What is a marking gauge?
Let’s talk about marking gauges. These deceptively simple tools are an essential part of any woodworker’s (or metalworker’s) toolbox, but not everyone is familiar or comfortable with using them. Also known as mortise gauges or scratch gauges, these small sliding tools have been used around the world for centuries.
What is the best marking gauge for wood?
The Veritas Dual Marking Gauge is no different, as it’s one of the best marking gauges you can buy. It’s a wheel gauge style marking gauge with two stems and cutters for marking mortise and tenon joints. The hardened steel cutters cut wood rather than scratch it, leading to ultra-fine lines.
What is the difference between marking and slitting gauges?
Slitting gauges are very similar to marking gauges in that they have a single arm and point, but the difference comes in the design of the point. Whereas the points on a marking gauge are designed to mark, on a slitting gauge the point is designed to cut.
What is the difference between Swedish and English marking gauge?
English marking gauge differs from the Swedish one in having a thumb screw on one side of the stock, which works against the beam and holds it in position. By clamping the bar so as to bring the spur a given distance from the stock, a like distance may be gauged from any straight edge. The beam is usually graduated in millimeters or inches.
What is a marking gauge used for?
What is the purpose of a gauge?
What is the headstock on a beam?
What is a steel pin used for?
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How do you make a marking gauge?
4:396:423 Easy to Make Homemade Woodworking Marking Gauges ...YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipTwo single pole and one double pole you want to stick a pen in the end of one of those single polesMoreTwo single pole and one double pole you want to stick a pen in the end of one of those single poles and in both of the poles in the double pole gauge.
What are the 5 parts of a marking gauge?
The gauge consists of a beam, a headstock, and a scribing or marking implement, typically a pin, knife, pen or wheel. The headstock slides along the beam, and is locked in place by various means: a locking screw, cam lever, or a wedge. The marking implement is fixed to one end of the beam.
What is a wood marking gauge?
Wheel marking gauges are a relatively new design that throw out the rulebook on how marking gauges work and look. Instead of a wooden fence and stem, they feature a precision-crafted metal rod and ring. Instead of a pin or knife at the end of the stem, they feature a round cutting blade.
When was marking gauge invented?
Our first known record of its use comes from an engraving c. 1600 by the engraver, Hieronymus Wierix: Holy Family.
How do marking gauges work?
A marking gauge has three basic parts which allow it to hold a measurement and mark a surface. The pin or scribe is attached to the end of the tool and has a pointed tip to mark the surface. The tool also has a block piece, known as a fence, which sits up against the edge of the material and holds the measurement.
What tools are used for marking out?
Marking-out toolsPencil – Used to mark lines and centres for cutting or joining. ... Try square – Used to help draw perpendicular lines on materials to mark out the sides of a woodwork joint. ... Marking gauge – Used to scribe lines parallel to edges so that waste wood can be chiselled away from a woodwork joint.
What is the difference between marking gauge and mortise gauge?
A mortise gauge has 2 pins to scribe both sides of a mortise simultaneously. Some mortise gauges, called combination mortise gauges, have single pin on the other side so you can use it as a regular marking gauge, and other types allow you to retract one pin into the fence, for the same reason.
What is the difference between chalk line and marking gauge?
Marking Gauge - wood or metal tool consisting of a beam, head and a point used to mark a line parallel to the grain of the wood. Chalk Line - used to establish a straight line on a surface. Divider - tool with two metal legs used to lay-out an arc circle or step off division on a line.
What is the difference between marking gauge and marking knife?
Answer: Answer: a cutting gauge is a marking gauge with a knife instead of a pin. Basically, the theory behind this distinction is that cutting across grain with a knife is better than using a pin. ... A panel gauge's major use is in scribing boards to the correct width.
How many Spurs does a marking gauge have?
twoLike the simpler marking gauge, a mortise gauge has a locking thumb screw slide for adjusting the distance of the scribe from the edge of the wood. It has two protruding pins, often called "spurs", which are designed to scribe parallel lines marking both sides of a mortise at the same time.
How do you score a line in wood?
2:464:38How to score your wood pieces to prevent blowout - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipGet my blade out my utility knife and notice I have my fingers do I compress. I'm gonna make a cutMoreGet my blade out my utility knife and notice I have my fingers do I compress. I'm gonna make a cut right along this line here. So I'm gonna do it a couple of times so it gets a little bit deep.
Which device is used to mark straight lines on a sheet metal surface?
A scriber is a hand tool used in metal work to mark lines on workpieces, prior to machining.
