Hi,

My 80 year old mortise locks have stopped working and need replacement.
I have been able to find a lock at hd which, at the very least, fits.
However, it doesn't work well (it already gets stuck rather than
springing back) and the door way still needs mortising to accomodate
the sliding part being of the look being in a somewhat different place.
Not to mention that I will have to spend a significant amount of money
on replacement hardware if I want it to be on the aesthetic side.

So I'm beginning to think that putting in a conventional lock might be
easiear at this point. Is that doable? I was thinking that I would fill
the existing "cavity" with a hardwood and then mortise for a
conventional knob. What do you think?

Thanks!

Aaron Fude

Exactly how have they stopped working? I found that mine didn't work
when I bought the house, but I removed all the excess paint off of
them, and then cleaned and lubed then, then they worked just fine. Can
you take it apart? The trick is to get enough greas on the sliding
parts (and I used regular automotive wheel bearing grease).

Mine are completely rusted.

Mine are completely rusted.

Is it possible to remove the rust, sand until smoothed, then grease?
And yes the ones at Home Depot don't exactly match mine either, which
is why I didn't try to use them (different measurements) maybe if you
tried a different supplier you might be able to find some decent ones
(Home Depot carries poorest quality available of a lot of things).

wrote:
Hi,

My 80 year old mortise locks have stopped working and need replacement.
I have been able to find a lock at hd which, at the very least, fits.
However, it doesn't work well (it already gets stuck rather than
springing back) and the door way still needs mortising to accomodate
the sliding part being of the look being in a somewhat different place.
Not to mention that I will have to spend a significant amount of money
on replacement hardware if I want it to be on the aesthetic side.

So I'm beginning to think that putting in a conventional lock might be
easiear at this point. Is that doable? I was thinking that I would fill
the existing "cavity" with a hardwood and then mortise for a
conventional knob. What do you think?

Thanks!

Aaron Fude


I would take it apart and wire brush/wheel everything and then put it
back together an lube it up really well.
Do you have an architectural salvage company near you? You could get a
replacement from them most likely.
or
http://houseofantiquehardware.com/s....FQw5Igod02hpGw

I suspect that the OP is attempting to use those crappy "Franklin"
(Made in China) aftermarket ones they sell at Home Depot. I brought
one of my existing ones to the store and the measurements didn't match
up. I say try again, preforably through the mail. Don't alter the
door, buy the right part.

On 25 Sep 2006 10:43:41 -0700, wrote:

Mine are completely rusted.

Is it possible to remove the rust, sand until smoothed, then grease?
And yes the ones at Home Depot don't exactly match mine either, which
is why I didn't try to use them (different measurements) maybe if you
tried a different supplier you might be able to find some decent ones
(Home Depot carries poorest quality available of a lot of things).

A wire wheel in the place of a grindstone on a bench grinder is
wonderful for removing rust. It makes a lot of things look like new.
Cleans up more than 90% of what I have with rust or paint on it.
There is also naval jelly but that hasn't worked so well or me.