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cardomb · Dec 2, 2007, 08:30 PM

I have a metal building with a metal entrance door. It already has a door knob lock, however I would like to install a deadbolt. I know how to install a deadbolt on a wooden door, but never installed one on a metal door. The lock I purchased has the rectangle plate on the bolt so if you installed in a wooden door, you would mortise the door so you can have a flush installation. But on a metal door you cannot mortise it. So what do you do for a metal door? Is there a special deadbolt you install without having to mortising the door or do you just install the bolt without mortising? Also I have almost no room between the door and the frame therefore just trying to install the bolt without mortising would cause the bolt plate to hit the door frame.

KBC · Dec 3, 2007, 03:16 AM

Steel entry doors are factory made to accommodates dead bolts or not.

As with handles, you might be able to find a dead bolt throw(bolt) without the plate,like a tapered end which taps in, but in my experiences with commercial doors, I don't think this is possible without compromising the security of having the deadbolt W/plate.

pelle · Dec 3, 2007, 09:51 AM

On many higher end deadbolts the rectangler plate that you mortise for is removeable and there is either no plate (bolt slides directly into door) or a smaller plate which some steel doors accomidate, like KBC said the steel door is either made to accomidate a deadbolt or not..

glavine · Dec 4, 2007, 06:59 PM

Im hoping you'll read this before you try and mortise or install the deadbolt. Your door is not a standard steel door. Most steel doors are just a metal skin over wood, which you can mortise these since there is a wood edge, your door I betting doesn't have this wood edge, its just metal. I don't know where these doors come from but I've run into them a few times, I'm also going to guess that this is a metal jamb as well, with brick for the exterior.
I have put a deadbolt on these before, but I won't do it again, I would pass on trying to do this.
Its simple not made to have this installed

McDuff61 · Sep 28, 2012, 09:34 AM

You need what is called a "Drivebolt" w/the correct backset(for aesthetic reasons only) to match the backset of the existing lock below(backset=distance from the edge of the door to the center of the lockface on the OUTSIDE of the door) Then you need to only make a round hole on the edge of the door(either 7/8 or 1" according to the directions) and no mortising will be needed for the dooredge. If you make the hole too large or your sloppy with drilling it (you need a holesaw for drilling) you will have a problem installing and operating the deadbolt. Some locks come with the conversion parts to make your own drivebolt such as Schlage Locks. Otherwise you are probably better off at a reputable Locksmith shop where they deal with this problem on a daily basis. Hope this helped in someway. Good luck!

McDuff61 · Sep 28, 2012, 09:42 AM

You may also need a lock support (Ame's Lock Support) to put insise the largeg hole so that when you tighten the lock on the door it dosen't tighten forever , crushing the hollow steel door. If this is a residential door, it is probably made or light gauge metal and will compress when tightening the lock. You definitely should use somtype of inner support for the door if you want a strong installation.

ma0641 · Sep 29, 2012, 07:19 PM

Originally Posted by McDuff61

You need what is called a "Drivebolt" w/the correct backset(for asthetic reasons only) to match the backset of the existing lock below(backset=distance from the edge of the door to the center of the lockface on the OUTSIDE of the door) Then you need to only make a round hole on the edge of the door(either 7/8 or 1" according to the directions) and no mortising will be needed for the dooredge. If you make the hole too large or your sloppy with drilling it (you need a holesaw for drilling) you will have a problem installing and operating the deadbolt. Some locks come with the conversion parts to make your own drivebolt such as Schlage Locks. otherwise you are probably better off at a reputable Locksmith shop where they deal with this problem on a daily basis. Hope this helped in someway. Good luck!

Note that this post is 5 iyears old! Look at the date under the question.