Amateur

I am a self taught carpenter.. my boss took government grant and used me as labour .. I can do a decent job but watching videos like this makes me millions times better.... thank you for this video .. its the small things you do what will make such a big difference to my work..

I'd never even used a wood chisel until yesterday. I fitted my first L&K and I rushed in and I made a right pigs ear of it. Today after watching this video decided to make my second attempt on another one. It wasn't 100% perfect, but it was 50x better than yesterdays disaster. Thanks for taking to time to show not just to how to complete the task, but how to also make a great job of it!

Just the bit where you chisel out the latch hole to make it slightly bigger has made me happy- I'm replacing an old latch with a new one that is a couple of mils bigger and wondered how easy it would be.

I have followed this video to the letter and have today completed fitting my tubular mortice latch to double doors with complete success. I found it most informative, thank you very much for posting it.

I've been fitting doors for 40 years and I must say this is a more better way than mine I will be doing it this way from now on thankyou for the content very interesting

“There’s plenty of way in doing this” but this is the right way to fit a tubular latch. Del another masterclass my friend 👏👏

Hey I'm a carpenter of 20 years. It's nice to see someone with good technique. I always use a knife where possible on finer work. One thing I have learnt is using the marking guage to make extra sure with the marking of the latch plate. With real poor quality fittings you might even have to avoid this but I will be using this technique in the future. Our techniques are almost identical on this matter. I do give a little rub down with some fine paper on the outer edges of the cut out to smooth them off before I put the final plate on. Good job. I've just found you and just subscribed. 👍

I'm an occastional DIY'r. I have minimal chisel skills, but I followed your instructons the very best I could to install my latch. I especially like the tip about scewing the latch on backwards and outlining around the plate with a utility knife. I was very careful and it took me a loooong time, but it came out nicely. (At first I thought I chipped some of the thin edge wood, but it was only paint! [whew!]) So, thank you for doing this! 👍

It took me 5 hours to do this after watching the video, 2 hours of that was trying to get the latch lined up with the door frame plate. Not horrendous for my first time, but I don't think my grandfathers would be proud of my handiwork (I was too young to learn from them). I only locked myself in the bathroom twice doing it! Thank you for the video :)

Thank you for this video and the lever fitting vid, helped me no end, especially the jig. I also learned the hard way how important it is to properly pre drill latch and keep holes. I managed to snap the head off one, in the door and then one got stuck before it was fully home. Lesson learnt and job done. Thank you ✌️

What a pleasure to watch a craftsman at work, Im an engineer by trade and am going to fit a door at my daughters house later today. Will use your excellent video as guidance later.

Excellent tutorial thanks. I have done this several times before but not for a while. Some of the tips you gave were really helpful 😊

Well explained for a diy person to follow,most video's i've found seem made for the more experienced diy capable person and not as easy to follow. With the great tips you gave along the way and the reason behind them is the way to go.

Great video Del, you manged to make a still image of a door really exciting. Well explained, thanks! I hope to have the time to see your trussed roof video soon, your explanation is spot on.

what a great video, great way to show carpenters how to do the door set correctly without using jigs. well done Sir, I salute you..!!!

Nice simple, clear explanation and demonstration. Looking forward to more 👍

Great explanation, I have fitted many of these, but you have shown me how to do it properly now..

Like your technique mate, have never thought of just using the tape, I've always just squared around....great tip, it's those that help us all. Keep up the great videos, love them.

Thanks for this. Being a total 3d printer spotter, I have made some router jigs so I don’t have to trust my dodgy hand/eye co-ordination 😊

MEGA SKILLS! Made it look super easy

ive always gone 1 meter off the floor but i like the idea of going off the top of the door so theirs no need to square the lines around. i also use a Stanley knife to mark the keeps. ive always used a spade bit to drill the mortice! ill give a auger bit ago now though. another great video 👍🏻.

Good process and technique using the most basic of tools . Very good instruction 👍

Great informative piece of work, nice job, thank you for sharing.

Brilliant, Very Helpful And Informative. Many Thanks For Sharing Your Knowledge.

