How To Make A Mortise Lock Cut In A Door
Knowing how to cut a mortise is essential for installing a deadbolt lock.
How to make a mortise lock cut in a door. You ll need to cut a mortise a small shallow recess in the wood of the door and doorjamb for the latchbolt and strike plate to rest. Fit the latch and faceplate into the door. In other cases a mortise is merely cosmetic. Create a perfect mortise for the faceplate of your door latch use a rotary tool to help you make a perfect mortise for the faceplate of a door latch when installing door hardware.
This project guide features step by step instructions to tackle after you have already drilled holes in the door. Using a router attachment remove the wood between the pencil lines drawn on the door edge to create a mortise for the faceplate. Use a bevel edge chisel and hammer to square the corners of the mortise if the faceplate has square corners. Position the mortise lock body against the side of the door and mark the top and bottom against the side of the door.
A mortise is a recess or hollow space cut to fit a specific item such as a door hinge or a lock mechanism. If things don t go well for you the first time your lock will probably work fine after a few adjustments but you ll likely have to view the evidence of sloppy work for the life of the door. In some situations a mortise is required for the door to close properly. Mortising for a door hinge allows the hinge to install flush with the surface of the door edge or face.