FAQ's on Door Hardware,Door Hardware Wholesale,Door Hardware Supplies,Door Hardware Frequently Asked Questions

Q.1. What are privacy bolts?
Ans. Just like privacy set, privacy bolts are locks, which are activated by a thumbturn. These bolts are typically used on the inner side of bathroom doors.

Q.2. What is a thumbturn?
Ans. It is a type of door knob, also known as turnkey. It is usually an oval or crescent shaped door knob, which is turned in order to operate the dead bolt of a privacy or entry mortise lock. These knobs are perfect for mounting on a door knob backplate in place of a keyhole and they can also be mounted as individual pieces along with the small trim plate provided with them.

Q.3. What are bore inserts?
Ans. A bore insert is required to fill holes in most pre-drilled new wood doors, and some old wooden doors that have been rejuvenated for new hardware.

Q.4. What are dummy door sets?
Ans. Dummy sets are often used with closet doors. They are used when doorknobs, levers and backplates are purely decorative and do not turn or operate a latch.

Q.5. What are door hardware privacy systems?
Ans. Privacy systems are locks that lock from one side using a thumbturn. They are usually used on bathroom doors. These lock systems resemble mortise and mounts with standard bores like tube latch, door strike plates, privacy bolt, etc.

Q.6. What are Tube Latches?
Ans. As the name suggests, tube latches usually have a tubular body, which is installed into a hole drilled in the edge of the door.

Q.7. What are door hardware passage sets?
Ans. A passage door set is typically an interior door hardware with a latch, and no lock. Sometimes, tube latches are also used as an optional hardware for a passage function.

Q.8. What are ball catches?
Ans. Ball catches are meant for doors, which open by pulling or pushing. When the door is closed, spring tension pushes a brass ball into a notched brass plate in the door jamb. They are typically used with utility doors and dummy spindles on closet which do not have tube latches.

Q.9. What are mortise locks and latches?
Ans. Mortise locks are latch mechanisms designed for locking and require a rectangular hole in the door edge for installation. Mortise latches have similar shape, but with only a latch function. They do not lock and are usually installed on interior doors of old houses.

Q.10. What are spindles?
Ans. A spindle is the metal rod on which doorknobs and levers are mounted. Regular spindles extend through the door and latch to the doorknob on the other side. Spindles are concealed completely on the installation of backplates and doorknobs.

Q.11. What are dummy spindles?
Ans. Dummy spindles are used to mount a doorknob or lever that does not operate a latch. This feature is common on closet doors. Doors with dummy spindles often require a ball catch to stay closed.

Q.12. What are door strike plates?
Ans. Strike plates are also known as door strikes and are the protective metal plate installed in the door jamb that receives the latch or lock "tongue" when the door is closed. A latch strike plate is typically T-shaped with a single hole, while a mortise lock strike is usually elongated with two holes, one for latch and the other for bolt.

Q.13. What is door hardware backset?
Ans. Backset is the measurement from the door's edge to the center of the hole bored for installing doorknobs. Almost all door lock and latch options are provided with standard backset.