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I am building a wood desk clock using 6/4 walnut and a clock insert. I want to install a 4" X 4" X 1/4" decorative ceramic tile below the clock. I think I would need to remove 3/8" of wood to allow for the installation of the tile and grout.

What tools and methods would you recommend I employ?

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  • Hi, welcome to StackExchange. Are you looking for recommendations that will require you to buy a specific tool or tools or that will utilise tooling you already have? If the latter you need to tell us what you already have ;-)
    – Graphus
    Feb 20 at 6:47
  • FYI there are three main ways this would be done, most common of which these days would be to use a power router (with some help provided by a sub-base or simple jig). A primarily hand-tool approach would usually require a hand router to finish off neatly and accurately (which again might need an attached sub-base). Third way would typically rely on a bandsaw or tablesaw, but could in theory be done sawing by hand, if you have the requisite saw and experience.
    – Graphus
    Feb 20 at 6:53
  • Grout might not be the best adhesive for installing a tile in a piece of wood. Consider silicone caulk, construction adhesive, or epoxy instead.
    – Caleb
    Feb 22 at 16:59

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A router (powered or hand) is normally the tool used to make an inset in a piece of wood.

I suppose you could use a Forstner bit in a drill press with a depth stop to hog out most of the material, but then you'd need to clean up the bottom because the Forstner bit will leave a mark from the spur at the center. If you wanted, you could buy a cheap bit and file off the spur for this project.

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  • I'm waiting for the OP to clarify whether they want to use existing tools; let's see how long that wait is #_# Regardless, it occurred to me that all methods require a chisel (and a sharp one at that, because by necessity some of the cuts are across the grain).
    – Graphus
    Feb 22 at 7:57

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