A large number of rim locks are sold - from a regular latch to a cylinder rim lock. If you embed such a lock into a door, it will be as reliable as a mortise lock.

A rim lock has a degree of security that depends on the number of pins. A secure lock should have at least five of them. To secure the lock, the rim locks are provided with a stopper.

A cylinder lock, compared to a conventional rim lock, is equipped with a special cylinder mechanism that is embedded in the door leaf and opens with a key, and this increases the reliability of the lock.

Also, the effectiveness of a rim lock depends on its attachment to the door frame and the door itself. The lock along with the latch is installed on the door and secured only with screws. Do not use the screws supplied with the lock - buy longer ones with the same diameter.

A regular cylinder rim lock will fit all doors. Only when you turn the key will the tongue of the rim lock come out of the locking body. Before installing a regular cylinder lock, check the security of the door and door frame, otherwise your door can be knocked down without much difficulty.

Lock installation

1. From the top of the door, mark 1/3 of the door on both sides. If the lock kit does not include a template for marking the center of the hole, use the manufacturer's instructions and a special combination square. Use an electric drill to make a through hole.
2. Using a chisel drill, make a hole the diameter of the cylinder. As soon as the drill is slightly visible from the opposite side, immediately pull it out of the hole so as not to damage the door. Complete the hole on the back of the door.
3. Insert the cylinder and pin clamp or retaining ring into the drilled hole from the front side. Place the mounting plate so that the cylinder connecting rod protrudes 12 mm beyond it. Measure the required length, cut off the excess piece with a hacksaw, securing the rod with an adjustable wrench.
4. Install the cylinder, pin bracket or retaining ring into the seat from the front side. Insert the mounting plate into the rod and screw it to the cylinder using screws. When you tighten the screws, make sure that the front edge of the plate is flush with the edge of the door. Now use an electric drill to make holes and secure the plate.
5. To release the latch and install the lock, press the special button on the lock, then install the lock on the mounting plate, while the connecting rod with the slot should align with the back of the lock. Place the lock body on the mounting plate and screw it in place using small screws.
6. Move the latch on the lock to the closed position, then press the door against the door frame and mark the bottom and top of the latch tongue on it. Position the locking body plate according to the marks and, using a knife, cut out its outline.
7. Take the chisel so that the bevel of its blade is facing inward, place it on the outlined outlines and go along them, tapping with a mallet. Remove excess wood to the depth of the edge of the locking body plate. When removing the final layer, hold the chisel with the bevel down.
8. Insert the locking body plate into the resulting cutout, then close the door and check that the lock latch fits into the locking body. Using an electric drill, make holes to secure the locking body.

One day it happens that the lock cylinder on the front door begins to rotate tightly, and it is difficult to insert and remove the key. These are the first bells that our old mechanism is beginning to fail and may soon fail, leaving us outside the door on the street or, conversely, indoors.

Therefore, when suspicious jams appear, we go to a hardware store and buy a new door lock - this is in the case when it is not enough to simply replace the cylinder. It is best to do this when you arrive with the “old” mechanism already removed, so that you can most accurately select the new one. If you can’t buy a door lock that fits the size, then nothing bad will happen - the newly purchased guard will simply be installed a little differently than the previous one.

Removing the old door lock

Installing a rim lock on the front door will not take much time, even for those who have never done it before. The tools you will need are slotted and figured screwdrivers, a small chisel, and a hammer.

But first you need to remove the damaged mechanism. We do it in order:

1. We unscrew the screws at the end of the door that secure the lock.
2. Remove the plastic handle for turning the cylinder from the lock.
3. Next, you need to unscrew the four screws from the inside of the door so that the lock can be removed.
4. We remove the mechanism body, and easily pull out the cylinder from the outside of the door.
5. Now you need to remove the stop part from the door jamb, where the sliding mechanism goes when the door is locked. To do this, you only need to unscrew two screws.

Installing a new lock

Now you can begin installing the new rim lock. Everything is done in the same way as removing the old one, only in reverse order:

This completes the independent installation of a rim lock on the front door.

Video: installing a door lock

There are a huge number of shapes and models of overhead locks - from the simplest latch to a cylindrical mechanism. When installed correctly, a rim lock on the door leaf is as reliable as a mortise lock.

The reliability of a rim lock directly depends on the number of pins used. The most reliable models are those with five or more pins and a high-quality stopper for securing the locking mechanism in night mode. In addition, high-quality installation depends on the method of installing fasteners to the door leaf and frame. The rim locks, together with the latch, are installed on the door leaf and secured using ties or self-tapping screws. You should not use the screws included in the kit; it is better to purchase longer ones with the same diameter.

