How to Repair a Full Mortise Lockset | Ask This Old House

[@alexanderzerka8477]

This was a really good episode. Nathan seems like a good fit for the show, and the new music was very pleasant.

[@thelocksmith]

It’s very rare that I’d recommend a door be replaced because of a lock. I can’t believe that was someone’s answer to your problem !! There are so many options to retro fit these old mortise locks. Also, please anyone who’s going to try this… don’t put glue on your lock or anywhere near it !

[@Chris153758]

He could've filed a divot into the new thumb-turn cam & used the set screw, same as the original design, and there would've been no need for the glue.

[@worldhealthrn]

One problem is getting a skilled person to come out and actually do the work. Sometimes homeowners are forced to do the more convenient option and maybe more expensive option ( buying a while new door that a store will deliver and install) because they can't find available experts. I may have to do so because my lock on a new home purchase is to the point where it's not quite working properly and I can't compromise my security

[@Chris153758]

@@worldhealthrn Most half-decent locksmiths could fix something like this, no problem. Even if they can't fix the mortise lock, they could install a modern deadbolt with an antique brass finish. No need to replace the door.

[@alexkohr]

That line she said was for their show right? Whoever proposed that is a con artist, but if she thought that was a viable option I have a bridge to sell her

[@dorothylazard4797]

This was so helpful. I have the exact same problem with my front door. Thanks for posting!

[@johnroberts9560]

HI TOH , that Nathan Gilbert is really good at what he's doing & really knowledgeable he can fix about anything , I like your dad Nathan he should come on TOH more often !!! 👍😊🛠

[@williamcraycraft6911]

I just moved into a house today and it has this exact lock. It functions, but I had no idea what type of lock I have. Great info, Thanks TOH!

[@lmgtulsa]

That is so COOL! I had no idea these could be fixed. Thanks for the vid!

[@monkeyoperator1360]

probably anything built before 1980 can be repaired easier than it can be replaced

[@kippywylie]

@@monkeyoperator1360 And a repair will last many decades, compared to the planned obsolescence of post 1980

[@thedude8520]

I'm so happy.... Usually learn something from these.... Sure but this one, I learned about something I knew nothing about! Awesome just simply awesome

[@carljorgensen2813]

Awesome video, you should ask her if she wants her front door refinish and show us how you do that..

[@SeanBZA]

Tip when taking that hardware off, is to also use some furniture oil or linseed oil, and wipe down the door under the hardware, putting the oil there, and also a layer on the inside of the door furniture, so it will have the oil to protect it. The oil on the wood also provides waterproofing, and helps keep the lock itself from rusting further as well. Mechanism you also want to wipe the outside down to clean it, and apply oil to it, including all the threads, using a small rag lightly dipped in the oil. All parts will benefit from the oil, and last longer as well, including the screws. Did that to my front door, replacing the 1990's era handles with 1960's era, I got from the scrapyard, and cleaned up to remove the 100 layers of paint. A drop of oil, a bit of cleaning, and used the original screws again, and it works much better.

[@kippywylie]

Until this morning watching this video I had always believed that and grease based lubricant was harmful to any lock because it will attract grit & dust. For 40 years I've always used dry graphite powder for the internal mechanisms.

[@kippywylie]

My front door is nearly identical to this door. House built 1895

[@jackpestaner6925]

@@kippywylie Dry graphite is the go-to for the lock cylinder (where the key goes) for sure. For the lock case white lithium is a better choice as it doesnt attract dirt as much as regular grease. Dry graphite can be messy.

[@kippywylie]

@@jackpestaner6925 Oh? Well thank you. Never knew this, and in our 120 year old home locks can get sticky

[@joshlepowsky1795]

Cannot believe someone said it would cost thousands. As a locksmith that's a very simple job inexpensive job

[@Kit_Bear]

I think they were exaggerating for drama. There's no way on earth that this would even cost a grand even if they replaced the door.

[@baronvonbrauhaus9086]

I thought external deadbolts were always retrofits on doors lacking deadbolts, but since this has one I think it was broken long before the '70s when somebody installed the external. First they broke the key off in the cylinder by heaving on that when the bolt stuck, then the doorknob started spinning after heaving on it with the sagging bolt got in the way, then the latch on the retrofit became the only way to open and secure the door until they finally decided to sell the house because a nice door cost more than the house was worth. Next episode, how to repair knob and tube wiring without a breaker box, followed by horsehair and lath plaster repair for all the holes they put in the walls fixing wiring. Season cliff hanger is extinguishing wood stove kitchen fires. PS: Sarcasm. I love all this old crap and grew up with it.

[@stevec9669]

Nathan is amazing!

