Editorial Product Review:

Item Description:
2-1/8' Wood Door Lock Kit, Comes With One Handed Rack & Pinion Door Guide, Works With Doors 1-3/8' To 2-3/8' Wide, Works With Any Latch Face Bore.



Accessories available:
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Accessories available:

• This Old House (2-year)
• The Black & Decker Complete Guide to Home Wiring - 3rd Edition: Includes Information on Home Electronics & Wireless Technology (Black & Decker Complete Guide)

Product Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours

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Customer Rating: - For small DIY, this works great!
So, I read the existing reviews on the product and thought why not give it a shot. For a few dollars, it would be worth it if it worked, and not too big a loss if it didn't (my local hardware store would've taken the return).

First let's start with the premise that this tool will not appeal to someone who has a whole house of new doors that need new hardware, but to the person who has one or two locks they want to install themselves. Anyone starting a DIY project as a non-professional should not expect perfection in any of there projects, it just doesn't make sense to expect perfection if you don't do it for a living.

Second, any and every DIY project requires a bit of patience, and a lot of reading manuals and measuring twice (or thrice) to cut once.

That said, this tool does exactly what it advertises. Sure, it is a little flimsy, and I wouldn't drive my truck over it, but it isn't a bridge. It's a guide for a drill bit, pure and simple. It is essentially a glorified paper template. You still have to hold the drill at a 90-degree angle in two axes to make a square hole, but this helps you get started. You have to be gentle with it, but it does clamp in place and hold well if you are firm, but gentle.

Also, if you follow the instructions - which it doesn't seem like one of the other reviewers may have done - you are supposed to start the main hole on one side, and when the guide bit pops through the other side of the door, switch sides using the guide hole from the back. This helps reduce potential splintering on the door (as described in the manual) as well as complete your whole just fine.

This system is a guide/template, not a jig welded together meant to withstand brute physical force. Think finesse, not strength - a layup, not a dunk.

So, if you are expecting perfection, and are not patient, do not read manuals, and think inexpensive hardware products should provide high-end results -- you should consider hiring a locksmith.

If, like me, you are willing to come out with a 90-100% solution based on a little patience, and are only planning on using this product a few times during the length of your stay in your home, this is for you.

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Customer Rating: - I thought it worked GREAT!
Wow, after reading the previous two reviews, I certainly never would have bought this product. However, fortunately, I owned the item long before I saw those reviews. I got mine at Wally-World when I was desperately in need of something to help me replace the door locks at my cottage. This thing was AWESOME! I had NO problems with using it or the quality or the design. I used it to install four door locks in 100 year old wood. All of the holes were perfectly placed (that includes the large ones for the handle mechanisms and the small ones for the latches) and all the door hardware fit correctly on the first try. I used it again for four locks at home and had no problems there either. Drilled through wooden fire doors with no trouble. I HIGHLY recommend this product!

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Customer Rating: - junk
I bought this from home depot too. The drill bit broke off in less than a minute. The key hole bit hit the plastic case on the other side of the door smashing it to pieces. Stay away from this junk.

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Customer Rating: - complete waste of money
bought this from Home Depot. Was completely useless. Save your money -- this thing is complete junk and I can't believe that Black & Decker would put their name on this piece of crud. It's cheaply made and wouldn't hold steady. Mine even fell apart.