The Complete Handbook of Door Keyhole Escutcheons

I run a small restoration company and this book has been my go-to for every period-appropriate hardware question. The chapter on types and specifications is worth the price alone—it finally explained the difference between the gauge of steel on budget vs. premium items in a concrete way. It's not just theory; the maintenance chapter saved me on a tricky job with a corroded brass plate. Easily the most-used reference on my shelf.

Pretty solid reference overall. The installation chapter on metal doors was very clear and I've already used the template advice on a job. I took off one star because I felt the business opportunities chapter was a bit too high-level for my taste; I was hoping for a little more hard numbers on margins. But as a technical manual, it's comprehensive and clearly written.

I'm a facilities manager for a school district, so we deal with a ton of different doors. This book helped me standardize what we order, and the guide for spotting cheap zinc castings versus solid brass is spot on. The pictures and diagrams in the kindle version aren't great, but the text itself is detailed enough that it doesn't matter much. A genuinely practical manual.

Finally, a book that treats hardware with the seriousness it deserves. As a locksmith, I thought I knew everything about escutcheons, but the sections on fire-rated door assemblies and the nuances of different spindle sizes were a good refresher. The chapter on future trends regarding smart locks and their integration with traditional plates was particularly forward-thinking. It's now my standard gift for new apprentices.

This is a very thorough book, and I appreciate that it isn't marketing fluff. The comparison of different materials and their lifespan in a coastal environment was very informative. The only reason I'm not giving it five stars is that it occasionally gets a bit too deep into the industrial/commercial side, which doesn't apply to my small workshop. Still, it's a great encyclopedia to have on hand.

It's a well-organized book and I can't dispute the accuracy of the information, but it felt more like a textbook than a handbook at times. I was hoping for more quick, actionable tips and less dense prose about specifications. For example, I found the FAQ section to be the most useful part, while the earlier chapters took a while to get through. It's a good reference, but not the casual read I was expecting.

As a serious hobbyist restoring a 1920s craftsman house, this book has been an incredible resource. The chapters on choosing the right style for the period and the installation tips for old wood doors with chiseled mortises were a godsend. I particularly loved the section that lists the top brands by tier; it saved me from overpaying for a name on a box. Highly recommend for anyone doing the work themselves.