| 1. |
If your latch won’t close properly or stay closed, you can fix it
one of three ways, depending on what’s wrong. If the latch is too
big for the striker plate (the piece with the hole in it, or the "female"
part of the latch), simply remove the plate, stabilize it using a vise or
some other method, and enlarge the opening with a metal file. Choose the
inside edges that appear chewed by the latch hitting it repeatedly. |
| 2. |
If the striker plate is misaligned, you may need to move the striker plate
up or down to have the latch hit it correctly. To move the striker plate,
you’ll have to extend the mortise (the recessed block behind the striker
plate). Remove the plate and lengthen the top or bottom of the mortise as
needed using a sharp wood chisel. To fill in the gap on the opposite end,
use wood putty or glue in a wood shim. |
| 3. |
If your latch hits the striker plate but refuses to stay closed, your
striker plate may be set in too deep. Remove the plate and shim with either
another strike plate or with strips of sheet metal cut to fit along the
two sides that don’t have screws. You can also cut shims to fit using
dense, smooth cardboard (like the kind used for cereal boxes and file folders)
and stack 3 or more layers together to fit behind the strike plate until
it holds the latch. Make sure the screws install through the cardboard shim
to add stability. |
