Customer Reviews for Porter-Cable Strike and Latch Plate Template

Only while laughing would I call myself a "woodworker" or "carpenter." So, I hired a carpenter, whose work I'd seen at a neighbors home, to install a new front door. With the new door installed, and the original deadbolt and entry locks on the door, the first indication there was something wrong was when a Dremel and a grinding bit were used to grind one side of the entry lock strike plate so both the deadbolt and latch bolt would properly latch when the door was closed. Segue to several weeks later after the last box or new passage, privacy, entry and deadbolt locks had arrived and all the original door locks throughout the house were replace with new locks and strike plates. Everything installed worked, except for two entry deadbolt strike plates where the mortised opening was for smaller strike plates, and the new front door where the either the deadbolt or the entry lock would latched, but, not both. I decided to figure-out how to fix these three doors myself, and set out to find something that would help get it done right the first time. The Porter template arrived with everything that I needed, including a router bit with a bearing that purchased separately would have cost almost as much as the kit with template and fasteners. After several careful readings of the instructions, a suitable piece of scrap 2x4 would be my first victim, if there were to be victims, in the hope that the door frames would then avoid an untimely mauling! Installed the router bit and set the depth as shown as shown in the instructions, penciled the center line, installed the pop-in template piece for a large deadbolt latch plate, then centered and secured the template to the 2x4 and routed out a perfect mortise for the new plates. Could I repeat this successful experience with the router held horizontally? Amazingly, there were no door frame victims that day thanks to this Porter template kit. What I felt was going to be a difficult job to get done right was made easy .

Rating provided by a verified purchaser

Rating provided by a verified purchaser

The bit is super dull, which was disappointing - but more so - the template doesn't fit for a standard interior strike plate.

Very easy to use. The provided nails secure the template nicely against the frame. Be sure to use the supplied router bit to cut out the edges properly. I initially used a different bit and was wondering why the edge cut was too short.

Rating provided by a verified purchaser

Used 1 time - got the job done, but part of the template got chewed up. Not sure how good it will be if I ever need to use it again. I don't know why the template got chewed up. There is a bearing on the router bit that should have prevented that. Overall, it seems to be a well conceived product, but maybe the material choice isn't the best. MAYBE I screwed up and managed to get the router shank into the guide - possible.

i bought this to install some ball latches....it was a little bigger cutout but i made it work! Used their other device for hinges...i’d be there yet without these tools!

Purchased for steel exterior doors and found that the pins used to center the template are too short. I used 2 inch long pieces of 1/8 inch dowel and got the job done. Pins with kit works fine on interior doors. Instructions are easy to follow.

A simple device that has everything you need to accurately and easily mortise wood doors. I did 44 doors without a hitch. Comes with everything you need including the bit.