Marking Gauge

I got the idea for this type of marking gauge from Richard Maguire of “The English Woodworker”. The beam is locked in place with a wedge, so the stock has two mortises – one for the beam and an angled one for the wedge. The main mortise was first drilled with brace and 13/16″ bit, then chiseled to the gauged lines. The angled mortise was a little tricky, but careful marking and chiseling made it OK.

This thing is a beast – I probably made it a little larger than they are typically made. I just didn’t know any better. The beam is 7/8″ square and about 9″ long. The stock is 1 1/8″ thick, 4″ tall and about 3″ wide. The wedge is 5/16″ thick, approx 1/2″ wide and 3 1/2″ long.

I used an ordinary nail (don’t know what kind) for the pin. I cut off the head, chucked it into a drill and sharpened it on sandpaper and diamond stones. I don’t know if this helped or hurt (don’t know the properties of steel used for mails), but I heat treated the nail to harden it.

Finished with three coats of shellac, each rubbed with steel wool after drying. The stock was given a coat of wax so that it will slide well on a board. The wedge locks the beam quite solidly in the stock.

Not sure what wood it is – got it from dismantling a chair that was destined for the landfill. Comments and critiques are encouraged.

-- Matt, Northern CA