How to Make a Latch

One of the things we make in Molly’s shop are two sizes of Suffolk style latches. These are door latches that were common in the 18th century in the colonies and in England.

We took photographs while making the smaller, inside door size, latch that is in the heart style.

We hope you enjoy this description of making a latch and are especially interested in feedback on how to make the presentation better. Let us know if the information is (or is not) clear, if there is too much, or too little, and if you would like to see more sections on the site about things that are made in Molly’s shop.

See how a latch is made.

 

Making a Latch
is a description, with photos, of the steps we go through to make a Suffolk Latch.

Making a Hinge
is a description, like Making a Latch, that shows the steps we go through to make a Butterfly Hinge.

Making a Grip
shows the process for making a Cabinet Grip.

Blacksmith's Blog Posts
collects posts we created for the Horton Brasses blog in 2010 and 2011. There's information about the shop, what we make and how we make it, including links to two videos.

Tools of the Trade
shows some of the tools in Molly’s blacksmith shop.

Making a Living
describes how we became blacksmiths.

Glossary of Blacksmithing Terms
is linked to various words that are not commonly known by non-smiths throughout this section of the site.