Top 10 Best Marking Gauges [Updated - 2022]
Last update on 2022-04-08 at 10:58 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API. Top Rated Marking Gauge Reviews. Since we’ve mentioned 10 different models of Marking Gauges on the above list, it may be difficult for you to find the right one for your needs.
Top 8 Marking Gauges of 2020 | Video Review
Editor's Notes. October 08, 2020: Replaced the Bora Footprint Series 1876 with the Bora Footprint 560101.Added the Fujiwara Kebiki.. I hesitated to add the Japanese-style Fujiwara Kebiki because of well-known problems with the design of Japanese marking gauges. They use wedges to hold the fence in place, which is much more of a hassle to adjust than the knobs on western marking gauges.
Best Mortise Marking Gauges [2022] | Best10Reviews.co.uk
Best10Reviews’ algorithms analysed thousands of reviews and web signals in order to conclude to the best Mortise Marking Gauges products that you can buy!. The Best Mortise Marking Gauges of May, 2022, UK Ranked:
What are the different types of marking gauges?
There are three main types of marking gauges that we’ll talk about in this guide: conventional marking gauges, cutting gauges, and wheel marking gauges. For simplicity’s sake, I’m lumping mortise gauges and combination gauges in with tools that use the same cutting mechanism.
What is wheel marking gauge?
A wheel marking gauge is a newer design that uses a metal rod and ring. They feature a round cutting edge that leaves a finish similar to a cutting gauge. Wheel marking gauges tend to be more expensive but cut extremely clean lines, as the smooth metal glides effortlessly across just about any surface.
What is a combination gauge?
Combination gauges are a nice middle ground between simple marking gauges and mortise gauges. They have two pins on one side for mortise and tenon joints, and one pin on the other for everything else. These are great for beginners and people with small workspaces and limited tool storage.
What is a mortise gauge?
Also known as mortise gauges or scratch gauges, these small sliding tools have been used around the world for centuries. Nowadays modern wheel gauge designs are arguably the best marking gauges to buy, but in reality, you don’t need to spend a lot of money to get great results.
How many pins are in a mortise gauge?
Some variants, such as mortise gauges, have two pins or knives that can be locked independently. This makes it easy to lay out mortise and tenon joints.
What is a wood gauge called?
Traditional woodworking marking gauges have a large, flat piece of wood, called a fence or stock, that’s intersected by a long square rod, called a stem or beam. Toward the end of the stem there will be a sharp pin (also called a spur) or knife protruding down that scores the surface of the wood.
What is a Japanese gauge made of?
The basic shape and outcome is the same, but there are a few key elements that make them unique. First of all, Japanese marking gauges are made entirely of wood, and virtually never feature brass inserts. The wooden body is longer and thinner, making it easier to gain purchase on the edge of your workpiece.
What is a standard marking gauge?
The most basic form of gauge is the simple marking gauge. These gauges have a single point, and so will mark a single line parallel to the reference edge. The gauge shown above (a Stanley #64) is fairly typical of the genre– it has a graduated arm approximately 8″ long, and a head about 2″ square.
What is the head of a gauge?
The basic configuration is that of a long arm which holds a marking or cutting point, attached to a movable fence (commonly called the “head” of the gauge) which rides against the reference edge. By adjusting the distance between the fence and the point, you can control the width of the marked piece.
What is a slitting gauge?
Slitting gauges are very similar to marking gauges in that they have a single arm and point, but the difference comes in the design of the point. Whereas the points on a marking gauge are designed to mark, on a slitting gauge the point is designed to cut. The gauge shown above (a Stanley #84) is a typical handled slitting gauge.
What gauge is used for mortise joints?
Mortise gauges are a specialization of the standard marking gauge which have two marking points. They can mark a pair of parallel lines, and are thus very useful for laying out mortise and tenon joints. They come in two distinct varieties: single-arm gauges and multi-arm gauges. The gauge shown above (a Stanley #77) is typical ...
What gauge do you use for veneering?
Slitting gauges are commonly used in veneering work to even up flitches for book matching and for marking the edges for inlaid banding. Smaller versions (more like in size to a marking gauge) are also available, which are handy for making veneer strips.
What are the gauges on a bench made of?
Lower-end marking gauges are usually made of beech, while the premium tools were made rosewood, boxwood, or other exotics (the British were quite fond of ebony and mahogany). The heads on these gauges come in in two basic varieties: elliptical (easier to hold), or rectangular (won’t roll off the bench).
How wide is a panel gauge?