Standard rim locks with a cylinder system are equally suitable for all types of doors: metal and wooden. Before installing the padlock, you need to make sure that the door is strong, otherwise the door can be knocked down without much effort.

How to install a rim lock?

If the door is a standard size, mark one third of the length from its top. Sometimes the lock kit does not come with a template for marking the central part of the device, therefore:

• After reading the instructions for installing a rim lock, use a square to make markings, and drill a hole at the resulting point using a drill.
• independently, on a sheet of paper we trace the contours of the lock, mark the holes for fasteners and the keyhole - we make a template

After this, using a drill (for wood or metal) with a diameter that must correspond to the size of the cylinder, the seat for the cylinder in the door leaf is expanded. The hole is drilled according to the mark on both sides of the door leaf, which will avoid chips on the front part. We insert the cylinder of the rim lock into the hole made and secure the case with the mounting screws. On the outside of the door we install a cover plate for the key hole.

Next, the rim lock is switched to the closed state, after which the door is pressed against the frame and the installation location of the locking body is marked by marking the upper and lower parts of the bolt. In accordance with the markings, the body of the strike plate holder is installed and outlined with a pencil.

Using a chisel or drill, make a recess along the markings so that the edge of the bolt holder plate is flush with the surface of the door frame. The body is inserted into the made recess and holes are made.

Very similar to installing locks on wood, the only significant difference is the tools! At the final stage, the door leaf is closed and it is checked how tightly the locking mechanism of the rim lock fits into the body of the latch holder. If everything matches, then fastening is carried out and the quality of work is checked.

Do you need to replace your rack and pinion lock with a different model? A model with a cylinder mechanism will do! As an alternative or analogue to a rack lock for entrance, metal or wooden doors, you can install a cylinder-type rim lock. The photo shows one of the options.

A slight alteration of the door leaf will be required, but installing a cylinder model rim lock instead of a rack and pinion lock will block the old mounting holes. As a nice bonus, you will replace the bulky rack and pinion wrench with a neat, flat, small one.

Not all entrance doors are now made of metal; many owners still prefer wood. Replacing door locks on wooden doors is somewhat simpler than, but there are still certain subtleties. Next, we will tell you in detail how to install or change mortise and rim locks on wooden entrance doors with your own hands.

It is quite possible to embed or replace a lock with your own hands.

Replacing the lock on the front door is not a difficult task, especially if the door is wooden, but before changing the lock you still need to select it. There are 3 types of door locks: hinged, mortise and overhead.

• Padlocks are the simplest option; the reliability of padlocks leaves much to be desired; they are only suitable for installation on a country shed for gardening tools. Changing locks of this type can be done in a few minutes; you just need to screw on a couple of awnings;
• Mortise locks in an apartment or private house are installed everywhere. There are many varieties of such mechanisms - cylinder, cross-shaped, disk, pin, lever and others, you can find out more about all types. Replacing a lock on the front door is much more difficult here, but the good news is that the installation technology is the same everywhere;
• Overlay structures are considered less reliable than mortise ones, but this is a controversial issue. But replacing a door lock or installing a new one is quite simple here. Experts recommend installing two types of locks on wooden doors – overhead and mortise.

The variety of door locks is impressive.

Technology for installing locks on wooden doors

We’ve sorted out the types of front door locks in general terms, now let’s talk about how to change a door lock in practice. Let's start with the most difficult option, namely: how to change a regular lock to a mortise one.

Often the lock is replaced because it is jammed, and jammed in the closed state. It is quite possible to open a jammed lock without a key without damaging the expensive door leaf, and all these methods are outlined.

Installing a mortise lock

Naturally, before replacing the lock you need to select a tool; expensive devices are not needed here:

• Electric drill with a set of pen drills for wood;
• Hammer;
• A pair of chisels, with a narrow and wide tip;
• Square;
• Roulette;
• Pencil;
• Screwdriver or screwdriver.

Inserting or replacing the front door lock begins with markings on the door leaf. We need to draw a central axial vertical, and also mark the beginning, center and end of the mechanism. According to the rules, mortise locks must be installed at a height of 1 m from the bottom edge of the canvas, but this is more of a recommendation than a clear indication.

Marking is the first stage of inserting a lock.

The niche for the door lock needs to be cut a couple of millimeters larger than the mechanism itself, since the lock must fit into it freely. We select a feather drill according to the thickness of the lock, and in order not to drill too deep a hole, you need to put a mark on the drill itself.

On the feather drill you need to put a mark on the depth of installation of the lock.

