How to Make a Recess for a Door Lock

Position the strike plate against the door frame and scribe a line onto the mortise with a utility knife, using the plate as a template.

Position the tip of a chisel against the scribed lines with the beveled side of the chisel facing towards the center of the scribed rectangle.

Tap the butt end of the chisel lightly with a hammer until the chisel reaches the depth of the strike plate.

Position the chisel within the outline and hold the chisel at a 45-degree angle and pointing upward with the beveled side facing the bottom of the outline. Tap the butt end of the chisel lightly with the hammer until the chisel reaches the depth of the strike plate. Chisel parallel cuts spaced approximately one-quarter inch along the outline using the same method.

Position the chisel within the outline and hold the chisel at a 45-degree angle and pointing downward with the beveled side facing the top of the outline. Tap the butt end of the chisel lightly to remove the chiseled wood strips.

Position the strike plate against the mortise and draw an outline of the latch hole onto the mortise with a pencil.

Bore a latch hole through the center of the outline with a drill fitted with a spade bit that matches the diameter of the latch hole.

Position the strike plate against the mortise and tighten the plate’s securing screws through the plate and into the mortise with a screwdriver.