Which marking out gauge should you use?

2nd March 2020


	Which marking out gauge should you use?


	Shop for Marking Out Gauges


			As has been shown, marking out gauges can be used for a variety of different woodworking tasks, and they each have features which help specialise them for these tasks.

			Marking gauges
			The marking gauge is the most common tool and therefore comes in a variety of sizes, materials and prices. If you just need a marking tool for occasional use and general work with the grain then a simple marking gauge is the best option.

			Cutting gauges
			If marking against the grain often, a cutting gauge is probably the best option as it allows you to mark against the grain whilst still keeping a clean and accurate line. As well as this, the knife can be removed and sharpened as many times as needed to keep the tool in top working condition even after constant use.

			Wheel gauges
			The wheel gauge is the simplest tool to use because of its wheel shape which allows the user to roll the blade and to see it clearly. For this reason it can be useful for woodworking beginners. It can also be somewhat of a novelty item for woodworking enthusiasts to try out and experiment with. However many have found that the fence is too small for some larger projects.

			As the wheel gauge is one of the more expensive marking out tools, for occasional or infrequent use it is probably not the best option.

			Mortise gauges
			The mortise gauge is the best tool to use when you need to mark out mortises, however, it is also the most versatile marking out tool as it doubles up as a regular marking gauge. If you require a marking out tool for a number of applications, including marking mortises, then the mortise gauge would be the most cost-effective.

			The wheel mortise gauge allows for mortises to be marked out against the grain whilst still maintaining a high accuracy because it uses a blade. However, it is not as versatile as the square mortise gauge as it does not have a single blade for regular cutting.

			Panel gauges
			A panel gauge is used to mark sheet and boards of wood on a larger scale than other marking out gauges. They are also useful if you need to mark out an object in the middle of a large board.