I need to replace the door knob for this interior door: The door knobs I've found at the stores require a 2⅛ inch hole. Mine is only 1½: Did door knobs used to be smaller? Is there some place I can find a replacement door knob that will fit my door? If I need to modify the door to fit a modern door knob, will the new hole completely overlap the old? and can I reuse the latch hole? i used a piece of plywood clamped to the door as an outer-guide. Cut a hole in the plywood, the right size (2 1/8) and then clamp it where you want the new hole in the door. Then using it as a guide on the outside of the hole saw, drill on through the door. no additional tools required beyond the 2 1/8 hole saw, and well, a c-clamp which you should have.If you need to expand the hole with the exact same center, you can get a hole saw kit that uses an arbor with multiple attachable hole saws. Place the larger size hole saw with the smaller size inside of it, and tighten the arbor on both.

The smaller hole saw acts as a guide in your existing hole. The second option is similar to Chris's suggestion. Clamp a thin piece of plywood over the hole on the door, and drill through that. Pay special attention to keeping the drill level. The plywood keeps you from sliding all over the door. Just make sure you clamp it on well. Yes, door knobs used to use smaller holes. You probably can find a replacement, but if you want to use a modern door knob, yes you can reuse. Get yourself one of these babies: It's a door knob jig - you can find them at the major box stores and they come with the appropriate drill bits. Align the jig with the existing latch hole, and then use the larger hole to enlarge the bore of the main hole. DO NOT try to enlarge the hole w/o the jig. Your hole drill center bit won't have anything to bite into (since there's a hole there already) to hold it steady when the main cutting circle hits the wood and it'll slide all over the place.

This is a fantastic investment compared to buying a new door. If the new hole location completely encloses the old hole, then it's relatively easy. With a 1.5" hole saw, cut a piece of 2x4 and plug the hole. You may need to sand or wrap it in paper to make it fit snuggly. Then you can use the 2 1/8 hole saw to cut the new hole. If you need to move the location completely, then you need to plug the hole, leaving about 1/8 to 1/4" recesses on each side, and putty/plastic wood over it. Lace Long Sleeve Dress Canada You can usually buy a cheap set of 4-5 hole saw bits for under $20. Rear View Mirror AdvertisingThat's sufficient for occasional use.Mexican Restaurant Furniture For Sale I did this today on a wood door using a Dremel with a sanding attachment on it.

First I outlined in pencil where the screws hit the door and sanded out that part, first on one side of the door, and then the other. Once the screws would go through, I traced a line where the door knob would be inserted into the door (this was on the lock side only.) Since this doorknob only had semicircular pieces - top and bottom - that inserted into the door, I just reamed out the top and bottom of the existing hole until the doorknob would fit in. Not as elegant as using a hole bit, but this was the tool I had and it worked just fine. Took a bit longer, I'm sure, but it worked. (I think next time I'll buy a hole bit.)If you are only doing one door, you can cut a plug, same thickness as the door, that you can glue into the existing hole, flush with the surfaces. Then mark the center of the old hole, or, the new backsets (latch) measurement, usually 1-3/8" or 1-3/4", but most are adjustable for either, from the edge of the door. Use the block for the pilot drill to center the hole saw and cut the new hole around it

I did this today by using a Dewalt door lock installation jig. I bought this at Lowes. It cost more than the Irwin model but I bought the Dewalt because of the clamp on the jig. It was about $30 but I have several door knobs that are over 50 years old and need replacing. The Dewalt jig worked perfectly. Line up it up, clamp, and drill. It only took about 10 min. to drill and then mount the door knob. This tool is worth the money! Now my wife want to replace more worn door knobs. I've already been back to Lowes to buy more......Browse other questions tagged doors or ask your own question.I have found that certain locks were designed to be virtually impossible to take apart by anyone other than a locksmith. They require special screwdrivers, pins, or wrenches, difficult or impossible to purchase at your local hardwareSome locks come with these special tools, but are either lost by the homeowner or "unintentionally" taken by the installer to assure futureI have had the pleasure of cutting off the knobs on more than one

