A marking gauge is a woodworking tool used for precise measurements. It has a central arm with measurement points, a sliding head, and a marking pin. There are four types: traditional, mortise, cut, and panel. It is used by placing the head against the wood, sliding the arm to the desired measurement, and making a mark with the pin or pencil.
A marking gauge is a woodworking tool that helps take exact measurements for cutting. Consisting of three simple parts, it resembles a slide rule but is distinguished by its marking pin and locking mechanism. There are four distinct varieties of tagging gauges used in woodworking shops: traditional, mortise, cut, and panel.
A marking gauge is usually constructed of wood or metal, but both types use the same basic design. A marking gauge always has a central arm that functions like a ruler. The arm is usually a square piece of wood or a large metal bar – it is rarely flat – but has measurement points embedded in the material. The head is a piece of wood or metal that fits over the arm and can slide up and down the arm, even locking into place where needed using a clamp or wedge. Finally, all marking gauges have a marking device at the end of the arm, a pin, pen or pencil.
A marking gauge works simply enough for novice carpenters to understand immediately. The head is placed flush against an edge of the wood to be measured, and is unlocked. The arm is then slid up or down until the measuring pin is in place to make a mark. The head is locked into place and the user can press the metal pin into the wood for a quick mark or, if pencil or pen is inserted, can gently slide the head along the edge to create a straight line for cutting .
The marker has been used for centuries in carpentry and has evolved over time into four different types: traditional, for threading, for cutting and for panels. The traditional marking gauge consists of the basic design and is used for line marking. A mortise marking gauge has the same basic configuration as a traditional gauge, except it has two marking pins at the end of the arm. A cut-off gauge has the same arm and head configuration, but has a sharp knife in the pivot position for cutting through the grain. A panel gauge is an enlarged version of the traditional gauge and is several feet long, but is mostly obsolete because a table saw can make long, straight cuts without needing a panel gauge.
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