How to Chisel a Latch Plate

You can improve the security of your house by installing deadbolts or sliding locks to all your exterior doors. These types of locking mechanisms anchor the door by sliding a bolt through a latch plate. Proper installation of the latch plate is vital, otherwise the door may not close properly and compromise your home's security.

Things You'll Need

• Sharp wood chisel
• Utility knife
• Pencil
• Carpenter's square
• Hammer

Instructions

Instructions

1. Extend the deadbolt or sliding bolt with the door open. Gently close the door to the point where the bolt touches the door frame. Use a pencil to lightly mark the top and bottom of the bolt on the face of the frame.

2. Open the door and use the carpenter's square to transfer the horizontal lines to the inside of the door frame. Measure from the face of the door to one side of the deadbolt. Transfer this measurement to the corresponding side of the door frame and make a vertical line. Align the latch plate so that the horizontal pencil lines touch the top and bottom of the center hole and the vertical line hits one side.

3. Use the pencil to trace the outline of the latch plate onto the edge of the door frame.

4. Face the bevel of a sharp wood chisel to the inside of the outline and use the hammer to drive it to a depth of 1/8 inch around the entire perimeter. You will be left with a 1/8-inch deep groove around the outline. Use the utility knife to cut the groove in rounded corners or anywhere the chisel won't fit inside the outline.

5. Insert the chisel into the groove parallel to the length of the door and with the bevel facing down. Hold it at an angle and tap it gently with the hammer, removing a little wood at a time from inside the outline to a depth that matches the thickness of the latch plate. If you feel the chisel being pulled deeper into the wood, it's probably because you are going with the grain. Try going in the opposite direction.

6. Press the chisel with the heel of your hand to take out small pieces of wood and smooth out the area. Use the utility knife to clean out any remaining wood around the perimeter of the outline. The latch plate should now fit snugly into the chiseled area and remain flush with the door frame.

Tips & Warnings

• A properly sharpened chisel is vital. A dull chisel will crush the wood instead of cutting it. This will lead to a sloppy job and a poor-fitting latch plate.

• Chiseling is best performed using light, controlled strikes with the hammer. Forceful blows will make the chisel difficult to control.

• Double check all your measurements before you begin chiseling.

References

• Installing a Latch Plate
• Installing a Deadbolt
• Lockset Installation

Resources

• Deadbolts