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Are there any alternatives to Marking Knives?

Are there any alternatives to marking knives?

Shop for Marking Knives


Marking knives, woodwork, layout, tools, carpentry, DIYer, joints, scribe, mark, wonkee donkee. Marking knives are not the only woodworking layout tools that are used to scribe workpieces. Scratch awls, woodworker’s knives and precision knives are a few examples that are similar to marking knives. They are are used for the same tasks, and more. Read on to find out about the alternatives to marking knives.

Scratch awl

Marking knives, woodwork, layout, tools, carpentry, DIYer, joints, scribe, mark, wonkee donkee. A scratch awl is a layout tool used in woodwork. It consists of a long, sharpened spike that is attached to a handle. The scratch awl is similar to a marking knife as it is used to scribe lines for a saw or chisel to follow. An awl can also be used to make holes in workpieces to provide guide holes for drill bits or objects such as screws and nails.
Marking knives, woodwork, layout, tools, carpentry, DIYer, joints, scribe, mark, wonkee donkee. A scratch awl is more suitable for working along the grain as the spike scores a groove into the wood rather than slicing it as a marking knife does. If you use a marking knife for cutting along the grain, the sharp blade can follow the fibres in the wood, making the line go off course.
Marking knives, woodwork, layout, tools, carpentry, DIYer, joints, scribe, mark, wonkee donkee. The long spike of the scratch awl allows it to be used in tight areas. For example, when marking dovetails, the sharpened point of the awl makes it easy for users to reach and mark grooves. The marked lines would not be as fine or precise as those made by a marking knife, but the scratch awl is still a useful tool for marking dovetails.
Marking knives, woodwork, layout, tools, carpentry, DIYer, joints, scribe, mark, wonkee donkee. If you had to choose between a marking knife and a scratch awl can be difficult as there’s not much difference. A scratch awl would  the ideal tool for someone who works along the grain. Marking knives are ideal for working across the grain and provide finer, more precise markings.

Precision knives (craft knives)

Marking knives, woodwork, layout, tools, carpentry, DIYer, joints, scribe, mark, wonkee donkee. Precision knives are small-bladed knives with a pen-like body. They are used in craft work, commonly to cut paper, plastic and wood. They have a single-bevel, replaceable blades with flat backs.
Marking knives, woodwork, layout, tools, carpentry, DIYer, joints, scribe, mark, wonkee donkee. The replacement blades available for precision knives make them very versatile: they can be used in a number of different applications. These blades can be used in tight spaces for finer and more precise cuts, and allow the knife to be positioned in a number of ways.
The overall length of the precision knife makes it difficult to control or manoeuvre when the blade is scribing in deep or tight areas. The more of the blade within the workpiece, the less handle there is for the user to hold.
Marking knives, woodwork, layout, tools, carpentry, DIYer, joints, scribe, mark, wonkee donkee. The marking knife has the option of a single-bevel or a double-bevel blade so you can cut in different directions. A precision knife, on the other hand, only comes with one side of its blade bevelled, which means to scribe different areas you need to move yourself around the workpiece or turn the workpiece to accommodate the blade.
Marking knives, woodwork, layout, tools, carpentry, DIYer, joints, scribe, mark, wonkee donkee. Marking along a straight edge or narrow joints are tasks that the precision knife would perform best. However, it would not be suitable for the layout of joints with deep areas that need scribing. Generally, a precision knife would be a suitable alternative but the marking knives are much more suitable for all types of wood marking.
Marking knives, woodwork, layout, tools, carpentry, DIYer, joints, scribe, mark, wonkee donkee. Marking knives are tougher, available with a greater overall length and produce markings that are as precise as precision knives.

Woodworking knives

Marking knives, woodwork, layout, tools, carpentry, DIYer, joints, scribe, mark, wonkee donkee. Woodworking knives come with a handle and double-bevel blade forged as one piece. The two bevels are on the opposite side of the blade, as opposed to being on the same side but on opposite edges.
Marking knives, woodwork, layout, tools, carpentry, DIYer, joints, scribe, mark, wonkee donkee. They are used in the process of producing fine furniture and instruments, including violins and lutes. The design of woodworking knives makes them ideal for marking along a straight edge, tracing hinges, laying out joints and other types of marking.
Marking knives, woodwork, layout, tools, carpentry, DIYer, joints, scribe, mark, wonkee donkee. The different blade widths available for woodworking knives means they can be used in difficult areas such as marking dovetails in narrow spaces. The blades are bevelled on both sides, so the knife can be used to cut in any direction without needing to move the workpiece.
Marking knives, woodwork, layout, tools, carpentry, DIYer, joints, scribe, mark, wonkee donkee. Woodworking knives do not come with a shaped handle, but with a shank, which gives the user control but can be uncomfortable. Using this type of knife over long periods it can cause your dominant hand to tire. The design does not accommodate your fingers or thumbs comfortably like a shaped handle with indents.
Wonkee Donkee says, "Nothing worse than tired and aching hooves."
Marking knives, woodwork, layout, tools, carpentry, DIYer, joints, scribe, mark, wonkee donkee. Woodworking knives are very similar to marking knives and are an excellent alternative. However, they do not provide as much comfort as a marking knife. Marking knives are able to perform all the same tasks a woodworking knife but offer the user comfort and control with a range of different handles.
Marking knives, woodwork, layout, tools, carpentry, DIYer, joints, scribe, mark, wonkee donkee. Woodworking knives come with a bevel on either side of the blade, unlike a marking knife which has a flat-backed blade. The flat back of a marking knife means it can be placed perfectly flat against an edge, providing a more precise line. Overall the marking knife would be the best option because it is more precise and more comfortable.

