Install a Drawer Lock on a Fake-adapted Sliding Door

Nothing makes me more satisfied than a good practical challenge!

Here it goes then: this is classic door which was re-installed as a sliding one. The previous owner of the apartment did a good thing reusing a classic door and converting it in a sliding one...but what about the lock?

A brave blacksmith (brave because of its aweful solution) installed a couple of screw rings on the door and the jamb completing the masterpiece with a huge bycicle-type lock... ooouch

I really could stand it so I decided to make a new one. Here is how - step by step.

I cannot deny that all this requires a lot of patience and quite a good handyman but once it is done you will get your satisfaction.

You will need a drawer lock, a drill with tips for wood, a little file for wood, a 3d printer could be helpful, a metal slotted plate, a couple of screws for wood, a magnetic cylinder, a drill press, tips for metal...

Who said that this was going to be easy?!

Good luck!

There are many ways to create this 'mechanism'. I found a drawer lock at the hardware's for 3 bucks. Some of them have a screw but you want to find the one with the little C-shaped ring otherwise it would not be possible to insert and tighten the screw on the other side of the door.

Measure the distance of the lock and drill the door with a tip for wood. The hole should be quite precise, steady hands then!

Time for the hole nr. 2!

You have to remove the wood from the side to make room for the turning hook to get down, out of the door. Right now this is not a hook but it will be. This hook will hang on the static part of the door, the jamb.

Avoid to use different size tips and remember its size. You will need this later to create the plastic cover.

It is convenient to draw a guide line on the side. Be careful with the wood tip, it is easy to make mistakes.

Once you are finished check if there is enough space for the whole lock mechanism to work, to get inside and outside without obstacles.

Use a little file to smooth the edge and correct any mistake done.

Now measure the size of this hole. It should be as wide as the tip you previously used.

Measure the height, that is arbitrary.

This is the part where probably you need to find someone who has a 3d printer. It is pretty common nowadays. In some places you can even hire a 3d printer or pay for the 3D printing. This drawing needs max 10 mins printing.

Obviously you could even find any plastic plate and cut the slot in the middle.

For the drawing I used Google Sketchup but Autocad or Autodesk123 are good as well or even better probably.

The plastic cover should have a couple of little fins, these will hold the cover in place. They do not have to be really precise, the flat cover will be glued on the side door.

Relax, take a breathe.

See how the slot on the plastic cover is slightly aside from the center.

Check your lock and measures first

Before glueing the cover check if the hook goes through the thin slot. If it is wrong you will have to print it again or you could file it.

Remove the hook from the lock mechanism now. You will have to file it. The little cut on the metal will be the real hooking thing on the jamb, on the metal frame screwed on the jamb

This type of locks allow the key to be extracted only in 180° which is good because I did not want to extract the key when it is not locked but I do not want people to panic in case the hook falls down by itself when the door is closed.

I could have drilled a little more inside the door but it needed a pretty long tip and it was not really worth it.

I decided to put a little magnetic cylinder inside the door slot to keep the hook up.

Games for kids usually have these magnetic toys or you can find a reed sensor for home alarm systems at the HW's as I did.

Time to glue the plastic cover on the side door slot.

You are almost finished!

This is the last part.

I bought a slotted metal frame. I drilled and filed the wood to host it and to remove the wood. You will have to make room for the hook.

A cutter is pretty useful for this or a chisel for carving wood even better.

with a drill press remove the center part of the plate and smooth it with a file.

The lower part should hang on the door hook so be sure to measure it correctly

before you file it completely. Once you are done you can paint it if you want and

then you can finally tighten to the jamb

I am sure this was not an easy thing to do.

At the begin I thought it was going to be quick and easy instead it required a couple of hours and quite many tools.

Apart from the 3d printing, which you could skip using any plastic cover shaped and cut, I spent 5 bucks for the lock and the metal plate.

Thank you