Hands Free Door Opener

Updated 03.25.20 at 21:07 PST

We’ve made makeshift door openers out of construction brackets that can be used to open the door with your foot, without touching the handle.

You can usually buy these online, but they were sold out and 3 weeks away when we looked.

Note: You will need to deactivate the standard latch. This cannot be used for secured doors. We use the deadbolt for securing the door, at all other times it can be opened hands free.

Here’s how to make your own:

Safety

Eye protection: glasses or goggles
Hearing protection

Materials

Heavy guage steel brackets from Home Depot or other hardware stores
2 lb hammer (standard hammer will do)
Bench vice
XXX Drill bit
Motor oil (or other cooling fluid)
Angle grinder

Construction

Step 1. Place bracket into bench vice with 1/2” protruding above the vice (Image 1). Clamping two at a time (one on the right side, one on the left side of the vice) will help even out the clamping force for a better hold.

Image 1 – two brackets placed into a bench vice with 1/2″ protruding above the vice

Step 2. Hammer the top so the protruding metal curls to a 90 degree angle.

Step 3. Use angle grinder to cut ‘grip notches’ into the bracket.

Step 4. Use a metal file to finish deburring.

Step 5. Drill existing holes to XXX inches. Use plenty of cooling fluid (motor oil will do) to dissipate heat and prevent premature dulling of your drill bit.

Step 6. Clean up oil or other coolant with a rag, then soap and water.

Step 7. On the INSIDE of your door (this is important!!!), place a spacer (thin board, stack of cards) under the L bracket where you want to mount it on the door to achieve the correct height (Image 2).

Image 2 – Putting spacers under where the bracket will be mounted on a door

Step 8. Hold the bracket in place with tape.

Step 9. Trace the holes to indicate screw location (Image 3).

Image 3 – Using a pen to mark the door through the holes in the bracket to indicate screw location.

Step 10. Use a center punch and hammer to make a divot at the center of the hole you want to drill.

Step 11. Choose a screw length slightly less than the width of the door.

Step 12. Measure your screw against your drill, and place a piece of tape on the bit to indicate the appropriate depth (Image 4).

Image 4 – Making sure that you’re not drilling all the way through the door. The drill bit should be marked with a piece of tape at the correct length for the screw you’re using.

Step 13. Drill each hole up to the tape (Image 5).