I've been trying to replace some really old door handles and latches, but I'm running into a problem. The old hardware is about 30 years old, and even though I've measured the sizes, the new mortice latches I found don't fit the existing holes—they're more square and don't slide in due to their shape. It's like trying to fit a square into a round hole! What would be the easiest way to expand the mortice hole to make it fit properly?
3 Answers
You could try placing the latch in the hole and tracing around its plate with a sharp utility knife. After that, cut along those lines to the required depth. Then, use a chisel for fine-tuning until it fits perfectly flush!
Chiseling is a solid way to go for door projects. It takes time, but it's much more accurate than other methods. Just take it slow and test the fit regularly.
If you're looking at the hole in the wood jamb, you can definitely widen it using a chisel. Just be careful to keep it straight!
Thanks! Just to clarify, I meant the hole that's drilled into the jamb for the latch, it's about 76mm deep.
Good tip! But just to mention, my issue is with the latch itself not fitting, given it's a rectangle latch case. I was considering the chisel method but was unsure due to digging deeper.