Now we need to drill as many holes as possible along the center line. These holes should overlap one another; usually 2–3 mm are retreated from the edge of the outer hole and the next one is drilled.

It is not worthwhile to immediately go through the drill to the full depth, because an inexperienced master can put the drill in at an angle and then it will be much more difficult to correct the mistake. Therefore, you go deeper in stages, about 10 - 15 mm at a time.

Gradually select a niche using a feather drill.

Our lockbox itself is rectangular, so the niche for it needs to be made similar. To level the walls of the niche, we take a sharp chisel and gouge out all the excess, bringing the shape to perfection.

To quickly and efficiently change a door lock, you need a well-sharpened tool.

Niche for mortise door lock you need to gouge it out very carefully so as not to make it larger than necessary, because if you select a couple of extra millimeters, the locking plate will not be able to completely close the hole.

Using a chisel and hammer we bring the shape of the niche to perfection.

When you are sure that the niche fits completely under the lock, it's time to mark the lock plate. The first marks to be placed are for the fastening screws. Then you need to use a thin drill to drill holes for the screws and screw in the screws themselves.

We try on the lock and mark the canvas for fastening the lock plate.

The lock plate must be flush with the end of the door leaf, so we need to cut a small recess for it. To do this, take a sharp knife and cut the veneer around the perimeter of the plank to about a couple of millimeters deep.

Trimming the door veneer around the perimeter of the lock strip.

We clean the space for the locking plate.

Now take out the lock and place it on top of the door leaf, this will make it easier for you to mark the holes for the handle and keyhole. Moreover, you need to mark on both sides.

Marking for the keyhole.

The holes for the handle and the keyhole are drilled with the same feather drill, but you need to drill on each side of the door leaf separately, and not one common hole all the way through, otherwise you will have unsightly chips when the drill comes out.

Fastening handle and keyhole with decorative overlays.

Now you can begin installing the strike plate under the lock. Its installation is not much different from your previous actions. In the same way, mark the entry point of the locking tabs and cut a niche for them to the depth of the entry of these tabs.

We cut the striker into the door frame.

Installation of a rim lock

To change the lock on the front door on the invoice, no new tool is needed; the same set is used that we talked about above.

A rim lock is placed higher than a mortise lock; according to the rules, it should be at a level of 1.5 m from the bottom edge of the door leaf, but again this is only a recommendation.

Marking for padlock.

Now almost all such locks are sold along with a paper template for installation. You need to take this template, attach it to the door, and then use an awl to mark 4 fixation points and a central point for installing the locking cylinder.

In order for the screws to fit smoothly and without distortions, we need to first drill holes for them with a thin drill. Typically, the cross-section of a standard self-tapping screw is 3.5 mm, which means that the drill needs to be taken a little less than 2 - 2.5 mm. The holes for the screws are made blind, and the central hole for the lock cylinder must be drilled through.

Now we select a feather drill according to the diameter of the lock cylinder and drill a through central hole. To make the hole neat, without chipped edges, you first need to drill it to half the thickness of the door leaf on one side, and then do the same on the other side.

Overhead locks also have a side locking plate, which is attached to the end of the door leaf. In order for this plank to fit flush, we need to mark and cut a groove for it. After this, we apply the lock, drill preliminary holes and fasten the lock with self-tapping screws at 2 points from the end and along the front perimeter at 4 points.

Insertion of the lock plate of the rim lock.

Now we need to attach the counter part to the door frame. To do this, close the lock and, attaching the mating part, mark the attachment points for the screws with an awl.

After marking, we will need to drill preparation holes for self-tapping screws in the wooden box and screw the mating part with self-tapping screws at 4 points.

Fastening the lock mate with self-tapping screws.

Replacing front door locks always ends with the installation of decorative or anti-vandal linings; as a rule, these linings are attached to self-tapping screws.

Decorative overlay for the lock cylinder.

Conclusion

As you can see, replacing door locks on wooden doors is not such a difficult job. The video in this article shows the replacement of front door locks in detail.

Wooden entrance doors are still popular among people.

The lock is the main element of the front door. It is he who protects against the penetration of robbers, so its device must be reliable. If you decide to purchase the door leaf and lock separately, or there is a need to replace the old mechanism with a new one, then you do not have to call a professional to solve this problem. You can handle this installation yourself. How to do this - read on.

Installing locks on metal doors requires care and precision. However, the installation technology is not particularly difficult even for people far from construction. To install a door lock yourself, you need to have a number of tools that are not available in every home. Most of them you can find from friends or rent.

