Redrilling Hole for deadbolt?

[lbperry]

When I started replacing the deadbolts on my doors, I found that the new hardware was designed for a 2 1/8" hole while the existing holes for the old deadbolts is 1 7/8".
Are there any trick ways for enlarging the holes from 1 7/8" to 2 1/8". Surely this has happened to enough people that somebody has come up with a neat tool or technique to do it.
The only idea I can come up with off the top of my head is to clamp a piece of plywood or luan to one side of the door, Run a 1 7/8' hole saw thru the existing hole from the other side far enough to drill a hole with the guide bit; and then use a 2 1/8" hole saw with a long guide bit to try to redrill the hole. This technique might work theoretically but I have my doubts if it will in practice.
I sure would appreciate any solutions or ideas.
Thanks,

 

[btamkel]

yes that works well thats how i do it its fast

 

[spotco2]

You can also take a 1 7/8 hole saw and drill a couple of plugs out of a 2x4. Stack them on your pilot bit on a 2 1/8 hole saw and use them as a guide inside the existing hole.

Either way works. Just make sure you clamp the plywood down really well if you go that route.

 

[SCTony]

I have redrilled them before by drilling a 2-1/8 hole in a piece of wood and clamped that to the door. There is a jig for drilling doors if you happen to know a locksmith. Yeah- make sure to clamp it well like spotco2 said.

 

[rsanter]

Look at the locks again. I just did this with the locks at my brothers place. I bought sleigh locks and they had a spacer ring I removed so they worked with the smaller size

Bob

 

[rlitman]

Just get a door drilling template kit. Plastic is fine. It will center your 2 1/8" hole saw at your proper backset.

 

[jarrettolson]

Habor freight has a jig that will work for a couple doors. It's plastic and won't last very long but they are extremely cheap.

 

[nutjob]

Try a oops arbor. Allows you to mount 2 hole saws on the arbor. The inner smaller hole saw guides the outer larger one.

http://www.leevalley.com/US/wood/page.aspx?cat=1,180,42316&p=52518

Kevin

 

[Steevo]

Just get a door drilling template kit. Plastic is fine. It will center your 2 1/8" hole saw at your proper backset.

This is how I did it.

 

[Steevo]

Try a oops arbor. Allows you to mount 2 hole saws on the arbor. The inner smaller hole saw guides the outer larger one.

http://www.leevalley.com/US/wood/page.aspx?cat=1,180,42316&p=52518

Kevin

That is a very cool tool.

I have to get one.

 

[jeffmoss26]

That's really cool!

 

[lbperry]

Kevin's suggestion is the most elegant but my wife didn't want to wait long enough for me to get the double arbor so I used spotco2's method.
I used a 2" hole saw to drill a couple of plugs that were a perfect slip fit in the 1 7/8" hole. I clamped a piece of ply on the backside of the door and used the plugs as guides for the 2 1/8" hole saw.
Worked great! I really appreciate all the suggestions. I love this forum!
Thanks,