This is set of doors most locksmiths will never lay their hands on. The closest comparison might be on a really big church or cathedral. In Washington D.C. you see these as a tourist, but they are normally not open for the public to even pass through. This repair was for a strike adjustment at The Daughters Of The American Revolution museum down by the National Mall. These are the main entry front doors, about 10 feet tall, 4-1/2 inch thick solid bronze, 105 years old. Not an every day repair. The deadbolt was no longer locking or unlocking easily, and this was a fire exit. The doors weighing at least a ton and a half each, were a bit out of alignment. The bolt was not passing through the strike cleanly, the strike would have to be adjusted. All effort would have to be made to not change any parts, and keep everything looking original and untouched.

After removing and examining the handmade custom strike, and conferring with the building management, I arrived at what was the best solution. The strike could not be simply filed out more, it had a bronze box that would have to be cut, there was no more room for adjustment without serious alteration to the bronze box portion of the strike. I decided that the bottom of the bronze box would have to be removed. Bearing in mind how old and priceless the doors were, and what methods the makers of the doors would have had at their disposal, I eliminated any temptation to use power tools. The Dremel tool, normally indispensable for such a task, would not be used. It would be done old style, with files, bare hands and technique. I did not want specialist craftsmen that had been dead for 75 years shaking their heads at this repair. Never mind the fact that if they had electricity and a Dremel tool, they probably would have used it. Anyway, I simply could not risk the damage that might occur with one slip of a power tool.

Fortunately the box was not a solid enclosure, but a series of "L" pieces brazed to the face of the strike. By cutting one corner edge away, I would be able to remove the bottom of the box with a minimum of cutting. Using the corner edge of the file, I cut a series of notches into the corner of the strike box. This technique allows for a measured removal of material, and also allows for the most material to be removed with each stroke. After cutting just enough to break through and see a bit of daylight, I start using the flat edge of the file, filing away to make the notches start to dissapear. This is a lot more efficient than just using the flat of the file from the start. Continuing to file away with the flat side of the file, and lightly rapping on the bottom surface I am trying to remove, I get it to crack free. Now, using finger pressure only, I bend the bottom box portion out and break it free from the strike.

Now the strike is reattached to the door, and using the same corner edge of the file technique notches are cut into the bottom edge of the strike. After reaching the depth of cut desired, I turn the file on its flat again, finish out the cut, and clean up the appearance of the cut. The rest of the bronze strike screws are reattached, and the lock checked for smooth operation. It took a solid two hours of filing, but everything worked out as desired, and the removed portion of the strike is hardly visible. The Daughters Of The American Revolution are happy, and so is the fire marshall. After all even objects of antiquity are subject to modern fire regulations.