Varieties and technology of installing a patch lock on a metal door

The expression “my home is my castle” is not just a figure of speech. The lock is an important element of the door structure, a mechanism that locks and unlocks the moving door leaf attached to the hinges. Surface-mounted version of the lock is the easiest to install and operate. Metal doors provide greater strength and safety. The main requirement for a lock is burglary resistance with reliable use.

Front door locks are additional locking devices that are used in the complex to lock the entrances of residential and office premises, warehouses, workshops and other industrial buildings. An important aspect is the possibility of using the latch and the handle of the pivot mechanism in the event of an internal closure. The inability to loosen the fasteners from the outside is a minus for intruders. In theory, users have access to self-repair and installation of such products with minimal metalworking skills. The difference compared to wood is only in the means of attachment to the desired material.

A lock is a locking product that fulfills its function in different ways in different versions. Overhead locks are installed on the door leaf, mortise locks cut inside, hinged locks are hung on special hinges. Mechanical locks are opened with a key, coded locks - by entering a special code, signal or magnetic card. Overhead locks are mechanical and electromechanical. The simplest device and the lowest price for mechanical locks. More sophisticated electromechanical options use electronic pulses that control the shut-off system.

An important aspect of the reliability of the locking actuator is the material from which it is made. Quality steel is better than cast iron, although the latter is massive, it is quite brittle when exposed to low temperatures. Low-quality materials are even more inferior to good steel.

By the design of the locking mechanism, overhead locks are divided into the following main types:

• cylinder;

• levers;

• rack;

• electromagnetic.

Cylinder locks get their name from the cylindrical shape, in which a unique larva is immersed, which is the basic element for actuating the locking mechanism. The industrial manufacturing method standardizes the larva, allowing quick replacement if necessary.

The advantages of a cylinder lock are as follows:

• optimal ease of installation;
• wear resistance of the mechanism;
• reliability;
• small key.

Lever padlock is a rarer consumer phenomenon, since such a device is usually offered in a mortise design. However, as an option for locking the entrances of living quarters and such locks are in demand. This construction type uses a long key that drives the levers. This is the name of the plates of the actuator of the lock, from which it got its name. The larger the levers, the more difficult it is for a burglar to pick up a master key.

Rack locks are considered to be simpler in comparison with the two previous types. Opening and locking occurs due to the combination of key and bolt profiles. This is an older construction. The key is a rod of square, round or rectangular cross-section, which in the keyhole has only a forward or backward movement. The locking is based on the force of the springs. Pressing in the key, the user compresses the springs, and the bolt unlocks the door by its movement, after removing the key from the keyhole, the springs are unclenched, moving the bolt to its original position. The lock is closed.

The main advantages are as follows:

• low cost of the product;
• ease of use;
• very long service life.

Electromechanical (electromagnetic) locks are a different, more modern and expensive principle that uses power supply. Reading of code information is carried out using a scanner, a magnetic card or a special key. Locking devices of this kind consist of a mechanical part, a power supply, a control and a reader. During installation, programming takes place, hacking is very laborious. The modifications are very wide, the solutions depend on the specific interests of the user and his budget.

The main advantages are the following:

• the possibility of remote control;
• absolute blocking from the inside;
• long service life;
• excellent resistance to burglary;
• the ability to work in conjunction with other devices.

Among the disadvantages are the following:

• the need for a constant supply of electrical energy;
• high price;
• poor performance in conditions of high humidity and strong cooling.

The choice of the castle is determined by such three main points as:

• type of protected premises;
• budget;
• wishes for burglary resistance.

Surface locks of various types have a common unifying property - fundamentally the same installation. Fasteners differ only in what kind of door leaf material is used. In the case of a metal door, these are elements that can attach the locking product to the metal. Self-tapping screws are sufficient for wooden doors, pins and appropriate fasteners are used for metal doors. Naturally, the mounting pins are welded.

Tools are the means of turning a lock in a box into a properly functioning device in its place. Typically, this requires the following tools:

• an electric drill with the required drill bits in diameter and quality;
• Bulgarian;
• measuring tools and fasteners;
• file;
• core;
• pencil;
• extension cord;
• screwdrivers;
• sometimes paper.

In order to install a lock on a metal door, you must perform a number of consecutive steps. The main task of the installer is to firmly and accurately secure the locking mechanism in the intended place. As a rule, it is located at a height of 90-100 centimeters from the floor and above, and also should not be located closer than 30 centimeters from another locking device, so that the structure is more reliable. The installation process consists of several steps.

• Make sure that the door does not open inward but outward. This is an important element in ensuring overall burglary resistance. The specific instance of the lock must correspond to how the door is opened, to the left or to the right.
• Collect the necessary tools to prepare the installation. Everything must be ready for future manipulations.
• Check the completeness of the lock. Items are required in stock. It is better to make sure of this in advance, rather than during the installation. A normal manufacturer will equip his product not only with a description, but also with clear installation instructions.

• Make a markup. As already mentioned, the lock must be installed on the door leaf from inside the room. Attach a lock in the selected location. Make a note of the location of the mounting pins and key holes. If you have difficulty in marking, you can use paper, pre-fixing it with tape or glue. The paper should not move.

• Drill holes for pins and wrench. The pins are welded to the iron door.
• Fasten the lock to the door leaf using pins and fasteners. From the outside, do not forget about the pad covering the keyhole.
• Insert the key and turn by pulling out the locking bolts of the lock as far as possible. Mark with paint the place where they rest against the door frame. This is where holes are made for constipation. With the help of a file, the edges are finalized.
• Install the bar to secure the door closing in such a way that the lock locks well, accurately and “without roughness”. Accurate work when turning a key or a locking handle should be combined with the entry of the retractable crossbars into the place designated by the structure. The door should close tightly and silently and open well.

Naturally, when installed on a garage door or garden gate, there will be certain differences associated only with the design of the doors and the operating conditions of the lock. For a stronger steel front door, all basic installation steps are the same. These doors are gaining popularity among those who want to further increase burglary resistance through the quality of the steel alloy construction. Gate padlocks are increasingly a thing of the past. Modern combination, cylinder and lever locks have replaced them. The eternal competition of hacking and protection, where the more effective hacking technologies become, the further protection develops.

How to install a patch lock on a metal door, see the video.