Door Security - Deadbolts - Install - Template - Drill - Spring Latch Plate - Strikeplate
Margin of Error: Exact
Most Common Mistakes
- Not drilling straight
- Drilling in wrong location.
- Using wrong size bits.
- Drilling all the way through both faces of the door in one pass.
- Using dull drill bit
- Using small 1/4" drill.
You are now ready to do your drilling. It is best to use a 3/8" drill to provide adequate power to cleanly drill through the solid door. Metal doors will most likely come pre-drilled. Use the size bits specified by the manufacturer (often 2 3/8"). You will need a long spade bit to drill through the edge of the door for the hole for the latch. You will need a hole saw for the hole through the face for the lock itself or deadbolt
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It is important when drilling the larger lock hole through the door face to get a clean cut with no unsightly splinters. To do this, take a look at your hole saw. Note that the hole saw has a small pilot drill in the center. The function of this pilot drill is twofold. First, it allows you to exactly line up the center of the hole saw when you start to drill. Second, it will poke out the other side of the door before the actual hole saw penetrates all the way through. As soon as you see this pilot bit pop out the other side, immediately stop drilling. Remove the hole saw and start drilling again from the other side of the door. This will create a clean, splinter-free hole. |
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After the hole is drilled in the face, prepare to drill the latch hole in the edge. Never drill this hole first Always be sure you are holding the drill level as you drill to insure a straight hole. To drill the latch hole on the edge of the door, use the spade bit specified by the manufacturer. Drill this hole until it meets the larger hole you just drilled. Again, be sure you are drilling straight 
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