Historic mortise lock repair. Getting your historic hardware working!

Sometimes historic locks can wiggle and jiggle too much. But before you throw them out, Brent shows us how to get them working great again. Please don't replace your wonderful historic hardware with cheap builder-grade hardware. Come learn some great new tricks.

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[JWHusby]

Thanks for the video. If have the time, it might be helpful to take some close-up footage and insert it accordingly. As a hint for anyone else reading this, just for my own sanity, once I open the cover off the mortise lock I always take a photo with my phone so that I can remember exactly how to put all the pieces back in order.

[gjacobson]

I was a locksmith for 11 years. I have fixed hundreds of mortise locks. Most are very simple and easy to work on. You can use a soft brass brush or a buffing pad to restore the finish. Broken springs are a common problem. You can easily get an assortment of spring steel and make your own replacement springs. Taking a picture of what it looks like can save you when you are putting the lock back together. Most old mortise locks are warded locks and take a bit key. The term skeleton key refers to a key that was cut to bypass different ward configurations. Other problems you can run in to are: debris in the lock, the strike plate misaligned, stripped set screws on the knob, stripped holes on the door that lock body screws go in to.
These locks will last another 100 years if you take care of them.
Great video Brent!

[zacharybrooks]

Brent, thank you SO much for this video. After hours of googling and tinkering, your video provided so much clarity. Not only do I now understand the components; I appreciate the beauty of the device and am no longer just frustrated at it.

[TraciRene]

I've hated my door knobs since I moved in my house 5 years ago but this video made me appreciate them. I will look for a way to upgrade them without completely replacing them. Thank you

[UNIONFEATURES]

Hi Brent, a big thank you from Bath in England. Your video gave me the confidence to fix a long term sticking internal mortice lock in my 1880s townhouse. All sorted now. 🙌

[hannanathan]

3:25 This is where I’ve been hiding my hard-drives.


On a real note, very helpful video. Thanks!

[KenHill]

Hi, Brent! Just a quick note here as I'm halfway through this video. I have a 1927 five-story terracotta/terrazzo/stone office bldg. here in the Northwest/ Puget Sound. I have it a bit different with this building as those four floors of offices have unit lock sets. But I just came on here right now to confirm that even here the bathrooms were set up with nickel hardware on the bathroom side. The basic hardware finished throughout this building is dark dark bronze, yes, dark bronze² .

Oh, Tri-Flo to at least finish after cleaning with WD40. But that's me.

[vkaPAUL]

great video. I use to play with those locks as a kid tearing them apart, because of curiosity. always love to see them today still in their original doors.

[Anonymous-itjw]

WD-40 is designed for water displacement, hence the "WD" and the "40" is the 40th formula they tried, and it worked; it is not an actual grease or long-term lubricant, and for better long term results a lock grease should be used on the moving parts, so you don't have to remove the lock every year and spray it with WD-40 or a similar temporary solution to your problem.

[thenexthobby]

Every door in the 1939 house I'm in has these (with integral deadbolt-ish locks, like in your example here) including the closets and the original external doors. They tell a story, because the ones that are dirty/corroded/worn are the doors used every day for many decades. So it's awesome to be able to reference the seldom-used doors to learn what to expect.

I've also noticed that for the ones with slipping knobs, where the knob's set screw just won't stay tight, those are also the ones where the mortise assembly needs a clean-and-lube. What happens is ... as the mortise assembly becomes harder to work, that places a far greater strain on the knob and its set screw.

[sunnystar]

If I hadn't came across your video I certainly would have replaced but now I'm going to take my problem hardware and save it. Thanks so much. I live in a house with original wood floors, unpainted woodwork, doors and hardware and trying keep it that way.

[laneyparker]

Thank you!!! I needed to know how to switch from right to left hand swing. You just saved me alot of time and work. ❤

[Nicolandia]

Thanks for the video. My home has these and this video instilled confidence that I don’t need to swap out mine. Looking forward to working on my ASAP!

[jonp]

I used this video to fix a mortise lock in my 1900 built home today. Someone had painted over the deadbolt portion and the paint has gotten inside the lock and stopped it up. A good cleaning and lubricant fixed it up.

The house has a lot more locks that will need the same treatment.

Thanks for the informative and helpful content!

[tommel]

Just got my first old home about 1900’s was always a parsonage. I am the first one other than the church to own it. Everything is original, and I want to keep it that way. Thanks for the inspiration and instructions

[daniellove]

So helpful, thanks for this. My locks turn 100 next year. I was looking at replacement parts but then thought to check youtube. Glad I did!

[angelopepeskordos]

It’s kinda crazy how much I enjoyed watching this!

[ivonekowalczyk]

More on revamping these locks PLEASE !!!

[Oddpistachio]

This video was very helpful, thank you!

[Tantric_U]

Great video no complaints, actually learned a few new things. I just wanted to put out there maybe use something better than Regular WD-40 as it evaporates entirely in a relatively short time, as it's true use is mainly to be a penetrating solvent. They offer a silicone version that will last much longer and also provide oxidation protection due to the added silicone residue left when the solvent evaps. Optimally some grease or oil though as they will last much longer.