Good show, always nice to watch a job well done. TIL to measure from the top and drill the holes for the handle first. Combination squares are underrated! I use the corner tip of a chisel to mark outlines.

Just about to fit two latches today New exactly where to look for the best help !! 😊

Excellent video; thanks for taking the time to post.

Another great video. I usually measure from the floor, with multiple doors the handles generally have more chance of lining up, particularly in hallways. I like the way you fix the faceplate on the door, will give that a go. When I use an auger, I clamp a block on the door not to split it. (Particularly cheap doors) I learnt that off my dentist when he drilled my teeth. Always good to watch how others do it. Thanks

Excellent video. Very helpful. Thank you.

This has been so helpful, thank you!

I like the idea of drilling the spindle holes first, but when it comes to the latch plates I like to use a trim router and an 18mm bit to take out the bulk of the material and then clean up with the chisel. (Steady hand) Removes the guess work with trying to achieve plate depth, I've also been experimenting with the Souber Latch Jig. Allows you to drill two 23mm holes overlapping each other for the latch body, it is very square and has a depth stop. Also you don't have to square up the hole afterwards with a chisel. Great video though, I watch your stuff all the time. Really enjoy the content! Thanks for another one.

i have a very similar technique.. but i definitely picked up a very good tip on measuring the latch depth for the receiver plate.. well done,😀 very good you tube video

Aces, best video I've found on this, thanks!

Thanks, this is a brilliant instructional video.

Very thorough thanks mate. I've made a few notes. It's amazing how many steps there are really. I've done a few in the past but generally messed the order of works up .. Not any more 👍🙏

Unreal tips here mate cheers keep em coming

Nice work. I'm 100% not a carpenter but managed to hang 3 doors in our house and fit locks and handles....they look like Jack Nicholson attacked them with an axe 😅

Some really useful tips... thanks

great video very helpful keep em coming

Hi Del nice job these square tubular latches are a pain and seems as if the old round ones are almost nonexistent now every job I get now for hanging doors has these squared ones supplied, I have the new style trend lock jig that will do a rectangular cut out for them so not so bad 👍 great video and technique for fitting the latch & keep.

Excellent video mate 👍

Thanks for this. It was invaluable.

Thanks mate, done mine while watching👍👍

Top job. Keep the videos coming.

Quality job done there. Learned a lot. Going to put your video in to practice. Better check if my chisels are sharp

I bloody hate them back boxes. I always keep finding them in my pocket when I get home lol 😂. Great video again 👍🏻

Top job as always 👍🏻

Served my time as a joiner were about the same age. I always use low tack tape for marking out and always set my router to cut the face plates in then clean the corners for a perfect no gap fit.

Great job, thanks for sharing

Great job, very Informative video

This helped me tonight

Brilliant chippie great videos

such a good job. I don't know how many times ive watched it. I need help

Fitted loads of these when I was working always with hand tools mainly and agree that those black boxes where a right pain, as well as the tang at 90° on the back of the keep itself. Never could understand what they were for but I admit if I was asked to remedy doors that were rattling I would use pliers to bend these a bit. 😀😎😎

Them back boxes can stay in the box it came with for me haha

Great video, many thanks :)

Great video. Thanks!

Great vid, screwing the faceplate to the door and knifing around it is exactly how I do it, much neater finish that way. I find If u use a 25mm auger u don't have to chisel the corners of the mortice out to take the latch body and the hole is just small enough to be covered by the faceplate

neat and tidy wouldn't expect any different TC

Thanks very much fot that! A great explanation

Great job Hope to see your escutcheons next time...

Love it, Del! My old mortise gauge got pinched in Wrexham's notorious Queen's/Caia Park so I bit the bullet and bough a Veritas (don't ask how much!) wheeled-cutter mortise gauge which I used in place of the Stanley knife up and down the grain - much quicker, much more accurater, much more funner. Excuse the spelling, I'm ill-educated.

Centre hole drill bit for door hardware is a handy tool to have also. Nothing worse than a pilot bit going off centre when fitting.

great video thank you

Verh neat another great video

Fostner bit and some black spray paint those back boxes are a pain !!! Great vid as usual

Tidy work as always 👍👍👍

Love how you take the time to show how it's done properly. Have you thought about using router jigs when having to do loads of latch and keeps in new builds?

