door jam alteration for deadbolt - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

Jesse Benson · 01-30-2007, 07:01 PM

Sorry if this is the wrong spot for this.

I am looking at installing 20 deadbolts in an apt. building and the doors are wood so no problem there but the door jam is steele. How do i go about cutting the hole and latch plate into the jam. thanks for any help

mdshunk · 01-30-2007, 07:06 PM

I've seen plenty of these re-fits that the deadbolt just goes into a 7/8" drilled hole in the steel buck.

**Teetorbilt** · 01-30-2007, 07:27 PM

All of the new deadbolt plates that I have gotten recently are near-zero clearance, placement is everything.

Install the bolt in the door. Throw the bolt and cover the end with lipstick (your favorite color). Retract the bolt and close the door. Without applying any pressure to the door, throw the bolt and retract. Open door and your bullseye will be in the correct place.

Scott Young · 01-30-2007, 08:01 PM

i use luscuois lips crimson. or as i like to call it "hooker red"

have to be careful not to get it on anything cause it stains worse than your worst accident.

**Teetorbilt** · 01-30-2007, 08:09 PM

I use whatever is in the 1/2 off sale at a Mart store. They usually have a bucket somewhere.

Jesse Benson · 01-30-2007, 10:13 PM

So mark with lipstick, close door, operate bolt and drill hole. And if the latch plate fits good, if not nothing can be done. What would you use to drill the 7/8 hole in the metal?

MinConst · 01-30-2007, 10:17 PM

A good carbide hole saw should do the trick.

**Teetorbilt** · 01-30-2007, 10:20 PM

As Paul said. Adjustments can be made with a small grinder.

mdshunk · 01-30-2007, 10:32 PM

Unless you're doing bunches of these, I wouldn't even use a carbide hole saw. An ordinary bi-metal hole saw will do the trick with no problem. A bi-metal hole saw will do your measley 20 doors with no trouble whatsoever.