tite-mark gauge vs. knock-offs

Japanese marking gauges *LINK*

Todd from San Jose

>Hi Jane,

I'll throw out another option for you to ponder. I have a couple of the more traditional marking and mortise gauges that I've had mixed feelings about, and I took a class recently that had japanese marking gauges. I tried out both a japanese marking gauge and a mortising gauge, and wow did I like them. They have a large surface that goes up against your reference piece, to give you more stability than western gages. And they have large blades that can be sharpened easily to a keen edge. I especially like the blades that come on the japanese mortising gauges over the nail-like scribes in my old Crown mortising gauge. You can also recess one of the mortising knives and use it as a marking gauge.

I'm sure this is a matter of personal taste, but I much prefer the japanese marking and mortising gauges over both the traditional and tite-mark style gauges. To me, the difference is like comparing a western saw to a japanese saw. I now swear by my japanese saws.

Here's a link to the gauges that I bought. I have the "Slitting Gauge" and the larger "Double Mortise Gauge" shown on the link...


Japanese Marking and Mortising Gages

Re: tite-mark gauge vs. knock-offs *LINK*

Robin Frierson

>Lee Valley makes one very similar to the Tite mark with a micro adjuster for half the price of the Titemark. I have both, But I still prefer the Titemark, its very heavily built, thicker brass. Though not sure its worth double the money , but its one quality tool.


Lee Valley guage

Re: tite-mark gauge vs. knock-offs

Harold Blair

>Jane: I have used (and still own) a number of marking guages. However, I find I use my tite-mark almost exclusively now. I like the feel and features (particularly the ability to pull the cutter head back from harm's way.)

Re: tite-mark gauge vs. knock-offs

miami

>I admit bias, as I know and like Kevin (Glen-) Drake. But, I do enjoy my Tite-Mark. I've tried a couple of others, and what brings me back is that I can operate and set it (rough and fine) with one hand, while I'm supporting the work with the other. I haven't tried the new LV micro, but I do like the idea of supporting a creative one-man shop, to me the LV micro looks like it would still take two hands, but mostly ...

A marking gauge is something that is 'high-touch' - it's in your hand all the time. I think high-touch items are often worth extra money for quality - like door hardware, sink fixtures, etc. If you have your hand on it every single day, you get to appreciate the quality (or potentially regret the cost saving) every day too.

Just another opinion ... but I'd get the Tite-Mark. Get the mortising blades too, I use those all the time.

Clay

Re: Japanese marking gauges

Bob Dodge

>Hi Todd, thanks for that link. I've been looking at either making, or buying a new marking gauge for a while, and those seem to incorporate the features I prefer.

I have a few older marking guages, but prefer by far, a larger bearing surface. I just can't get used to those disc-shaped markers, although I've never seen the Tite-Mark. Bob

Re: Japanese marking gauges

Rob Lee

>Todd -

I'm with you...these have always been my favorite... (we're putting 'em back in this fall).

They do require a bit of fettling though - as there a pretty large humidity difference between here and Japan (most of the year).

Cheers -

Rob

Re: tite-mark gauge vs. knock-offs

RichD

>If I had the budget to buy the tite-mark, I would. But since my tool budget is pretty restricted I ended up getting a knock-off - Shopfox, I think. It's has worked fine for my needs. That and my pin type mortise guage have always let me do what i need to.

Re: tite-mark gauge vs. knock-offs

deanj

>I have two of the knock offs as well. Two because -- I have the little cutting wheel turned around on one, so I can pick which way I want the bevel to face. If I'm marking a board to thickness I want the bevel to cut into the waste side, the normal cutting wheel does that the other way around...

Re: tite-mark gauge vs. knock-offs

Todd Stock

>If you can afford it, go with the Tite-mark. If you cannot come up with the scratch, go with the Lee Valley. I used an old Stanley cutting gauge for years, but the Tite-mark removes the fiddling necessary with any wedged tool.

Re: tite-mark gauge vs. knock-offs

Rob Cosman

>By far the best marking gauge available. Worth more than the price.

Rob Cosman

Re: tite-mark gauge vs. knock-offs

Pam Niedermayer - Austin, TX

>And where is your "no financial interest" note?

Pam

Re: tite-mark gauge vs. knock-offs

Rob Cosman

>Rob Cosman, who uses the Tite-Mark, promotes the Tite-Mark, and is one of the many who sell the Tite-Mark (only in Canada). Sorry Pam.

Pam, You're Back!! ?

Alan Hamilton

>

Maybe

Pam Niedermayer - Austin, TX

>Maybe, we'll see how it goes, mostly perusing from time to time and a cogent comment here and there.

Pam

Re: Maybe

Bob Hackett

>Who might you be trying to compel or convince?

Mainely,Bob

Myself, of course.

Pam Niedermayer - Austin, TX

>

Re: Japanese marking gauges

Frank D. in Montreal

>Hi Bob,

The next time you drop by Gentmantel's ask to see the japanese gauges. He has a couple models including the marking gauge and the mortising gauge. I picked up a white oak mortising gauge and it feels like a Cadillac (or Rolls Royce...or whatever) compared to my Western style gauges. I always reach for it first now.

Frank

Glad to see you back, Pam

Bill Houghton, Sebastopol, CA

>I'll look forward to your comments; your knowledge of Japanese tools has added a lot to this group's conversations in the past.

Re: Maybe

Alan Hamilton

>Pam,

Please stay with us. Please. With sugar on it.

Everything seems so dull around here without you. Don't leave us again. I'm beginning to get all misty.

Pretty-pretty-pleeeeeeze. With whipped cream and a cherry.

Alan

Re: tite-mark gauge vs. knock-offs

paul womack

> There are many similar wheel marking gauges, at greatly reduced prices from the Tite-Mark.

It is my understanding that the distinguishing feature of the Tite-Mark is the micro adjust. Gauges that use wheels as the cutter are quite common, and certainly not "knock-offs".

Personally I find a normal cutting gauge superior, since the blade is removable and easy (comparitively :-) to shape and sharpen. If I need super accuracy I revert to a surface gauge, referenced from my bench top, but I don't need this very often.

The only "true" competitor to the tite-mark is the Lee Valley, linked to elsewhere in this thread.

I have seen and handle the Tite-mark. As a piece of engineering I am sure its build cost fully justifies its purchase price. I am not convinced its merit as a working gauge does.

BugBear

Re: tite-mark gauge vs. knock-offs

Todd Stock

>Well there you have it - lots of opinions and all of them right - at in someone's mind. Perhaps the way to resolve this is based on your approach to life and tools:

a. You are right brained, majored in fine arts, and probably should not help anyone else with their taxes. You don't mind a few tap-tap-tap/try/tap-tap-tap iterations when adjusting your wooden planes. Go for a screw fastened gauge like the Marples.

b. You are left-brained, ace'd your CPA exam, and organize your sock drawer by date of purchase. You really want to adjust by 128ths and exactly reset the gauge to a previous setting used once last year. A micro-adjustable gauge with calibrated advance might be more your style.

c. You are a contrarian (though desiring only a modest amount of that lovely frisson that comes of being not more than an eighth of a beat out of step with the rest of your crowd). Your chisel rack is a temple fit for very small mice, and you ask for the Goddess's blessing before cutting each pin. Go for the Japanese cutting gauge and celebrate your good judgement with a non-alcoholic Sake Bomb.

All kidding aside, any of these gauges will work fine, as will a combo square and a sharp knife - - don't let the preceived need for an 'uber gauge' keep you from getting that dovetailed chest done for your daughter (or whatever for whomever).