How to Make a Lock for a Pocket Door

Measure halfway up from the bottom of the pocket door and draw a straight line on the edge of the door and on each side of the door where the latch plate and door faceplate will be located. Place the latch plate template paper on the door edge, lining up the template's line with your penciled center line.

Tap a nail through the template into the door where labeled on the template. Gently remove the nail without marring the door. This nail hole serves as the starting point for the spade bit. Insert the spade bit guide into the nail hole and drill a hole approximately 2 inches deep.

Drill a large borehole with the hole saw for the face place. Drill the hole halfway through the door until the guide drill bit pokes through the other side of the door. Remove the hole saw and place the hole saw guide bit in the small hole on the other side of the door. Drill a hole on this side of the door until the hole is completely through the door. By drilling on both sides of the door, you will prevent the hole saw from tearing through the surface of the door and creating an unsightly gash.

File the boreholes with the rat-tail metal file. Remove sawdust and wood debris from the holes.

Position the latch plate over the hole on the door edge. Draw around the plate with a pencil. Remove the plate.

Cut a 1/8-inch recess at your latch plate marks with the chisel. Do not chisel the wood with too much force or you will chip off the thin edges around the door. Work slowly and carefully.

Sand the wood with sandpaper. Remove dust and debris from the boreholes.

Insert the latch bolt mechanism into the door edge hole. Place the latch plate over the door edge into the recessed area. Screw the latch plate with wood screws.

Insert the two halves of the faceplate mechanism -- one half on one side of the door bore hole and the other half into the other bore hole. Align the locking mechanism inside the faceplate system by inserting the two narrow bolts of metal on one faceplate into the two metal tubes of the other faceplate. Screw the faceplates to the door on both sides of the door.

Place the manufacturer's template paper on the doorjamb according to the installation instructions. Mark the placement for the striker plate on the doorjamb with your pencil. Drill a hole with the spade bit at the location of the striker plate hole as detailed in the instructions.

Position the striker plate on the jamb and draw an outline with the pencil. Chisel a 1/8-inch recess with the chisel. Sand the wood smooth. Place the striker plate into the recessed section and screw it onto the jamb with wood screws.