I made some marking gauges.

[MikeG.]

I fiddled about a bit with some scrap (oak and beech) over the weekend, and made myself some marking gauges. I tried a few different things, but what they all have in common is a new locking mechanism which allows setting and adjustment to be done with just one hand. This can be important in various situations. Anyway, here they are:

The end-grain of the dowels is to act in place of the brass wear strips on your typical commercial version.
I've learnt enough from these to adjust here and there before I make some jigs to aid the process of doing a batch for christmas presents. Whilst these are all marking gauges, I have a cutting version on the bench at the moment, and I've sketches done for a mortise gauge too.

If anyone wants one just shout.

 

[kevinlightfoot]

I would love one,who wouldn't ,beautifully made and very useful All the best for Christmas ,I hope you are my Secret Santa.

 

[Sheffield Tony]

Is the locking mechanism a secret ... ?

 

[MikeG.]

Is the locking mechanism a secret ... ?

Yes. It's why there is no WIP for this. I can tell you that it doesn't bear directly onto the shaft, so the shaft shouldn't wear or get any dents at frequently used locations.

 

[MattRoberts]

I smell a cam lever!

 

[MikeG.]

Of sorts, yes. It isn't as simple as that, though.

 

[John15]

Very nice indeed Mike.

John

 

[galleywood]

Three excellent looking gauges.

 

[MikeG.]

Thanks fellas.

 

[tony_s]

Fantastic - lovely mix of timbers. Particularly like the one with the round stock.

 

[MikeG.]

Thanks Tony. The nice thing about the round one is how comfortable it is in the hand. The lever stops it rolling off the bench, too.

 

[n0legs]

I too add my admiration Mike.
Lovely job, especially the dark one.

 

[MikeG.]

Thanks. That wasn't easy, as the dark oak is stained, so cleaning up after gluing was an absolute pain.

 

[marcros]

architecturally designed

 

[MikeG.]

architecturally designed

I was a woodworker decades before I was an architect . I like to think my architecture is designed by a craftsman, rather than the other way around.

 

[thetyreman]

they look really well made, it definitely beats buying one!

 

[lurker]

architecturally designed

I was a woodworker decades before I was an architect . I like to think my architecture is designed by a craftsman, rather than the other way around.

I thought it was a load of old bails