Project by Woodknack | posted 10-06-2016 06:11 PM | 4036 views | 8 times favorited | 22 comments | ![]() |
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The primary wood on both is walnut. The gauge has a face of American holly harvested from my property and air dried for several years. The shape was laid out with a French curve, cut out on the bandsaw, then rounded on the router. Marking range is 1/16” – 3-3/4” (I think). It’s on the small side for a marking gauge and I liked it. Rarely do I mark deeper than an inch. I traced the shape and plan on making one for myself. Usually I prefer a blade over a pin but on this one I used a pin and ground a spear point and it worked really well in testing. The thumbscrew is a 1/4-20 bolt with wood knob finished with ca glue because it will get a lot of wear. Rest of the gauge is finished with 2 coats of lacquer sanded down, mostly to fill the pores and keep dirt out, then waxed.
The awl is a simple one, 1085 spring steel (music wire), walnut handle. I’ve learned my lesson and given it a flattened handle so it doesn’t roll around on the bench.
-- Rick M, http://thewoodknack.blogspot.com/
22 comments so far
Mark Wilson
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2971 posts in 2560 days
#1 posted 10-06-2016 06:35 PM
Fantastic, Rick.
-- Mark
Hammerthumb
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#2 posted 10-06-2016 06:41 PM
Very cool Rick. I like the small size also.
-- Paul, Duvall, WA
Ivan
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#3 posted 10-06-2016 07:38 PM
Beautiful tool, besides being very useful in workshop.
-- Ivan, Croatia, Wooddicted
doubleDD
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11383 posts in 3540 days
#4 posted 10-06-2016 07:42 PM
Great matching set of tools Rick. I like the idea of the no roll handle. I should remember that for the future.
-- Dave, Downers Grove, Il. -------- When you run out of ideas, start building your dreams.
Don Broussard
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4114 posts in 3748 days
#5 posted 10-06-2016 08:15 PM
Nice looking shop tools, Rick. What the red coloring on the body?
-- People say I hammer like lightning. It's not that I'm fast -- it's that I never hit the same place twice!
bobasaurus
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3749 posts in 4681 days
#6 posted 10-06-2016 09:38 PM
Great-looking set of tools. Love the sliding mechanism on the marking gauge.
-- Allen, Colorado (Instagram @bobasaurus_woodworking)
johnhutchinson
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1243 posts in 3126 days
#7 posted 10-06-2016 11:12 PM
Mighty fine !!!
Next time, use a sliding dovetail. :-)
-- John - Central Ohio - "too much is never enough"
jeffswildwood
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5159 posts in 3474 days
#8 posted 10-06-2016 11:31 PM
Very nice
-- We all make mistakes, the trick is to fix it in a way that says "I meant to do that".
NormG
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#9 posted 10-06-2016 11:43 PM
Well done, love the idea of the flatten handle, very useful and safe
-- Norman - I never never make a mistake, I just change the design.
tyvekboy
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2185 posts in 4510 days
#10 posted 10-07-2016 12:24 AM
Nice set of tools.
-- Tyvekboy -- Marietta, GA ………….. one can never be too organized
Lazyman
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#11 posted 10-07-2016 12:41 AM
The marking gauge is such a simple and elegant design. Very nice! The holly adds a nice contrast. Tell about the red stripe. Is that laminated in or some sort of paint or stain? Also, is the black ring on the awl burned in or some sort of applied finish? I would have never thought that music wire would make a good awl. Nice to know.
-- Nathan, TX -- Hire the lazy man. He may not do as much work but that's because he will find a better way.
Woodknack
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13594 posts in 3877 days
#12 posted 10-07-2016 03:27 AM
The red stripe is padauk. The black stripe is burned with a piece of steel wire, then flooded with ca glue to keep it black. Also forgot to mention, the thumbscrew goes into a brass insert.
Music wire is quite inexpensive and made from 1085 spring steel so it has a variety of uses. The larger sizes can be made into awls or pins for the gauge, smaller wire can be turned into custom springs.
Thanks everyone for the kind comments.
-- Rick M, http://thewoodknack.blogspot.com/
mafe
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13872 posts in 4586 days
#13 posted 10-07-2016 10:19 AM
Really nice, lovely tools with personality.
Best thoughts,
Mads
-- MAD F, the fanatical rhykenologist and vintage architect.
ToddJB
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#14 posted 10-07-2016 04:32 PM
I love the lines on the marking gauge, Rick.
-- I came - I sawed - I over-built
helluvawreck
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#15 posted 10-07-2016 05:01 PM
It’s a beautiful tool and an outstanding piece of work. Congratulations.
helluvawreck aka Charles
http://woodworkingexpo.wordpress.com
-- helluvawreck aka Charles, http://woodworkingexpo.wordpress.com
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