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Bog oak and brass marking gauges

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Bog oak and brass marking gauges

Postby Mike G » 17 Feb 2022, 17:10

Here are my current marking gauges:

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The lever ones just don't work well enough. Nice idea, but they don't lock properly for long. (Apologies to anyone who got one of these in a Secret Santa... :) ). The twisty one, though, is a different matter:

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That works like a dream. It is a bit agricultural, though. So, now that I have a lathe, I thought I might replace the lever ones with something that works better, and looks a little better too. I'm not showing you the mechanism!! So here we have 3 bits of wood and a little brass:

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These are proper working tools. An improvement over my original, in that they don't roll when you put them down.

I even made a mortice gauge, which involved turning up a 15mm sapele dowel, split in half lengthways:

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......as seen in the background here. The plain oak one. Making that was a useful trial exercise.

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Now, where do I find a whole lot of rich American tool collectors......... :lol:
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Re: Bog oak and brass marking gauges

Postby AndyT » 17 Feb 2022, 17:49

Mike G wrote:Now, where do I find a whole lot of rich American tool collectors......... :lol:


I suspect that the answer is Facebook and Instagram, but only if you sell your soul to Zuckerberg first... :(

Seriously though, they look really interesting and everyone needs more than one marking gauge.
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Re: Bog oak and brass marking gauges

Postby Mike G » 17 Feb 2022, 17:59

AndyT wrote:........everyone needs more than one marking gauge.


I have occasionally had 4 on the go at once. I have to make them look sufficiently different so that I can remember which one is which, so I'll be making some alternative shafts out of sycamore, bog oak and sapele.

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I meant to say this about the shafts. I have always previously used the traditional shaft, with a flat bottom and rounded top, but once I tried a round shaft I will never ever go back. Being able to see the point as it makes its mark whilst at the same time referencing the shaft fully on the workpiece is really useful.
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Re: Bog oak and brass marking gauges

Postby AJB Temple » 17 Feb 2022, 18:03

Very nice.

They would sell very easily , especially if a bit less chunky and had say maple handles to give white contrast, and some extra mother of pearl or abalone popped into the bog oak for decoration.

Top job there.

Thought you were supposed to be making chairs, not finding excuses to play with the lathe :lol:
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Re: Bog oak and brass marking gauges

Postby Mike G » 17 Feb 2022, 18:11

I'm supposed to be making a pergola, but I can't get a decent run at it......just the odd hour here and there. These didn't take very long.
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Re: Bog oak and brass marking gauges

Postby Andyp » 17 Feb 2022, 18:40

I wish I could find an odd hour.

Nice looking gauges and a design honed by years of experience I guess.
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Re: Bog oak and brass marking gauges

Postby Alf » 17 Feb 2022, 19:01

Mike G wrote:I'm not showing you the mechanism!!

Spoilsport. In that case I'm not saying "Nice job". :P

Andyp wrote:I wish I could find an odd hour.

I'd give quite a lot for a highly eccentric twenty minutes.
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Re: Bog oak and brass marking gauges

Postby Cabinetman » 17 Feb 2022, 19:09

Very nice indeed Mike, I can only guess and wonder at the mechanism, quite understand you want to keep it to yourself, but it’s a shame as I definitely am in the market for a couple of new ones, so I shall just have to put the brain into gear! —I feel a need to visit B&Q to have a look at the plumbing parts!
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Re: Bog oak and brass marking gauges

Postby Mike G » 17 Feb 2022, 19:34

Cabinetman wrote:.....I definitely am in the market for a couple of new ones....


I'll happily make you a couple if you want, Ian. Same goes for anyone else of this parish.
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Re: Bog oak and brass marking gauges

Postby Rezi » 17 Feb 2022, 19:45

Very generous Mike, think of all that fun lathe time!
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Re: Bog oak and brass marking gauges

Postby the bear » 17 Feb 2022, 19:47

You'll never get your pergola built with offers like that

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Re: Bog oak and brass marking gauges

Postby Cabinetman » 17 Feb 2022, 19:51

That’s too generous Mike, and obviously quite prepared to pay for your time and materials. Ian
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Re: Bog oak and brass marking gauges

Postby Mike G » 17 Feb 2022, 20:03

Rezi wrote:..... think of all that fun lathe time!


I don't understand, Steve. You put "fun" and "lathe" in the same sentence. ;) :D
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Re: Bog oak and brass marking gauges

Postby Lons » 17 Feb 2022, 20:14

Very nice indeed Mike :eusa-clap:

So, as you won't spill the beans it's thinking cap time, there must be a number of ways to make a simple locking mechanism. :eusa-think:
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Re: Bog oak and brass marking gauges

Postby jvc26 » 17 Feb 2022, 21:39

Those look lovely Mike. Nice work!
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Re: Bog oak and brass marking gauges

Postby Mike G » 17 Feb 2022, 21:40

Thanks James.
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Re: Bog oak and brass marking gauges

Postby Pete Maddex » 17 Feb 2022, 22:03

Nice gauges Mike.

I am guessing on something eccentric for the locking mechanism.

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Re: Bog oak and brass marking gauges

Postby Mike G » 17 Feb 2022, 23:53

Pete Maddex wrote:Nice gauges Mike.


Thanks Pete.

I am guessing on something eccentric for the locking mechanism.


:eusa-naughty: :eusa-naughty: Nice try....... :lol:
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Re: Bog oak and brass marking gauges

Postby AndyT » 17 Feb 2022, 23:58

I think Mike gave us a big fat clue when he said the stems are 15mm diameter and that Ian's onto something with his suggestion of looking at plumbing parts... ;)
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Re: Bog oak and brass marking gauges

Postby Mike G » 18 Feb 2022, 00:21

:eusa-whistle: :eusa-think: I actually gave a far bigger clue than that.
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Re: Bog oak and brass marking gauges

Postby Cabinetman » 18 Feb 2022, 00:36

I think the brass content is the thread that tightens and squeezes a split cone shaped tube into a cone shaped hole thus squeezing it onto the shaft of the guage — ( A little like the jaws on a brace tightening onto a bit) and the brass Parts are two plumbing fittings one fastened to the body and the other part in the twisting handle. I can’t think of many other ways of cutting the threads needed without one of those expensive wood thread cutters. But Mike may know different! Ian
Just had a thought! It could even be based on a Hoselock fitting the shaft of the gauge being the garden hose.
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Re: Bog oak and brass marking gauges

Postby Mike G » 18 Feb 2022, 07:28

Hmmm.....interesting. :D
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Re: Bog oak and brass marking gauges

Postby NickM » 18 Feb 2022, 07:58

They look great.
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Re: Bog oak and brass marking gauges

Postby Alf » 18 Feb 2022, 08:23

Mike G wrote::eusa-whistle: :eusa-think: I actually gave a far bigger clue than that.

Ah hah! There's a tiny (but rich) American tool collector installed inside each one, hanging onto the shaft with a pair of vise grips. Hence you needing some more of them. :D
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Re: Bog oak and brass marking gauges

Postby Mike G » 18 Feb 2022, 08:28

You might be on to something, Alf. :lol:
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