How to Make a Door Knob Hole

Make a door knob hole before installing the knob.

One of the last steps in installing a new door is to make a door knob hole. These holes are where the knob cylinder and latch are mounted and secured so that the door can be opened and shut. The door knob hole through the door connects at a right angle to the door latch hole. You can make a door knob hole in a door fairly simply with an attachment for your power drill called a hole saw.

Things You'll Need

• Door knob template
• Measuring tape
• Hammer
• Nail
• Hole saw attachment
• Power drill
• Spade bit
• File
• Sandpaper

Instructions

1. Move the door to the open position if it is already installed. Place a brick or block of wood between the door and the door frame so that it stays partly open.

2. Measure the starting points for drilling. Many lock sets come with a template that you can tape or pin to the door. These provide you with an excellent guideline for drilling the holes. Make a pilot hole by lightly hammering a nail through the tempate and into the door. Do this on each side of the door and one on the edge of the door for the latch. Remove the nail and template.

3. Attach a hole saw of the proper diameter to the end of your power drill. Most of these hole saws have a pilot drill in the center that can be used to position the drill correctly. Insert the pilot drill into your pilot hole to begin drilling.

4. Gently apply pressure to the drill as it cuts into the door. After you have drilled about halfway through the door, pull the hole saw out and position yourself on the other side of the door. Drill into the pilot hole on this side until the two sides of the hole meet.

5. Attach a spade bit to your drill. Drill into the side of the door from the pilot hole until the spade bit emerges into the knob hole.

6. Sand down the edges of the hole with a file or sandpaper.

Tips & Warnings

• If your door knob did not come with a template, it should have the measurements for where you need to drill the pilot holes.

• The size used for your hole saw and spade bit will depend on the size of the lock you are installing.

References

• Hammerzone: Installing a Door Knob
• Caldwell's: How to Cut a Door Knob Hole