Note that the head on these gauges is quite wide (typically 6″-8″), and is often shaped like a flattened out bell. The arm is usually 18″-30″ long, and is very rarely graduated. Another feature unique to panel gauges is the rabbeted head.
How to set gauge with rule?
It is safer to set the gauge with the rule by measuring the distance from the spur to the gauge head. This is done by holding the gauge bottom side up in the left hand. With the right place the end of the rule against the head. After the thumb screw has been tightened, apply the rule again to make sure of the correctness of the setting.
How to gauge a thumb screw?
To gauge the line, take the marking gauge in the right hand, three fingers grasping the beam, the first finger encircling the head, if the work is narrow, and the thumb back, or nearly back, of the spur.
Can you repeat marking gage?
Marking gage are excellent for repeating dimension lines. You can repeat marking as often as you wish. Roll the marking gage so the spur just touches the surface for a light gauge line. The spur of a marking gauge may be sharpened to a conical point or to a knife edge. The spur should be sharp to do good work.
Step 1: The Sketch
Before to start any project, I use to make a quick sketch of what I'm going to make, or I chose an old sketch from my sketchbook, to fix my ideas about the forms and the materials to be used.
Step 2: Technical Drawings
This step is not strictly necessary, but, for every piece that I make, I use to accurately define the design and make it in a way that it can be replicable exactly the same. So I modeled it in 3D using Fusion 360, I printed the two main pieces drawing and cut them with an X-ACTO knife to transfer the measures on the piece of wood.
Step 3: Cutting the Wood
After choosing the piece of wood I would like to use, from my woodyard, I cut a slab of the thickness I needed. In this case, been that the thickness of the final piece should have been one inch, I cut some more.
Step 4: Cutting Out the Main Parts
I have then glued up the drawings on the wood board, drilled the holes and cut out the two main parts of the marking gauge with my bandsaw.
Step 5: Sanding and Sizing the Parts
After cutting out the parts, it was time to sand them to polish the cuts and to round the corners. I used a belt sander, rasps and files. I have also sized and squared off the sliding piece by fixing a hand plane to my bench vice.
Step 6: Making the Groove
This is surely the trickiest part of the process, because the groove has to be perfectly square and precise in dimension. There are several ways to make this groove.
Step 7: Working on the Sliding Piece
Another key pass has been that of adding the slot to the sliding part. To do that I have used my shop made router table and a 1/4 inch router bit.
What is a marking gauge made of?
Most marking gauges made through the past three centuries have been made from beech, a straight-grained domestic hardwood growing throughout Europe and parts of north America. In functionality and general appearance the marking gauge remains unchanged after two centuries and more of developed use. In its simplest form this gauge comprises a single stem of wood known as the beam and a shaped stock designed to fit the hand, hold the stem and secure the stem to the stock during use. The stock houses the square or shaped beam which passes into and through the stock at 90-degrees. The stem holds a single, round, steel pin about 2.5mm in diameter fixed near to one end of the beam as shown.
Do disc gauges bind?
In almost all hardwoods the disc gauge binds in use and the manufacturers say not to press down hard, inevitably the gauge seems to pull itself into the wood and indeed bind. This is most difficult and so I find myself using great force forward (not downward) to effect the marking I need.
What is a marking gauge?
A marking gauge is a simple and very useful hand tool, favoured by DIYer’s, carpenters, cabinet makers, joiners and metal workers; it consists of just these four parts, The headstock, sometimes also referred to as the face plate or fence. The beam, this is the part that the headstock moves along.
What is the difference between a mortise gauge and a mortise gauge?
A mortise gauge is similar in appearance as it also has a moveable and lockable headstock that is adjustable and can be moved along a beam, but the difference being that with a mortise gauge there are two marking devices attached to the beam.
What is a marking gauge used for?
A marking gauge, also known as a scratch gauge, is used in woodworking and metalworking to mark out lines for cutting or other operations. The purpose of the gauge is to scribe a line parallel to a reference edge or surface.
What is the purpose of a gauge?
The purpose of the gauge is to scribe a line parallel to a reference edge or surface. It is used in joinery and sheetmetal operations. The gauge consists of a beam, a headstock, and a scribing or marking implement, typically a pin, knife, pen or wheel.
What is the headstock on a beam?
The headstock slides along the beam, and is locked in place by various means: a locking screw, cam lever, or a wedge. The marking implement is fixed to one end of the beam.
What is a steel pin used for?
A steel pin is used when scribing with the grain. A steel knife is used when scribing across the grain.