Woodworker’s knife

Marking knives, woodwork, layout, tools, carpentry, DIYer, joints, scribe, mark, wonkee donkee. A woodworker’s knife is a long curved blade which folds into a handle to reduce storage space and prevent possible injury. It can be used to peel electrical wire and mark wood, or as a wedge for splitting smaller logs.
Marking knives, woodwork, layout, tools, carpentry, DIYer, joints, scribe, mark, wonkee donkee. The blade is bevelled on opposite sides of the blade, unlike double-bevel marking knives which are bevelled on the same side of the blade but on opposite edges.
Marking knives, woodwork, layout, tools, carpentry, DIYer, joints, scribe, mark, wonkee donkee. The woodworker’s knife would be suitable for marking along a straight edge, but not when marking in tight areas. The blade is long and wide, making it difficult to manoeuvre in confined spaces, such as when marking out dovetails.
Marking knives, woodwork, layout, tools, carpentry, DIYer, joints, scribe, mark, wonkee donkee. The woodworker’s knife requires a full palm grip when marking work, because the shape of the handle is most comfortable when held in this way. The design of the knife also allows you to place your index finger on top of the blade to apply pressure when marking. A marking knife can be held like a pencil or like a woodworker’s knife, giving you options when you need more control.
Marking knives, woodwork, layout, tools, carpentry, DIYer, joints, scribe, mark, wonkee donkee. The problem with woodworker’s knives are that the blade is bevelled on both sides, so it is thicker than the blade of a marking knife. The thicker blade will cut wider when marking wood, providing a line that is not as fine or precise as a marking knife.
Marking knives, woodwork, layout, tools, carpentry, DIYer, joints, scribe, mark, wonkee donkee. Marking knives are available with blades of different angles and thicknesses, and the choice of a single or double-bevel blade. This makes them versatile – they can scribe along a straight edge, mark out angles and lay out large or narrow joints. A woodworker’s knife is not ideal for detailed marking, such as dovetails, because of its long and thick blade.

Utility knives

Marking knives, woodwork, layout, tools, carpentry, DIYer, joints, scribe, mark, wonkee donkee. Utility knives are very versatile tools that can be used for a number of tasks around your work area. They are used to cut wood, cardboard, plastic and a variety of materials. These types of knife are available with a blades that can be retractable or fixed, or that can be snapped off.
Marking knives, woodwork, layout, tools, carpentry, DIYer, joints, scribe, mark, wonkee donkee. The different blade types are suitable for different tasks. For example, the fixed blade would best suit marking along straight edges.

The short blade and thickness of the handle would not allow the knife to reach into tight spaces.

Marking knives, woodwork, layout, tools, carpentry, DIYer, joints, scribe, mark, wonkee donkee. The retractable blade can change its length, increasing the reach of the blade. This is suitable for when you want to mark in deep areas or reach tight corners. As with a double-bevel marking knife, a utility knife can cut in any direction, without moving your work or yourself.
Marking knives, woodwork, layout, tools, carpentry, DIYer, joints, scribe, mark, wonkee donkee. The utility knives that come with snap-off blades do not have to be resharpened but are simply snapped off to reveal a new blade. This can be a problem when applying pressure to the knife: the blade could snap while marking and cause damage to your work.
Marking knives, woodwork, layout, tools, carpentry, DIYer, joints, scribe, mark, wonkee donkee. A utility knife is a suitable alternative for marking a workpiece. This type of knife is also handy for performing other tasks around the workshop, including cutting material such as plastic and cardboard. When choosing between the two, a marking knife would be more beneficial to a user when marking work because the flat-backed blade provides more precise cuts, the handle allows the knife to be positioned in different ways and it can reach and manoeuvre in tight spaces more easily than a utility knife.

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