Nidus Collins Door Hardware

Nidus Collins door hardware buying guide

The Nidus Collins is a round zinc alloy lever on a 70mm backplate, offered in brushed nickel and matte black in a whole-house range of sets. This collection holds the Collins passage set, privacy set, left hand and right hand dummy levers, the entrance key-in lever set and the combination entry and deadbolt set, each sold as a visual pack. The lever is 128mm long with a 60mm projection, and the sets suit doors 34 to 45mm thick and standard 54mm cross bore holes. This guide explains what the Collins is, what each set includes, how to read the lever dimensions, which set suits which door, how the combination entry and deadbolt set works, how to plan a house in Collins and how to fit and look after it. For the wider Nidus range, see Nidus door hardware, interior door levers and passage lever sets.

What the Collins is

The Collins is a straightforward modern lever. The shape is round, the lever is slim and curved gently towards the tip and the backplate is a flat disc. There is no decoration, which makes the range easy to live with. The design is sleek and modern, functional, and adds a touch of style.

The lever is made from zinc alloy, a dense cast metal that takes a plated or coated finish well. It comes in brushed nickel and matte black. The two finishes cover the main modern palettes: a neutral silver and a flat black.

Lever dimensions

The Collins lever is 128mm long and projects 60mm from the door face. The backplate is 70mm in diameter. Those numbers tell you how the handle sits. At 128mm the lever is a comfortable arm that gives leverage for a light press. At 60mm projection, it stands off the door enough to leave room for the fingers and not so far that it catches clothes or bags. The 70mm plate is a generous disc that covers the hole and spreads the load over the door face.

The 70mm backplate is compatible with standard 54mm cross bore holes, so the Collins suits both new doors and the retrofit of older sets.

Passage set

The Collins passage set is for internal connecting doors where a lock is not needed. It latches the door and does not lock. It includes a latch with a 60mm backset, suits doors 34 to 45mm thick and has a non-handed design that allows installation on either side of the door. It comes in brushed nickel and matte black.

Use the passage set for hallways, living rooms, kitchens, laundries and any door that closes but never locks. See passage door handles for passage sets from other makers.

Privacy set

The Collins privacy set adds an inside lock for rooms where someone expects to be alone. It is a lever set for privacy in any room, with a latch with a 60mm backset, a 34 to 45mm door range and a non-handed design. It has the same lever, plate and dimensions as the passage set, with the lock built in.

Use it on bathrooms, ensuites, toilets and bedrooms that lock. See privacy door levers for more privacy options.

Dummy levers, left hand and right hand

The Collins dummy lever is a fixed lever for cupboards, wardrobes and pantries where only pushing and pulling is required. It is sold as a left hand lever and a right hand lever, in both finishes. It is a right-hand design with a 70mm backplate, a 128mm lever length and a 60mm projection, with a 60mm backset, for doors 34 to 45mm thick.

Because the dummy lever is handed, check the swing of each cupboard door and order the right hand. A dummy lever does not latch, so fit a catch inside each door. See dummy levers for dummy levers from other makers.

Entrance key-in lever set

The Collins entrance key-in lever set is for external doors that lock with a key. It features keyed entry, with a latch with a 60mm backset, a 34 to 45mm door range, a 70mm backplate for a 54mm cross bore and a non-handed design. It is a sleek brushed nickel or matte black lever with a key cylinder in the lever.

A key-in lever set puts the lock in the handle itself, so the door has one lever on each face and no separate lock. It suits a side door, a laundry door to the yard or a front door that does not need a second lock.

Combination entry and deadbolt set

The combination entry and deadbolt set is the entrance lever with a Euro double cylinder deadbolt, supplied together. It is a complete combo set that includes an entrance set, a lever handle with keyed entry, and a Euro double cylinder deadbolt, for security and everyday convenience. The deadbolt can be locked from both sides with a key, which gives extra protection against unauthorised access.

The lever has the same 128mm length and 60mm projection, with a 60mm backset latch, for doors 34 to 45mm thick and a 70mm backplate suited to a 54mm cross bore. Choose it for a front door that wants a handle and a second lock from one range. See deadbolts for deadbolts on their own.

