Mortise Locks

Created by M.Martin 9/05

Created by M.Martin 9/05

Types - your Ref: P45 of textbook

Review parts of a mortise lock on P 46 of textbook

Installing the lock

• Hold the lock at the required height

• Mark edges of lock as a guide on face of door

• Also mark height of spindle position and keyhole if a lock set

• Use a square and bring these lines to door edge

• Continue lines around door edge to show the position for mortise

• Find centre of door edge

• Mark a central guide line down the door edge

• Width of lock can bee marked on edge from here

• You can use a combination square to gauge depth for spindle hole

• If mortise lock has a cover plate, allowance must be made for this

• Transfer measurement to door face

• Mark both sides of door

• At this stage you can also use same process to mark keyhole on face, if applicable

• Wedge bottom of door tight

• Use an auger or speed bore to drill bulk of mortise

• Ensure you keep the drill level

• Either now or on completion of mortise, drill spindle and key holes

• Drill from both sides so that you don’t split the timber on the door

• Complete mortise with a chisel

• Use appropriate sized mortise chisel for this

• A paring or firmer chisel to clean final edges

• Push lock into hole• Check if square• Check spindle and key

holes are aligned• Trace face plate with

sharp pencil

• Remove lock• Carefully chisel

correct size of plate• Remember if cover

plates are being used, this will be deeper

• Reposition lock• Face plate should be

flush with door• Or place cover plate

plate over, this being flush

• Screw into position, pilot drill holes first

• Finish lock screwed into position

Fitting The Lever Handles

• Initially position spindle through door

• Check positioning is free from obstruction

• Fit one handle on, hold in the correct position

• Use a bradawl to position screw holes

• Remove handle• Pilot hole first

• Position handle & screw in place

• Fit screws to ensure handles stay level

• Top corner, then diagonally opposite bottom corner etc

• Repeat process for other side

Fitting Striking Plate

• Close door onto jamb• Use pencil to mark top

& bottom of latch & lock on jamb

• Accuracy is very important

• Open door continue marks around onto the face of the jamb

• With door open, measure depth of latch & lock

• A combination square is good for this

• Transfer depth measurement onto face of jamb

• With vertical lines between previous marks

• Hold strike plate in position

• Mark around plate to give exact position

• Chisel out inside the latch and lock guidelines and the external guideline for the strike plate.

• Position the strike plate, drill pilot holes and then screw it in place