[@BradThePitts]

REPAIR is ALWAYS better than replace! 👍

[@jhartford58]

Cool you guys added a locksmith to the picture

[@matthewlewis5631]

Sounds like whoever quoted them thought they had an easy payday. Dodgy Brothers locksmith co?

[@mmjohns2705]

Thousands and thousands? 🤣

[@TheInsaneShecklador]

Or they gave them the "I really don't want to do it" price.

[@Pyongyang4948]

I’m certain it was, if she offered her vangeena, I’m sure it would have been free

[@Guardducks]

@@TheInsaneShecklador that's the i don't know how to do it price

[@TheInsaneShecklador]

@@Guardducks That too, but the last couple years contractors have been pretty busy and are able to be choosy when it comes to picking customers. It's not uncommon to throw out a high price instead of telling the customer no. If by some chance they actually accept the high price you make out like a bandit and if they refuse you are happy to not get the job.

[@TripleIllini]

Nate, you could at least let Cloe sit down while you went to the store my man 🤣

[@craiglawson663]

Like it says in the parts section above...nothing was built the same back then. We have 3 entry doors, same locks but they all were built just a bit different. Crazy.

[@austinpaulkramer]

Very helpful thanks! I wish I watched this sooner:)

[@stevebabiak6997]

The bright brass on the replacement key cylinder on the outside of the door lacks the patina that was preserved on the other lock parts. Maybe that face could have been aged, or used an antique brass finish on it?

[@jeffmoss26]

Nice work!

[@Skammerd]

Are those old school Craftsman screwdrivers?

[@robertf6344]

Enjoyed it !

[@nitexninja]

Anyone know the easiest way to get a broken set screw that is holding the lock cylinder out? I can't get the cylinder or the mortise box out without removing that and I only have the secondary set screw hole to look through.

[@rels9273]

It will be hard - you'll need to drill a tiny hole in the middle of the screw, then force a "screw extractor" into that hole and remove it.

[@poeticthoughts06]

Nathan is great.

[@johnbaptist7476]

Always No : 1 ♾️ Awesome👌🙏👍👏👏

[@jamilvints]

Can you guys do a video on how to replace a mortise lock with common locks eg, deadbolts.

[@jbryantphotographer]

They did. Tommy filled in the mortise and installed new hardware

[@peterhanson3962]

What happened to cleaning the mechanism before using lubricant?

[@SeanBZA]

Not suitable for video, with all the swearing that will becoming out, about putting it back together, and even just taking outside, and using some spray cleaner, would have taken too long. Hit and run here....

[@flat-earther]

@@SeanBZA Yeah I would have cleaned it but I also get how it's not suitable in their video format.

[@kippywylie]

@@SeanBZA Yep, we have locks like this on our 1895 home..... A few f-bombs every time I touch them

[@Guardducks]

Nice work nathan

[@stephenmiller8556]

Very nice I enjoyed it

[@cbryantbear6498]

That was a good one!

[@dcbqb19]

Wouldn't you want to brush away all the rust build up while it's open?

[@tom_ad9343]

It's still good for another century before cleaning...

[@oldslow3694]

the top surface mounted lock is a night latch, the button on the case is to hold open latch, on some models it deadlocked the latch so key would not work from outside. so when worn one can get locked out if buttom falls down. if both locks are used a person needs 2 hands to open door, my advice do not use top lock

[@johnperry5102]

to restore that lock it should have been cleaned of all rust and then totally rust proofed, then lubricated

[@dalesworld1308]

It's surface rust rust from humidity. Not a big deal.

[@karlhungusjr1]

he wasn't restoring it. he was fixing it.

[@rels9273]

If that is the full extent of the rust after 100 years, it's fine, that's very little rust.

[@dcbqb19]

Mike Holmes would have absolutely done that! And I would too, cause I don't want it to work, I want it to last

[@jmfia2391]

Then you do it. Dammit.

[@4speed3pedals]

Does T.O.H. charge the homeowner for time and materials?

[@Caleyfan86]

Great vid

[@stevethirdcitymo6527]

Loved seeing the Craftsman name among the tools!

[@buddyg1408]

The strike is on the jamb

[@Dino_Buk]

Man so much rust and it's not been cleaned before putting a lubricant. I see Evapo-Rust and products as such would make this shine like a brand new. And also, I would put a grease in the can, and not this liquid grease in a spray. Put it everywhere, not only where the moving parts are, as it will protect the metal for decades.

