Thread: How to position flush lock bolt hole

How about using a biy of thin material with a hole drilled through it the same size as the bolt. It would have to fit between the top of the door and the jamb, and between the bottom of the door and floor.

Then you could close the door, slide the thin bit in and push the bolt through the hole. Then hold the thin bit in place while you slide the bolt out and open the door.

Well, it's a start anyway

whiteout on the end of bolt has worked for me thats if i am understanding your question

Thanks for this. Keep the suggestions coming please

fubar, the doors are installed, the locks fitted and cannot be removed without taking the door off, so I can't put white out on the bottom lock. Good idea for the top lock, though

Originally Posted by JillB

I have fitted a couple of flush bolts to the inside of one of my double entrance doors, and need to position the holes to take the bolts in the aluminium jamb at the top of the door and the tiled floor.

In the good old days I would have used something like carbon paper and pressed the bolt hard against it and the jamb or the tiles to mark the exact location of the centre of bolts.

What is the best way to do this now? All suggestions and ideas welcomed

well, going to have to get on a ladder and use a small light if you have too and mark the centre of the flush bolt on the jamb when the door is closed, and then measure the offset on your actual jamb and with those two pieces of info you should be able to do it.

What is wrong with the good old days? Tried, tested why not use it again? Of course I am sure that there is an Iphone application for this now!

Originally Posted by JillB

I have fitted a couple of flush bolts to the inside of one of my double entrance doors, and need to position the holes to take the bolts in the aluminium jamb at the top of the door and the tiled floor.

I had a couple of these to do the other day, and they were quite interesting: rather than being straight up and down, the section that extended out was a sort of a swans neck shape, and was lightly spring loaded to give it a bit of tension to stop rattles. The swans neck shape also gave me a bit of margin for error as it could go in a few different positions.

I just used a pencil and eyeballed the back of the bolt and marked the jamb where it lined up, then picked the appropriate drill bit and had at it. As it was into solid wood, I drilled it 1mm oversize and on a slight angle, so as the bolt is pushed up it draws the door in tighter, and as it warps and wears you just push the bolt in further to compensate.

In your case, I suggest you drill the holes oversize and then fit a cover plate with the right sized hole secured with epoxy and/or pan head screws in slighty loose holes to allow a bit of aligment. That way if the drill wanders, as it probably will on your tiled floor, it's not the end of the world. Even if the cover plate isn't perfect, you can make more until you get it right, without requiring a new tile or door jamb.

At least, that was Plan B if I stuffed up the hole in Plan A. Good luck!