Replies

1. 
   Shep | Jul 31, 2009 04:05pm | #1

   How are you doing it?

   Chopping the mortice by hand? Drilling, then cleaning out the mortice? Using a mortice lock jig? (P-C makes one-pricey)

   That'll make a difference how much you charge.

   FWIW, using the drill then clean out method, I figure about an hour to install a mortice lockset. But if its your first time, figure longer. Plus you'll most likely need longer chisels than the standard carpenter's butt chisels.

2. 
   mike4244 | Aug 01, 2009 01:25am | #2

   I used to own the Porter Cable lock mortiser and templates. One mortised lock in a door took about 15 minutes to mortise the door and the strike .If I had several doors in the same building with similar door heights then I could cut the time in half. Some places I was not required to clean up afterwards, the sawdust is extensive. So is the noise.Add 5 minutes for cleanup per door. These times do not include installing the lock.I used to get $175.00 for a single door and lockset,if that was the entire job.I considered it a days work,even if it took an hour. If there were multiple doors in the same building and enough to keep me working 8 hours, then $35.00 per door for the entire installation.Because the mortising machine is loud and throws a lot of dust, some installations were done on weekends or at night. I always charged at least $75.00 per door then.

   You really cannot go by what I charged as I haven't mortised adoor or installed a lock for a dozen years. The times may help you figure your own rate.I would not work hourly unless the GC supplies the mortising machine, provided you use one.

   If you mortise by hand you can figure an hour to mortise the door and strikes.I always priced it by the door and hardware installation. If you have many doors to mortise or anticipate more in the future, the PC lock mortiser will save you a lot of time.I bought mine used, paid $600.00 for it. They went $900.00 at the time with no extras.I got the self centering strike plate template, two new 7/8",15/16 long router bits for the door router and 6 new straight bits for a router, two PC corner chisels and a 1 hp PC router with two sets of brass bushings for template routing.

   I sold it around 1997 when I retired for $300.00 if I recall.

   mike

1. 
   DanH | Aug 01, 2009 02:15am | #3

   > I sold it around 1997 when I retired for $300.00 if I recall.Gee, and I thought **my** employer was stingy with the pension!
   As I stood before the gates I realized that I never want to be as certain about anything as were the people who built this place. --Rabbi Sheila Peltz, on her visit to Auschwitz