[@tomowcaest.5999]

just cost me $90 TO CLEAN !! DID R & R MYSELF😮

[@alacran1986]

Nice I can fix the one on my door

[@williamdarden2874]

Why not use the old graphic lube that is use on car door locks

[@douglasboyle6544]

I may not have been informed enough to have known how to repair the inner workings of the lock but I'm also not ignorant enough to have said "you gotta replace the whole door". I would have just replaced the whole lockset, they make new full mortise sets like that

[@MC-24]

Know-it-all time! White lithium grease? I’m surprised by that recommendation. In my experience, in an old chassis, with years of wear, in an exterior door, exposed to sun and heat, that grease will turn to gummy crud in just a year. There are better options. If you were to fully restore and clean the chassis, you could use Red n Tacky or another long-life machine grease inside the chassis and a coat of anti-corrosion/lubricating oil outside. For a quick repair, I would use something like gun, sewing machine, or shredder oil to “nourish” the metal parts and a little lighter grease like Super Lube. And you’re looking at at least $500 and two trips to do what the guy in the video did. (to do it well, anyway)

[@tomowcaest.5999]

so.... it has to be lined up just right ?? WHAT LINE ????😢

[@2000kluck]

08:12; Close your eyes and listen.

[@BlankBrain]

They forgot to show how to get the doorknob shaft out. I have a Norwalk lock set, and the doorknob shaft won't come out.

[@TomisaLami]

Should you really use a liquid lubrication in a lock like that? Wouldn’t it be better to use some graphite powder or something?

[@Tiki_Tony]

My house is 93 years old and has the same front door lock.

[@kippywylie]

Same. This summer I'd like to refinish our 100+ year old oak door.... But it is so heavy I honestly don't see a way to get it off its hinges and onto some saw-horses.

[@PiranhaJaw22]

For those of you who keep saying "thousands and thousands of dollars?", San Francisco.

[@bgrady24]

All of this assumes you can easily get replacement parts. I’ve fixed many doors like this as a landlord buying old properties. I would have bored out new holes for modern knobs and locks. Looks fine, saves time and money.

[@worldhealthrn]

Thank you. People do not understand the logistics of all of this.

[@Kit_Bear]

How about a deep clean before putting it back into service.

[@jameshicks3300]

Dude could stunt double for Ricky Schroeder...though he wouldn't be doing much doubling if any.

[@a.a.837]

7:17 Its my first time i hear someone says door cost thousents of dollers!!

[@priceandpride]

Did she only talk to one door vendor?

[@pointedspider]

Um...she's asked for a quote sir. You haven't even told her what's its going to cost!

[@67tr876]

I would have just swapped out the hole lock box 123.

[@tomowcaest.5999]

gois idea... if u can find one😊

[@brettking177]

When your full mortise lock gets rigor mortis....💀

[@lizzapaolia959]

That mortice lock offers zero security. They should purchase an original replacement. Keep the old lock for the history, definitely not a lock for today's prolific criminals. Thanks for sharing this video.

[@princesssmile7958]

Thats nice and all but to change the whole the door is best option in my opinion .. cause I wouldn't keep that lock holding the door since it is full of rust

[@JesusIsReal925]

No one wants to be responsible for that door and one kick that door is done

[@tomowcaest.5999]

nope !! double locked on the jam with 8 1 inch screws😊

[@stephenmiller8556]

Anybody who tells you the whole door Hass to be replaced because the lock is malfunctioning is one or two things ignorant or they want to steal your money so to speak. So many people nowadays just sent just replace it but our house is built in 1930 and I'm sitting here in the living room right now restoring mine.

[@yosh1to]

Thousands of dollars to replace the door? Are you kidding? I’ll do it for a fraction of the price loool

[@Guillotines_For_Globalists]

"Contractor pricing" is absolutely ridiculous indeed.

[@jdub099]

He looks like Ross from Ross Creations

[@aberba]

Door cost 1000s of dollars? In Ghana wooden doors are the cheapest. What a world 😀

[@kismetcorp]

People in Massachusetts are extremely liberal and proud to pay insane prices on things so they can talk about how expensive their belongings and therefore valuable their lives are

[@karlhungusjr1]

@@kismetcorp yet she didn't want to pay an insane price and just got it fixed. how does that match up with your theory about the entire population of a state?

[@kismetcorp]

@@karlhungusjr1 my antique door is that much more valuable and quote charming

[@kismetcorp]

@@karlhungusjr1 fck back off to plebbit

[@karlhungusjr1]

@@kismetcorp ???

[@randyaivaz3356]

You don't need a $2000 Door, you just need to pay me $2000 Labor to do the Repairs :) Seriously though, Good Video on a Old Lock.

[@jefflebowski918]

White Lithium grease is good stuff, you should spray your keyholes and deadbolts every three months.

[@readyplayer2]

A “dry” lubricant that won’t attract dirt or gum up the pins would be appropriate for lock cylinders / key holes. Don’t use grease. Grease is fine for the other parts of the mortise lock that were lubricated in this video.

