Lock Mortising

G'Day Folks

I need to redo a dozen large lock mortises. The old locks wore out and were beyond economical repair and the new ones are larger. I started out doing the job by hand but it was a complete pain :no: The old hardwood in these doors is very very hard and brittle. I can do it but it's so slow and awkward that I'm looking for a better way.

I want to keep the doors on their hinges. Ideally I'd buy a Porter-Cable or similar lock mortiser, however, I can't justify the price at $3k!! :o I can't find one for hire either :~ so I'm looking at one of the mortising jigs.

There are three that I've come across:

The first is about $250 and seems to be an inexpensive chinese manufactured device it can be found on online auction sites and at a few stores such as this site I can't say the design really inspires me. However, it comes with cutters and is inexpensive. The latter makes me wary to begin with. It doesn't state anywhere whether these are designed to be drill or router powered.

The second is sold by a number of tool stores but the cheapest advertised price is $289 from Carbatec these are sold as the "Archer LM-2" by some stores. I think this may also be Chinese in origin but looks a little more robust than the first unit I mentioned. It doesn't come with cutters and in the advertising blurb it states that it is intended to be powered by a drill not a router. Cutters are either $60 or $75 depending on size, so the total price would be around $360.

Finally, there is this Australian-made product it's a bit more expensive at around $500 plus $50 for bits as advertised on this site. However, it's designed to be router driven and is made here.

Does anyone have any experience with any of these devices? Good or bad I'd like to know.

Alternately, does anyone know where I might be able to hire a porter-cable style unit in Melbourne?

Cheers

Horaldic

I have heard good things about these Buy Souber DBB Mortice Lock Fitting Jig (JIG1) from Axminster, fast delivery for the UK
About $170 (£112)
You can also get them on Ebay (uk)

John

I have the "Universal lock morticer". I have had it for about 20 or so years. I would not say it is the greatest piece of equipment I ever bought, but it does do the job, and I too am wary of paying 3k for something that gets only occasional use. I use it only to do the deep mortice, and clean up the surrounds wi chisel, as it has a certain amount of play. Sounds like it would be fine for your job. Mine came with cutters, but that was a fair while ago.
Hope that helps,
TM

Hi Horaldic.

I have two of the $500 units that you have shown for 11 years.
I do a lot of mortises!

They are awesome, I can cut a mortise in 90 seconds approx.

By the way, I use a drill because its lighter and easier to manoeuvre.

I would not recommend a router, unless you don't have access to an electric drill.

It is a lot of money for 12 mortises.
Will you be doing more in the future?
I would suffer through it and do it the old fashioned way (elbow grease, sweat and a couple of sharp chisels) if you do not intend doing a lot more in the future.

Good luck, Justin.

Thanks for the input so far, my initial perception is being reinforced. That is that although the first product, the "Universal Lock Mortise Jig" will do the job it has some slop in its mechanism, while the australian-made mortise jig is more solid.

I'm pretty sure that I won't be doing a lot more lock mortising after these twelve doors. However, I do like using the mortise and tenon joint both in joinery and furniture making. I have several projects lined up where deep mortises will be required. I'm hoping the jig will help when I need to mortise the stiles for some 7ft bi-fold , and 8ft tri-fold doors (24 mortises for one set and 36 mortises for the other:U). In addition I plan on making a new workbench and have a request for a 10-seater "french-style" refectory table :doh:. I would normally have planned on taking the waste out with a drill or router, however, both have their limitations. The tool won't go to waste.

I'm very interested in hearing views on the jigs described above or other options for the jobs I plan.

Many thanks

Horaldic

I wouldn't use the Universal lock morticer for anything that needs precision, such as furniture joints, absolutely no way. Can't speak for the others.
cheers
TM

Other options (for joinery, etc) would be a bench mounted morticing machine (or bigger). I picked up a good second hand Carba tec one for 120 bucks. Does a good job. (not for locks, though)
good luck
TM

You can hire one from Glen Iris Hire in the east or Haley Hire in the west. Kennards used to have them too but I don;t know if they still do.

Tools

The mortise jigs I use will take router bits with 1/4 inch (6mm) shank.

You do not need to use a router, as you are not attaching directly to the router bit.

You are actually attaching your drill to a 10mm shank(which also holds the router bit with a grub screw at the other end of the 10mm shank.)

A good tip to remember is to always put in the widest router bit first.
So measure the stainless steel cover plate that you screw over the mortise lock.
They are usually 22mm.

Then change the router bit by un-doing the grub screw and install the smaller router bit, usually an 18mm bit.

The reason for this is, that if you cut out the mortise hole first, then it becomes very difficult for the wider bit to accurately rout the 1.5mm - 2mm depth.

If you dont understand what I am saying, do a trial piece first using a small length of 70mm x 35mm timber. The best way to learn the correct procedures is to make mistakes first on a trial piece of timber and learn from them.

Not that I have ever made any mistakes............................

Justin.

Thanks folks!

Termi Monster: You're right, I don't think the "universal" is going to suit my purposes. I'm going to need a bit of precision. If I buy one of these jigs I think it will be the Australian-made model.

I considered purchasing a floor-mounted mortising machine last year but made do without it, they seem like a really good idea. Although, as you say, not suitable for mortising these doors. If the mortising jig proves inadequate for my tasks subsequent to the lock-mortising then I'll sell it on and shop around for just such a machine.

Tools: I'll take a spin by Glen Iris Hire and see what condition their machine is in.

Justinmcf: Thanks for the tips. I understand what you're saying. I'll try the method you suggest and see how I get on.

Cheers and thanks to you all.

Horaldic

For 12 mortice locks I'd go an electric drill (decent cordless), quality spade/auger and some sharp chisels. This sort of stuff is all about repetition and by lock number 5 you will be blazing through them. As for the power drill jigs, the one I once used (I'm tipping of Chinese origin) was rubbish and took an age to set up.

I know a few guys who have imported the Porter Cable machines for around $1100 from the USA and had the motor rewound/modified for $100-200 extra.

The best if you can justify the price is a Chant morticer, NZ made, uses a Makita router and hooked up to a decent dust extractor vac, there is almost zero dust.

http://www.powertoolspecialists.com.au/loadShopSingleProduct.do?id=1657&productSource=loadShopProductsPage.do

Cost us almost $4500 with a vac:o, but worth every cent.