Tools needed to install the lock yourself:

• Drill (you can also purchase a screwdriver, but this tool is not necessary if you have a drill);
• Drills and bits for a screwdriver;
• Core for metal products;
• Self-tapping screws;
• Screws;
• Roulette;
• File;
• Bulgarian;
• Screwdrivers.

As you can see, there are some expensive power tools on the list. Without their help, you won’t be able to fit a lock into the door, so if you couldn’t find them at home or at your friends’ place, it will be cheaper to contact a locksmith.

We install mortise locks on metal doors

There are mortise and rim locks. Their installation technology is very different. The first option is more reliable; such locks are most often equipped with entrance doors.

To correctly determine the place where you can embed the lock, you need to find out where the stiffeners are located. These elements are usually arranged diagonally or horizontally.

Installing a mortise lock is more difficult than installing a rim mechanism. For this option, it is necessary to make holes to deepen the device inside the canvas.

How to fit a lock into an iron door:

1. At the level of a meter from the floor, mark the place where the lock will be located. It is most convenient to make markings using a tape measure and a construction pencil;
2. Pencil marks must be pushed through with a core. This step is necessary so that when you make holes, the drill does not jump off.
3. Drill holes along the contour of the markings made earlier and cut out the metal inside the workpiece.
4. Using a file, remove all irregularities and nicks from the edges of the hole.
5. You need to insert a lock into the hole and mark the places where the fasteners will be installed. It is also necessary to determine the location of the holes for the keyhole and the installation of handles on both sides of the door.
6. The marks for fastening the lock are drilled out and processed with a thread tap. Sufficiently large holes are drilled where the handles will be installed and the keyhole will be made.
7. Next, all the parts are inserted and secured in place. After this, you need to check whether the mechanism is working correctly.
8. If everything is in order, then the handle and decorative overlay panel are installed.
9. On the back side of the box, holes are drilled for the lock bolts, and the counter plate is attached.

As you can see, inserting a lock cannot be called a very easy operation. If this is your first time holding construction tools in your hands, then in order not to spoil the expensive door leaf, it is better to entrust such work to a professional craftsman.

Installing a padlock on a metal door

A rim lock is much easier to install than a mortise lock. However, this option is considered less reliable. If you want to create a high-quality barrier against sudden intrusions into your apartment, we advise you to install an additional lock.

Installing an overhead code intercom is very different from installing a door lock. Only a knowledgeable person can handle such an installation.

Overhead locks are installed at a level of one and a half meters from the floor. This arrangement is necessary for more convenient use of the door chain.

Attaching a rim lock to a metal or metal-plastic door:

1. The lock is applied to the door at the required level. Mark the places where the holes will be located for installing fastening fonts and for the keyhole. To make it easier for you to outline the necessary areas, you can first draw up a layout on paper.
2. Holes are drilled using a drill.
3. A key guide is installed on the lock body.
4. The housing with the guide is fixed with fonts on the door from the side that is located in the apartment. All grooves into which the key will be inserted must match.
5. A decorative element for the keyhole is installed on the outside of the door.
6. Now you need to turn the key to extend the lock bolts. The ends of these elements are smeared with paint and rest against the door frame. A locking plate is mounted at the level of the marks and holes for the locks are drilled.
7. The edges of the holes are smoothed with a file.
8. The strike plate is installed and the operation of the lock is checked. The crossbars of a correctly installed mechanism should fit freely into the prepared holes.

Installing a rim lock will not take much time. If you are not confident in your abilities, then prepare a design model on paper, glue it to the door and drill all the necessary holes along it.

How to install a rim lock on a wooden door

Installing an overhead locking mechanism on a wooden structure is a fairly simple task. To deal with it, you do not need to purchase a large number of power tools. You just need to find a drill with a set of drills and bits for a screwdriver.

With this tool you can drill all the necessary holes and attach the lock body. To make large holes, you can use a chisel or the same file. The remaining stages of installing a rim lock are no different from the technology for installing it on an iron door.

The technology for installing a rim lock on a wooden door is not much different from installing such a mechanism on a metal structure. By the way, it is even easier to work with wooden door blocks.

If you have already installed a lock on a metal door, then you can handle installing such a device on a wooden panel in no time. However, even people who are faced with the need to independently install a rim lock for the first time will be able to do such work in a fairly short time.

Installing a rim lock on a wooden door (video)

Installing a door lock on metal and wooden doors requires great care and good use of a drill and grinder. If you are confident in your abilities, then you will save a lot by installing mortise or overhead anti-theft protection on the door structure yourself. However, if you do not have good command of the tool, we advise you to abandon this idea and entrust the work to a professional.