6 - Mark the length on the edge of the door with a pencil, knife or awl. 8 - Making the shallow cuts reduces the chances for splitting and makes the wood removal much easier. Surface-mounted hinges, as the name implies, are mounted on the surface of the pieces being hinged. Recessed hinges require the removal of wood to allow the hinge to be mortised into the wood.
Some hinges are a combination of hinge types.
One leaf is surface-mounted while othe other is mortised or recessed. Regardless of the type of hinge you are using, accurate measurements are a must. Measure all dimensions carefully. If there is any doubt, remeasure. Equally important are clearances.