Installing Full Mortise Door Locks

Make a series of closely spaced cuts into the mortise area.

Installing full mortise door locks.

First you need to make sure the door stays steady. To install a mortise lock into a wood or composite door requires a pocket drilled into the edge of the door with the centerline of the door prep at 39 3 16 above the finished floor. If it s a tight fit try loosening the opening with a chisel to ensure the. Fit the new lock body into the old mortise.

Trade expert michael demonstrates how to quickly fit a 5 lever security mortise 5 lever mortise lock and handles in this easy diy video by studhawk. Step 1 steady door. Starting at the top of the faceplate outline make a series of closely spaced chisel cuts about 1 8 inch deep inside the marks. In the early days the pocket was cut out using a brace and bit.

Step by step instruction to install a mortise lock. The brace is a u shaped steel hand tool that has a wood cap on one end and a bit chuck on the other. The spindle or shaft of one doorknob fits through the lockset body into the doorknob on the other side. This can usually be done by removing a few screws in the door knobs around the face.

Cut through the base of the cuts to empty the mortise of excess wood. Mark holes for the faceplate and drill with a bit smaller than the fastening screws. Place the lock on the router s base and set the depth of cut slightly more than the combined thickness of the lock mechanism and the plate photo 12. To ensure the lock body cover also fits in the.

Since you are going to do a lot of hammering and drilling ensuring. Insert the doorknob and doorknob plate together on both sides of the door at the same time.