chasing out for mortice locks in hardwood???

[loafer]

any suggestions for the best method tools for drilling and chasing out hardwood doors for fitting mortice locks????
Spent 2 hours the other day drilling and chiselling mortice in external hardwood door. Used standard spade bits and afterwards had to spend an age resharpening chisels.

Have another door to hang and furnish and aint lookin' forward to it!!

Are there any bits that are particularly suitable for this work????

 

[Scrit]

I find that auger bits with screw leads are a bit better than spades, but you ideally need a slow lead for hardwoods and they're difficult to find (most are a medium or fast lead for softwoods), although they do turn up secondhand from time to time. On site I tend to use a plunge router fitted with two fences to make the first cut, then finish off with a deep pocket bit. You do need a second fence (or alternatively a guide bush and jig) and a 1/2in router to do this, though. BTW if you don't already have some, you should consider using mortise chisels and a mallet as they'll cut quicker than standard bevel edge chisels

Scrit

 

[loafer]

thanks will bear in mind when i tackle the back door