Door thickness, backset and hole

All Collins sets suit doors 34 to 45mm thick, with a 60mm backset latch and a 54mm cross bore hole covered by the 70mm backplate. Most internal doors fall within the range. Measure the thickness of the door at the edge, the distance from the edge to the centre of the hole and the diameter of the hole. A set whose numbers match drops in.

The large 70mm plate also hides marks around an old hole, which helps in a retrofit.

Doors the Collins does not suit

The Collins is for hinged doors 34 to 45mm thick. It does not suit a sliding or cavity door, which needs flush pulls and a different lock. It does not suit a very thin hollow core door under 34mm or a thick solid door over 45mm. A door with a very narrow stile may not take a 70mm plate. For a thicker entrance door, look at ranges rated for 35 to 60mm.

See cavity slider hardware for sliding doors and entrance door hardware for entry options.

Matching Collins with other Nidus pieces

Nidus makes door hardware in several ranges, and the Collins shares the brushed nickel and matte black finishes with other Nidus pieces such as tubular latches, deadbolts and pull handles. A Collins lever with a Nidus deadbolt in the same finish gives a matching door. A Nidus tubular latch in the same finish matches a Collins passage set if you need a spare latch. Check the finish names on each product page, since the same name can look slightly different between ranges.

See Nidus door hardware for the rest of the range.

Finishes

Brushed nickel is a soft silver with a warm tone and goes with stainless steel appliances and nickel tapware. Matte black is flat and strong and goes with black window frames and black tapware. Choose the finish to match the hinges, stops and other hardware in the room. A consistent finish through the house makes the doors look like a set.

See hinges and door stops for pieces in matching finishes.

Fitting a Collins set

Read the instructions. Fit the latch into the door edge, with the angled face towards the closing direction. Pass the spindle through and fit the levers and backplates on each side, tightening evenly. For a privacy set, check that the lock control faces the room. For an entrance set, fit the cylinder on the outside and test the key. For the combination set, fit the deadbolt as well, above or below the lever with space between. Fit the strike on the frame and test every function.

Caring for the set

Wipe with a soft damp cloth and dry. Avoid abrasive pads and strong chemical cleaners. Matte black shows fingerprints more than brushed nickel. Check the fixings from time to time. If a key sticks, use a graphite lubricant and avoid oil.

Common mistakes to avoid

The first mistake is ordering a dummy lever without checking the hand. The second is using a passage set where a lock is needed. The third is choosing double cylinder without a key plan. The fourth is ignoring door thickness. The fifth is mixing finishes through the house. The sixth is forgetting a catch behind a dummy lever.

A short list avoids all six: hand, function, key plan, thickness, finish and catch.

Our recommendation

For a house that wants one plain modern lever throughout, choose the Collins in brushed nickel or matte black and order by function. Use passage for connecting doors, privacy for bathrooms, dummy for cupboards and an entrance or combination set for external doors. Match the hinges and stops.

Check the thickness and the hole, note the hand of each dummy door and plan the keys. Then the levers will fit and match.

Questions about Nidus Collins door hardware

What size is the Collins lever?

The lever is 128mm long with a 60mm projection, on a 70mm backplate.

What door thickness does it suit?

They suit doors 34 to 45mm thick, with a 60mm backset latch and a 54mm cross bore hole.

Are the Collins levers handed?

The passage, privacy and entrance sets are non-handed. The dummy levers are sold left hand and right hand.

What is the combination entry and deadbolt set?

An entrance lever with keyed entry and a Euro double cylinder deadbolt, supplied together.

What finishes does the Collins come in?

Brushed nickel and matte black.

The Collins lever is a plain, modern shape, so it suits a house where the other hardware is simple. Before you order, look at the other levers and pulls in the house, and choose finishes that sit with them. If you are fitting a pair of doors, order matching sets for both in the same batch, and keep the box lines so you can reorder a replacement part in the same finish if one is ever needed.