Holes for clock inserts

[PuzzledMoose]

Just wondering .. when people use clock inserts in projects where the wood is thcker than the insert depth, do you still cut the hole right through the wood, or just go in as far as necessary for the insert to sit flush?

[tcleckler]

Ian, on the watch that I just done the pattern called for just drilling far enough for the clock to sit flush. It's not hard to pop out & change time or battery.

[GrayBeard Phil]

This is just personal choice: Yes, all the way through.

Then the battery replacement and daylight time zone changes can be made by either pushing the fit-up out, or having access to the battery and clock time adjustment can be made from the back of the clock.

I can anticipate, however, that for a clock intended for an executive's desk might not go all the way through. Wouldn't want the back to be seen from the chairs across the desk from the executive and all that.

Phil

[miamw]

If you remember the clock I posted that my daughter cut from Corian, when her teacher at school helped her drill the hole for the clock, he did not cut all the way through. It was 1/2" Corian. I would assume the same with wood. The clock comes out easily enough to change the time for DST, but I personally like the nice clean looking back to the clock. I suppose it would come down to personal choice as well as the type of piece that is being made.

[Dragon]

I thought you used a forstner bit to make the hole without going through.
Diane

[Dragon]

Also when you look in catalogues for the clock inserts they tell you the depth that you are suppose to have for that insert.
I must add that I've not made one yet but I'm reading a lot.
Diane

[earlinjax]

The clocks I have made, I only drilled deep enough with a Forstner bit for the clock to fit in. The inserts I have used come out easily to change time and batteries.

Earl

[Gill]

If you drill all the way through, the wood can split when you insert the clock. I had awful problems in that regard with this piece, cut from oak:



Gill

[PuzzledMoose]

Thanks everyone - looks like as usual different people do different things ..

I've only done a couple of things that have inserts so far - the first had a backer so I just drilled all the way through with a spade bit. The dragon clock hole I cut with the scrollsaw - and it was the nearest to a perfect circle I've ever managed .. bit of self-congratulation there ..lol

Diane -I'd seen the depth requirements for the inserts but I guess I wasn't thinking about partially drilling through - I was just thinking that the wood had to be at least that thick - duh!

Cute clock there, Gill. Did you drill the hole after or before doing the rest of the cutting?

[sawdustus]

clock inserts

Ian,
How deep you drill depends on the thickness of the wood and the insert thickness. I also like the clean look of the back if you don't have to drill all the way through and that is the way I go if at all possible. Just keep in mind that a forstner bit also has a point that drills a neat conical hole in the bottom of the flat bottomed hole and that has to be accounted for when you make your decision. It is real ugly to have a small hole in the back of the piece visible behind the clock. It is nicer to see the back of the clock in that case.
Since a forstner bit the size of a clock or picture insert is very aggressive, I always drill the clock hole before doing any cutting at all. It would be extremely aggrevating, to say the least, if you did all the cutting, and when drilling the clock hole, the bridges broke and the piece fell apart on you.

[PuzzledMoose]

Thanks George - it was my gut feeling that drilling after cutting might be a mistake ..

What I'm considering is putting a clock in a basswood slab, where the design is already cut but because of the pattern there's little chance of any bridges breaking on this particular project ... I hope ..lol

[Gill]

Cute clock there, Gill. Did you drill the hole after or before doing the rest of the cutting?

Thanks Ian. I made this project such a long time ago that I can't honestly remember how I cut the hole for the clock insert. I might even have scrolled it. The point is, though, that the wood surround for the clock insert was very fragile and pushing the clock into place split the wood along the grain. There's quite a bit of gluing on that little project, although I don't think it's too apparent.

Gill

[Dragon]

Beautiful clock Gill. How do you assemble to the bottom slab? Do you glue or screw in place?
Thanks Ian for asking the question because we are all learning here.
Diane

[Gill]

Hi Diane

Mortice and tenon joints, actually! I scrolled three of them, two for the back panel and one for the deer in the front. It's surprising how versatile a scroll saw can be, isn't it?

Gill

[B Smith]

With the clocks I have made I usually only drill to the depth required for the insert. If the pattern calls for say 1/4" material I will make the wood 3/8" thick so the bit does not go right thru.
Drill the hole before you do any cutting . I had cut out an eagle clock and left the hole till last. Went to the drill press and started to drill the 2 3/4" hole . The forestner bit caught the piece , spun it out of my hand and had instant puzzle all over my shop In hindsite I should of clamped the piece to stop it from spinning
It`s to bad hindsite wasn`t foresite then I wouldn`t have destroyed the clock.