Marking Gauge - Traditional Woodworking Tool

cults3d

In addition to 3D printing one of my favorite pastimes is "traditional" aka Hand Tool woodworking. One of the tools I use frequently is a marking gauge, and it never hurts to have extras on hand. So I thought I would model it up and see how well it would perform in modern materials. The marking gauge is an ancient tool, with examples dating back as far as the 1500s. What is its purpose? A marking gauge is typically used to draw a line parallel to the edge of a board. It allows you to make repeated markings of the same width on any number of boards. If you're building a table, you want all the legs to be the same width, and you can measure once and mark multiple times with this tool. I also use it for marking the border around a board for carving designs. This design takes inspiration from historical examples, using a captive wedge to hold the beam in place, and a wedge to hold the pencil in place using friction. I opted for the pencil instead of a cutting/scratch gauge using a nail or metal blade, which is also common. I might create an additional beam that allows for this later.