[@jefflebowski918]

@@readyplayer2 Dry lubricants don't last long and they don't protect against rust, I've used them.

[@tomowcaest.5999]

w d 40 ??🎉

[@loxalot31]

It’s not a strike it’s a latch. Get your terms correct or don’t say anything. Clean the lock before you lubricate it. You should never lubricate a mortise lock with a spray lithium grease, use grease that you have to spread as it will last a lot longer. Do NOT use glue in a lock, ever, for any reason.

[@bjornjoseph]

Thousands and thousands?! Doors made of vibranium?

[@baronvonbrauhaus9086]

I assume they meant of the same construction and materials, which probably is priced like unobtanium.

[@chriswilson8041]

i just had my front door replaced with a cost of 2500

[@lawrence6182]

How about taking all the parts out of the lock and clean them and checking to see if those 100 year old springs are in one piece. Once all the parts are out of the case you can clean out all the debris. Just spraying lubricant in the lock is lazy and irresponsible.

[@TJsVette]

Thousands to replace a door?? I know prices have gone up but not that much...sounds like someone is way overcharging lol

[@nusermane1076]

Some say the skills you learn in the trades are a door-opener, but that skill is kinda the opposite 🤔

[@thomasfreer580]

Hard to believe any qualified carpenter would suggest swapping out the entire door for lock repairs.....smh

[@StiqChannel]

The tension in this video is palpable

[@jermelpurse3018]

Just ask yourself why did so many people tell her to replace a perfectly good door instead of being able to swap out the locks like a professional should have been able to do.

[@worldhealthrn]

I have been told the EXACT same thing. It is so hard to get experts. They are in high demand and often not available for small jobs in small markets

[@Shazzkid]

Thousands and thousands to replace a door....?

[@ssl3546]

The dinguses saying thousands for a front door is crazy either just woke up from a 20 year coma or are blind and can't see this is a stain-grade, clear wood, solid door. The door alone is over a thousand, plus the ancillary materials, plus several hours of labor. Plus calling out a locksmith to put in good quality locks.

[@saulgoodman2018]

Replace the whole door? Typical contractors. Instead of fixing it, they want to replace the whole door. And get you to spend more money than is needed. Those kind of contractors are what give the good ones a bad name.

[@theedrstrangelove]

Thousands and thousands of dollars to replace a door? What planet is this?

[@benefactionhindrance]

Thousands and thousands of dollars. Yeah right.

[@mccalejk2]

For certain doors, most definitely.

[@1user-2023]

Yes, quality doors cost thousands of dollars. Same goes with interior, a quality inside door will cost north of $800. Not even including installation or hardware.

[@cubbe8]

Bruh that’s my teacher

[@Eric_thedisciple]

A front door isn’t thousands and thousands of dollars unless inflation is that bad lol

[@SeanBZA]

Is if you want actual solid wood, and not a laminate or pressed wood over a hollow core, or a door made from chipboard with thin wood veneer on it. With it being that old likely also a custom made door as well.

[@SPMech1]

👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@brick_layer541]

Replace the door 😂 That being said, this repair did require a lot of knowledge and a place to get old-style parts so I can understand why not everyone is able to do these repairs.

[@jeffreyrivers1983]

Can I have her contact information? 💖💣

[@dalesworld1308]

'Can I have that grease? This stuff can go all over."

[@jeffreyrivers1983]

He talks very shady lol

[@WannaBeHocker]

Thousands of dollars for a front door replacement? Oh ok

[@MrFixItGa]

WHERE do you live that it costs "thousands and thousands" to replace a residential door?

[@mccalejk2]

For an antique door like she clearly wanted, it’s not that far fetched.

[@jan_vyhnak]

thousands of dollars for new doors? she was joking right? right?

[@Havi71599]

She said cost " thousands and thousands of dollars" to change one door!!! She sound like she has no clue about what she stated!!!

[@worldhealthrn]

That is EXACTLY what I was told for my 1950's door/lock replacements - exactly. You clearly have no clue what some tradesmen say to some home owners.

[@meihe9108]

AND THAT'S WHY YOU NEED A MAN.............

[@BrianPrestonMe]

‘IT SURE IS!’ I love TOH, hoping they convince them to stop fake acting.

[@alexfierro]

Yeah man, I always watch This Old House for the acting. They should give Daniel Day Lewis a call.

[@NateGodin77]

Best to leave locksmthing to locksmiths… any actual locksmith would be facepalming at this.

[@user-jl2wd1it8h]

Why change locks just cause you've bought a house? Do you also sleep with a 9mm next to your gooch? Wait you're mericon so you have high crime and love guns.