Score around the plate with a sharp utility knife.
Chisel door frame.
Place the edge of a sharp chisel into any of the mortise outline grooves.
You ll need to cut a mortise a small shallow recess in the wood of the door and doorjamb for the latchbolt and strike plate to rest.
Knowing how to cut a mortise is essential for installing a deadbolt lock.
Fortunately cutting out this mortise isn t nearly as difficult as it sounds.
Example of how to use a bevel edged chisel to create hinge slots on a beech wood door.
The hinge mortise allows the hinge to be mounted flush with the jamb and door so the door will close properly.
Using a sharp 1 inch wide chisel cut a series of parallel lines into the jamb about 1 4 inch apart staying within the scored lines and holding the chisel perpendicular to the wood.
A hinge mortise is the shallow cut made in the edge of a door and the door jamb that mirrors the size and thickness of the door hinge.
Then gently tap the back end of the chisel with a hammer or mallet pushing it into the door.
Cutting a door hinge mortise with a chisel.