Hey All,
I need to install a few locksets, actually deadbolts in three metal doors. these are existing doors. Is there a hole saw made for this like you would use for wood doors? Also how would I achieve a mortise for the latch and strike plate on the metal dooor and frame? I’m a little stumped. Thanks
Don
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Replies
Bi-metal HS. cuts just fine.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
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Agree with the Bi-metal hole saws... they'll work just fine.
The mortise... I use a Dremel with a cut-off wheel to cut the metal skin... then install as normal on the door. ***Note... be sure there is a wood core on that metal door... otherwise... you may have nothing to attach to.
On the frame... you're stuck with with a surface mount for the strike plate (unless there is something different about these door frames than most commercial door frames). Hopefully you have at least that much clearance.
Rich,
How am I to be sure there is a wooden core on the door?
If it's a residential metal door, it's probably a sandwich of metal skin over a wood core, and the core is readily visible on the edges. If it's a commercial doo, chances are it's a hollow metal construction, in whiuch case the metal wraps all the way around the edges.
I'm sorry, I thought you wanted it done the right way.
Pop the door handle off and look inside of the hole.
Get drive-in latches, they usually fit snugly in a 1" hole. Unless of course you are using Schlage hardware which has a junky plasic cap to achieve the same effect. Schlage is quality hardware but I wouldn't recommend it in this application. For a deadbolt in a steel frame I would just drill a 1" hole and skip the plate.
View ImageDrive- in latch, sorry couldn't find deadbolt example
View ImageMilwaukee, Bosch, all make similar kits.
Thank you guys
I had a niave customer whose florist shop/antique/furniture store was broked into. She said she sure wished she could get deadboltsfor her commercial steel doors. I asked who told you you couldn't? Her previous contractor was her answer. Just as the others said get the bi-metal holesaw kit that is marked for steel or wood and you are there. The big boxes have one with a cheezy guide for under $20 with both 2 1/8 and 1" holesaws. Ones I have seen are orange instead of white or black which is usually not bi-metal.