How to Choose a Mortise Door Lock Body

The door lock body is the main part of a lock that enables it to operate. It’s sometimes referred to as the “lock cylinder” and it includes a keyway where a key can be inserted. It also has a bolt that engages the inside of your door when it’s locked.

The cylinder also has a series of pins that are engaged when you turn the key to lock or unlock the bolt. This prevents the bolt from being disengaged or pulled back by unauthorized users. The cylinder is the core of your door lock and it’s what allows you to secure your home, business, or hotel room.

There are two types of locks commonly found in American homes: mortise and cylindrical. The key difference between these two types is that mortise locks require cutting a pocket (aka a mortise cut-out) in the door to install them, while cylindrical locks simply need you to drill round holes in your door and insert the lock set into those bored holes.

When you choose a mortise lock, you will need to know your door’s stile (or thickness) value. You can find out this value by dividing the door’s width in half. This will provide the value you need to select a mortise lock body that matches your door’s stile size.

Once you’ve selected your mortise lock body, the next step is to select a face plate and a strike plate for the lock assembly. The face plate is a metal plate that’s fixed to the outside of your door’s vertical edge and it has an internal hole that guides the bolt from the cylinder into the locking position when you close your door. It’s often made from heavy duty steel to protect the doorjamb and add an extra level of security.

The strike plate is a metal plate that’s attached to your door frame and it has a hole that matches the cylinder’s bolt. It’s not only a safety feature as it provides an additional layer of security but it’s also designed to prevent the bolt from being disengaged or pulled out of its locking position by unauthorized users.

A spindle connects the knobs or handles on both sides of your door to enable you to open and close the door latch. You’ll need to turn the knob or lever to pull the door handle down or up and it will push or pull on the strike plate – which will in turn trigger the bolt to engage with the door.

To remove the door knob from its lock, start by removing the set screw located on the jamb side of the lock box. Once this is removed, you can remove the thumb turn and the exterior door knob from the shaft. You’ll then need to slide the lock cylinder out of the lockbox by turning it on its key a quarter turn. Once you have the cylinder out, inspect it for any broken or worn parts and replace as needed. When you’re ready to reinstall it, reinsert the cylinder into the lockbox by threading it through and then tighten the set screw on the jamb side of the lockbox.