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Lockset Prep

Door installation -  Hinge prep - Beveling - Lock prep - Interior Doors Blog - The Ultimate tool for installing prehung interior doors

Instructions for interior door lockset prep

Locksets and door knobs are available as cylindrical or mortise. Cylindrical locksets are by far the most common and easiest to prep. Mortise locksets were used in the early 1900's and are still used occasionally today on restoration jobs where the authenticity of the old style locks is desired.

Cylindrical lock prep is relatively easy. It requires drilling 1 hole into the edge of the door and 1 hole through the face of the door. The hole drilled through the face of the door is usually 2-1/8" in diameter and 2-3/8" in from the edge of the door to the centerline of the hole. This distance is called the backset. 2-3/4" backsets are also very common especially on exterior doors. Some locksets are adjustable for 2-3/8" or 2-3/4" backsets and some are not.
The most important considerations of lock prep are to make sure your backset and height of the holes are correct and avoiding tear out of the wood especially on the back side of the door.

The hole drilled through the edge of the door is usually 7/8" to 1" in diameter. This hole meets the face bore hole and accepts the door latch assembly. The door latch also has a face plate which will have either square corners or rounded corners and is about 1/16" thick. The wood on the edge of the door will have to be removed so the faceplate is flush with the edge of the door. This is called mortising for the latch plate. It can be done by hand with a utility knife and a chisel or there are also router jigs available if you want to do it with a router. A matching mortise will also have to be made on the jamb to accept the strike plate

Locks are usually installed 36" up from the bottom of the door to the centerline of the lockset
.
 Your local rental store may have lock prep tools available if you don't want to buy your own. 

 

Porter Cable Cylindrical Lock Boring Jig, Model #511

For Cylindrical style locksets only		 Porter Cable Cylindrical Lock Boring Jig, Model #511

For Cylindrical style locksets only
  • The quick, easy way to install cylindrical locks
  • Jig locates for 2-3/8" or 2-3/4" backset in seconds
  • Adjustable for door thickness from 1-5/16" to 2-1/8"
  • Drills all holes in one set-up
  • Includes strike locator for accurate placement of jamb mortise
  • Standard Equipment: Lock boring jig, 1" boring bit, 2-1/8" boring bi, full-up strike mortiser, latch mortiser, maximum security mortiser, strike locator, quick-change drill adapter, and storage case
     

     

Porter-Cable 513 Heavy-Duty Lock Mortiser

Porter-Cable 513 Heavy-Duty Lock Mortiser

Features:
Porter Cable 10 Amp motor, AC only

1-1/2 HP, 23,000 RPM

Quick, accurate cutting of mortises for box locks

Cuts mortises up to 7" long, 1-1/4" wide, 4-3/4" deep

Automatically centers cutter on door edge

Mounts to door in seconds

Adjustable height rod for repetitive mortise cuts

Includes height rod, 3/4" & 1" mortising bits, wrench set, and operating manual.

Standard Equipment: Motor, Height Rod Assembly (4 each rods, 1 each stop, and 1 each nut), Wrench, 3/4" Bit, 1" Bit, Allen Wrench.

For Mortise style locksets only
No Photo Available

Porter Cable Strike and Latch Templet, Model #59375

For fast routing of strike and latch plates.

Includes high-speed steel router bit #43670.

Will route the following sizes: Strike Plates - 1-1/8" x 2-3/4", 1-1/2" x 2-1/4", 1-1/2" x 2-3/4" Latch Plates - 1" x 2-1/4", 1-1/8" x 2-1/4", 1-1/8" x 2-3/4"

Porter-Cable 42234 Corner Chisel

Porter-Cable 42234 Corner Chisel

Porter-Cable 59375 Strike and Latch Template

Porter-Cable 59375 Strike
and Latch Template
Click Here to Go to On-Line Store

Watch these instructional videos on various interior door installation and carpentry subjects
Videos are made by others and we do not necessarily agree with all of their tequniques but they will definitely give you some good ideas for how to complete your project :



Lock prep video: http://tw.youtube.com/watch?v=zYk4jFpzZMo&feature=related