lockset in my day. What amazes me is that, on some of these locks, even after I had it cut off, I still couldn't figure out how to disassemble it!! to the ingenuity and creativity of a fine designer! Fortunately, most home locksets made in the last 20 years are user-friendly, most requiring nothing more than a screwdriver or two to disassemble them. The most common styles of residential entry locks today are the tubular or cylindrical lock (graphic left). For purposes of installation or replacement they are similar and you can't really tell the difference between these locks without actually removing the lockset from the door. In fact, if you were to go to the hardware or home store to purchase a lock, chances are there is no indication on the packaging whether the lock is cylindrical or tubular. In function the cylindrical lock is a sturdier beast and is, of course, the more expensive of the two. In the olden days... after dinosaurs but before television... many residences

and spring-type latch, it was installed into a mortise or deep rectangular groove in the edge of the door. The mortise lock is much more time consuming to install and more expensive to manufacture, but one of the strongest styles ofDue to cost considerations, it is not used frequently in modern homes. However, it is still available as a "high end" (read mucho expensive)Mortise locks are still commonly used in high security business The other lock commonly used on exterior doors is the deadbolt Deadbolts utilize a latch which is designed to move deep into the door jamb by turning a key, lever, or knob. The deadbolt is meant to back up the relatively low security of an entry lock. The weak link in most locksets is not the lock itself but the door, the door jamb, and strike plate that the latch sets into. That's why many deadbolt manufacturers supply specially reinforced strike plates with long screws to secure it to the door frame.

You can also purchase double-cylinderNo, they aren't twice as strong! Double-cylinder means that a key is required to open the deadbolt on both the inside AND the outside.  These are commonly used on doors that may allow access to the inside handle, such as doors with glass windows. Remove all visible screws. Sometimes, this is all it takes. cost locksets are basically sandwiches, with the inside and outside handlesIf there are no visible screws, it means that the lock is being sneaky and must be punished! Certain brands of entry locks conceal the screws under the rose... the circular, decorative cover that presses against the door when the lock is assembled. this style of lockset, the interior door knob must be removed first. rose can be removed by prying it away from the door with the gentle use of a flat blade screwdriver, exposing the screws. Examine the doorknob carefully. Are there any openings or slots that could

accommodate a pin, awl, or flat blade screwdriver? Some locks incorporate a spring catch that can be depressed with one of these tools, allowing you toMany locksets of this type have the removable knob on the inside, for security reasons. Look at the latch. Are there any holes or openings in it that would allow a tool to be inserted? Some locks are held together by a screw, usually with an Allen head, that is set inches into the door. This screw attaches the latch to the cylinder of the lock, making the lock impossible to disassemble if the doorThe problem here is that standard Allen wrenches are not long enough to reach this screw, and you will probably have to go to a local locksmith to Deadbolts sometimes have metal screw covers installed over the screw heads, to discourage casual removal. These covers can be removed by prying with a thin screwdriver or pulled out using locking pliers. Other deadbolts have internal covers that close over the screw heads when the latch is extended.

the key inwards, the screw covers retract to reveal the screw heads. If after all this, you still can't figure the lock out, and you feel like your back is against a wall, do what NH does...go to the shop of a local locksmith and ask him! Locksmiths are in business to make money. And it is true that, most of the time, the products they sell will cost a little more than similar products at the big home improvement stores. As a handyman in your own right, you will find it worthwhile to get acquainted with and shop at the specialty stores in yourThese people have worked hard for years to develop their skills and knowledge and have much to offer you. What I am saying is, if this person can help you out of a tight spot, you at least owe him a sale! I don't think there is anything sleazier than people who will gladly take all of your time for free, but shop elsewhere! If you choose not to shop locally, the local shop will go out of business.!!

If the old hole through the door is 2 1/8" or more, there are many entry locks that will accommodate the existing hole, such as a Schlage. you through the enlarging of the hole, and when I'm through, I won't think less of you if you pack up that lock you just bought and exchange it for one you can install in the existing hole! Barring the rental or purchase of a special locksmithing jig, proceed as To the left is a typical lockset hole, which was about 1/4 inch too small for the new lockset. Rather than make a hole saw guide, I used a rasp to bevel the outside of the lock hole. Do this on both sides of theBe careful not to enlarge the outer edge of the hole too much, or it may show around the rose of the lockset. Hole saws have a tendency move on surfaces unless the pilot drill bit isMove is an understatement... they will jump like a cat on a hot tin roof, damaging anything they touch, including you! enlarge an existing hole using a hole saw, you must get the hole saw engaged in