How to choose and install a mortise door lock
A door and a lock are the main protection of our home. First you need to choose a reliable and robust front door, and to it, given the size and parameters, pick up the mortise door lock. When purchasing a mortise lock, you must remember that in this case, the savings can be too expensive. So you need to think about the question of which to choose and how to install the mortise lock.
Content
- Security above all or how many locks to install
- Choose the most convenient and safe lock
- Install the door lock video
Security above all or how many locks to install
Experts recommend protecting the front door with two mortise locks at once. And it is also advisable to choose locks of different types in order to complicate the task of potential crackers and thieves. One lock (reinforced) should protect the door from banal knocking out (at the same time it would be good to strengthen the door itself), and the second to confuse the cracker, not to let him solve the secret. We recall the famous film Diamond Hand and the number of locks and bolts in the apartment of the chief of criminals.
And yet, if the attacker still managed to enter the room through a window or balcony, he should in no case be given the opportunity to calmly exit through the door. The lock must be opened with a key both outside and inside. Ideally, it is better to choose a lock that cannot be opened from the outside if a key is inserted from the inside. This of course represents some inconvenience for households, but significantly increases the safety of the house, especially at night.
Choose the most convenient and safe lock
The lock should be not only safe, but also convenient. Problems with opening the castle should be experienced only by a potential cracker, and not by residents who have returned home. When choosing a mortise lock, pay attention to the convenient and reliable level and cylinder locks.
mortise lock
Mortise door lock mortise, it is also called safe, has many advantages. A door with such a lock is difficult to knock, parts of it are firmly held in the canvas. A good level lock must be equipped with at least six locks, then it cannot be opened with a master key. When choosing, you need to consider that this is a rather massive lock with large dimensions, not suitable for a thin door. In addition, keys of appropriate dimensions are attached to it.
cylinder mortise lock
A mortise cylinder door lock is easier to install and use than a mortise lock, but this does not make it less reliable. The fact is that this is a castle with a secret, which is based on a mechanism similar to a lever. The cylinder lock is equipped with a tongue with a lever mechanism that allows you to securely lock the door. To protect the tab from the banal drilling out of the door frame, it is recommended to protect it with metal plates. Expensive cylinder locks are equipped with a tongue made of heavy-duty metals that are not amenable to drilling. A positive aspect of a cylinder lock is the ability to change only the tongue itself in case of losing the key, without wasting time and money on replacing the entire case.
For ease of use, it is better to choose the model of mortise door locks with a handle. By purchasing such a lock, you no longer care about purchasing additional accessories for the door, and do not waste time installing it. After all, it is much more convenient to install everything in one set. But the most ideal and easy to use model will be a mortise door lock with a latch. The latch will allow the door to close softer and more reliable. A good mortise lock complete with handles and a latch will make the door reliable and easy to use.
Install the door lock
Before starting work, think at what height the lock will be installed so that all households, including children, can open the door without problems. By the way, now there is a tendency to install the lock at the level of one meter from the floor. Then, using a pencil and a ruler, we mark the door.
Before installing the lock, you need to prepare a place for it in the door, it is called a nest. One hole is made in the canvas itself, the other (for the lock tongue) in the door frame. Use a drill, rotor or chisel to remove excess wood and insert the lock case. It should firmly stand in its place and not protrude beyond the door leaf.
The next step is the alignment of the lock housing and fixing in the door. Aligning the lock itself and the plate located at the end of the door, mark the place for the handle. We mark the door with a pencil and carefully drill the wood from both sides. Having inserted the lock into place, we fix the case with the help of screws (we use a screwdriver or an ordinary screwdriver).
Then we insert the cylinder with the latch into the body, fix everything with the help of screws and check the lock for operability. Now comes the turn of the pens. We try on plates with handles, apply markings and drill holes for fasteners. We return to the place of the plate and wrap the screws.
Most of the work has been done, it remains to install the plate, which will include the tongue of the castle. Just like on the door leaf, we drill a recess in the door frame. Do not forget about the markup, so as not to miss. We fix the bar from the lock with screws on the door frame.
Be sure to check the operation of all parts. They should work harmoniously and clearly. If necessary, the lock can be additionally greased with machine oil. Does everything work as it should? Congratulations! You coped with the task of installing a mortise lock, and now your house has become a real fortress.