I’m glad someone else cuts the top and bottom of latch hole with a chisel I don’t understand the manufacturer’s not making a latch that fits and operates in a 22mm hole like the older versions

Brilliant! Thank you

Thanks, mate, very informative and much better (naturally) than my previous efforts. Quick question - what size augur bit do you use for this type of lock, coz I definitely need one. Thanks

Sharp chisels and bits makes the job that bit easier, another greater video

Solid technique

Have you got a video of you fitting a round bathroom privacy lock by any chance! Thank you for the video's..very helpful 😊.

Good vid well done

Nice work

I use a ply template hang it from top of door . If you have a few to do it’s time saving . Got a corner chisel cuts a right angle quick and easy . Usually I drill the lock out screw the barrel in place mark round it take it out and cut the excess away . Some doors only have a lock block on one side as well . I’ve also got a jig to drill at a perfect 90 degrees . Nowt worse than a wonky mortise .

Another great video. Do you fit a door stop trim moulding around the door?

Nice one TC

I hate doing doors some really good tips like using combi square for latch location and putting the plate on back to front whilst marking it on the door. I had to pack a few latches with cardboard on my first few doors

Thanks for the video. Which chisel sizes would you recommend to get for this type of job.

Thanks mate 👍

Hi Del, brilliant job as usual pal. Just wondered which size auger bits you use for the spindle and latch? I like that spindle handle? Where is it from? With regards to souber..... I have the jig but it’s quite time consuming on a simple latch if you are only doing one or two doors. It’s amazing for mortise locks though!!! Thanks again for your videos mate

Great video thanks Could I use a Forstner bit instead of an Auger for the lock barrel?

I make a quick jig for the face plate and route them out with a tiny 3/8 pattern bit from wealden tools. Takes maybe ten mins to make jig then route out a full house worth of latches in seconds. Other reason I route them is I'm not great at chiselling out shallow mortices!

super video

Saved for a job in the very near future! Interested to hear what the doors are/where you get them from please? Looks unfinished too, any plans to finish them?

I recall using a bit and spinning it backwards for 8-10 seconds. That sets the hole exactly where to drill without having to use a center punch.

I'm terrified, think I'll try it on the man cave door before I do the lounge. Thanks for the lesson.

Lovely neat job. I make the mistake of using a slightly wider bit which as you say is too close to the edge of the door.

I honestly dont know how you managed to easily square the 22mm latch hole with your 3 quarter chisel. Its always such hard work. I have seen people cut around the latch with a stanley knife but i never had much success doing that way. I thought the work standard was excellent. I have seen your cut and pitch videos and i think very highly of your skillset.

Very helpful. One thing: how do you hold the door steady when drilling in the hole for the latch?

Hi Dell, great job as always. I have always used a router plane to recess my face plates/keeps or receivers. Found it to be a great way to get an accurate depth every time minus the mess when using an electric router. If you were doing this on a rebated door frame, how would you deminstrate how to use a router on the keeps? Cheers

hi Del do you recommend auger bits for drilling out locks / latches on oak doors minefield with so many different wood drill bits on the market fab videos mate

Another very helpful video. A question though - I am about to fit 8 of these exact doors. I had been thinking of lining up the location of the handle and mortice latch with the cut out and keep for the existing latch, so I wouldn't have to repair/fill the old keep/cut-out. Obviously with your job you had a plain, untouched frame, so there was no problem, but I have existing keeps. Would that be a goer i.e., to line the mortice latch up with the old keep, or would it be problematical and potentially a disaster? Cheers.

Funny what you did with the latch face place fixing it on backwards and cutting round it is exactly what I do. Gets an immaculate finish. Not seen many other guys do it like that

Lovely Finnish made it look so simple

you’re a brave man using a self feed auger bit on oak doors 😂!

Thanks for a very instructional video. Do you use the same augur bit for spindle and latch holes, if so, can you tell me what size please?