door latch hole needs enlarging.

chezybezy wrote: »

afternoon,
i am exchanging the door handles in my new house, which required a new tubular latch however my existing hole pinches the latch. is this ok or should i enlarge it slightly to allow an easier fit? i have to push really hard to ease the latch in and i do not think that is the correct idea, i've read that any form of misalignment or pinching is likely to cause me more problems.
if so any ideas how i can do this, its only a bit that needs removing? sandpaper doesnt seem to be working, i cant think how a drill bit would work, i don't have a file / rasp. hmm

https://i.imgur.com/uJZvHpK.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/QWsfDur.jpg

If the latch will fit into place with a hard push, then, unless a moving part of the latch is rubbing against the wood, I don't see why you would have problems. Most of the movement is internal and the wood will only touch at the four corners of the latch body. Only if the fit is so tight that it distorts the latch body would you have a problem. The wood is likely to give a little before the metal latch body, although some cheap latches are very flimsy.

If you have a sharp blade screwdriver of suitable size, a bit of gentle scraping might be enough to ease the fit and save you buying a file or a chisel. You don't need to remove very much material.

Alternatively, if you have an electric drill and a suitable wood drill bit, you should be able to use that to remove enough material from the 4 areas where the corners of the latch body go.

De-select any hammer action, start the drill on its lowest speed, slide the drill bit into empty space and then very gently move it so that it is scraping in the right area, using the sides of the drill bit and not the point to remove material. Apply a minimum of pressure.

Or use the point of the bit and very gently move it to and fro to remove a small amount of wood.

Be very careful and beware of kick backs etc from the drill. Very gentle pressure and very slow movement should prevent any sudden kick backs or jerks.

Wear eye protection.

Some may say that is a bodge job but, as it will be hidden, does that matter much?

Replacing the latches with ones that fit might be easier.