| Project by harum | posted 09-09-2014 05:28 PM | 8348 views | 32 times favorited | 21 comments |  |
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This marking gauge was loosely based on the plans from ShopNotes, No.54. It’s made of Honduran rosewood, finished with two coats of shellac. I wanted a big and heavy gauge, comfortable for a lefty. The fence size is 4-1/2” × 3”, the beam—3/4” × 1” × 11”. The cutter is made of a dull jigsaw blade, wear plates are from salvaged brass bar. Epoxy was used for gluing the fence.
The rosewood is heavy and oily—the fence slided very well against boards. After sanding with grit 220 SP the wood feels like stone: heavy, smooth and hard.
I put a threaded insert into the end of the beam and the wood held up well; had to drill a wider hole thought. This wood is really beautiful; shapes well.
The gauge leaves clean straight marks when used across the grain:
Lessons learned: brass screws break easily; the notches in threaded inserts are not for screwdrivers (don’t know what for); should have spent more time on the countersinks.
-- "If you're not counting the ripples when throwing pebbles in the water, you're wasting your time."
21 comments so far
exelectrician
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2339 posts in 3919 days
#1 posted 09-09-2014 06:37 PM
Whoa! This baby has so much attention to detail….. nice!!
-- Love thy neighbour as thyself
jim65
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1021 posts in 3425 days
#2 posted 09-09-2014 06:53 PM
excellent!, that is a nice marking gauge and will be great to use for a long time.
-- Jim, Marostica Italy
harum
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436 posts in 3134 days
#3 posted 09-09-2014 06:55 PM
Thanks! Well, some of the details should be called “new design opportunities”.
-- "If you're not counting the ripples when throwing pebbles in the water, you're wasting your time."
harum
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436 posts in 3134 days
#4 posted 09-09-2014 07:00 PM
Thanks, Jim! Yes, the rosewood and brass strips make the gauge quite sturdy and hard to break. I made this one specifically for joinery work.
-- "If you're not counting the ripples when throwing pebbles in the water, you're wasting your time."
TobiasZA
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154 posts in 3030 days
#5 posted 09-09-2014 08:27 PM
Absolutely gorgeous. Well done, you have made a tool to be really proud of and I am sure it will see many years of service and get wonderfully patinated with age.
Thanks for sharing
Tobias
MactheKnife
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81 posts in 3360 days
#6 posted 09-09-2014 09:14 PM
Now that is nice work
Bsmith
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330 posts in 4162 days
#7 posted 09-09-2014 09:35 PM
Nothing I like better than brass and wood. Great gauge.
-- Bryan
Paul Lajoie
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141 posts in 4595 days
#8 posted 09-09-2014 11:25 PM
Very nice job. Reminds me I have a marking gauge started down in the shop. Will have to finish it. Where did you find the knurled knobs?
Paul
harum
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436 posts in 3134 days
#9 posted 09-09-2014 11:32 PM
Thanks for comments! The knurled knobs/screws are from Rockler. However, have to mention that they are of very poor quality and not brass 360 but some yellow alloy (compare to the threaded insert).
Will replace them when find good ones.
-- "If you're not counting the ripples when throwing pebbles in the water, you're wasting your time."
xraydav
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218 posts in 3462 days
#10 posted 09-10-2014 01:30 AM
You are a friggin animal! What an amazing job!
-- David, Norwood Mass, [email protected]
harum
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436 posts in 3134 days
#11 posted 09-10-2014 06:08 AM
Tobias, Bryan, Paul, and David, thanks for your feedback! The ShopNotes issue with an article on the marking gauge has useful tips on working with hardwoods and brass, which is a great help.
-- "If you're not counting the ripples when throwing pebbles in the water, you're wasting your time."
Ken90712
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18123 posts in 4680 days
#12 posted 09-10-2014 08:50 AM
What a real beauty!
-- Ken, "Everyday above ground is a good day!"
489tad
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4158 posts in 4503 days
#13 posted 09-10-2014 11:08 AM
That is nice!
-- Dan, Naperville IL, I.G.N.
ScottStewart
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120 posts in 3624 days
#14 posted 09-10-2014 02:41 PM
Amazing work, how does the blade holding mechanism work?
hoss12992
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4181 posts in 3384 days
#15 posted 09-10-2014 05:29 PM
Amazing
-- The Old Rednek Workshop https://www.facebook.com/theoldrednekworkshoptn
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