Tite-Mark v. LV micro wheel gauge?

Re: Tite-Mark v. LV micro wheel gauge?  *LINK*

Alice Frampton, UK

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Wheel Marking Gauge review

Re: Tite-Mark v. LV micro wheel gauge?

Dan Clermont in Burnaby

>Hi Dave,

I bought the LV guage a couple of years back. I had problems getting the thumb screw tight enough so the guage would not slip. For some reason the rod had a side which would not grab and I brought it back to the store.

The sales clerk was helpful and confirmed I was correct. He gave me the option to either replace it or return it.

I returned it and bought the Tite Mark which I am happy with. Cost me allot more money but I haven't had a slippage problem.

Mine could have been an isolated case but it was bloody annoying to start out marking 3/4" on one end of a board and by the time I got to the other end I was marking 7/8"

Cheers

Dan Clermont

Re: Tite-Mark v. LV micro wheel gauge?

Paul Kierstead

>I think the LV engineers were smoking crack when they designed their micro-adjust wheel. It is not very friendly at all; it seems almost impossible to do with one hand. Very un-Veritas. The Tite-mark works wonderfully with one hand. if you have the latest version of quicktime you can see this here:

http://homepage.mac.com/paulkierstead/titemark.mov

OTOH, the regular (non micro adjust) Veritas wheel gauge is a very very fine tool and the micro-adjust doesn't revolutionize your work or anything.

Re: Tite-Mark v. LV micro wheel gauge?

Arw01

>The micro adjust just doesn't work on the LV model. The threads are WAY too short, and I ALWAYS have to take two hands to get it to move, an invaribly it's at the wrong end of it's adjustment anyways.

Used the tightmark extensively at the Cosman hand tool course, I loved it. BUT for $70+ dollars I can live without it and adjust my LV unit. You can definetly adjust it with only one hand while you hold your work in the other.

Alan

Re: Tite-Mark v. LV micro wheel gauge?

David Hay @ Denver

>I have the original Lee Valley wheel guage. No micro adjust, no markings. To be honest, I've never really seen the need for the micro adjust and have managed to get along just fine without it.

When I was at the woodworking show a couple of weeks ago, I was playing with the micro-adjust marking guage at the Lee Valley booth. My initial impression what that it wasn't all that obvious how to get it to micro adjust. Kind of a shame, since most of Lee Valley's products are so top notch.

David

from a beginner's perspective

frank shic(walnut ck, ca)

>dave, the veritas marking gauge works GREAT compared to the combo mortise-tenoon/marking gauge i previously bought from rockler in marking out the baselines for dovetail which is what i mainly use it for. i am toying with the idea of purchasing a tite-mark in the near future just so that i can use the single piece mortise knives.

Totally agree about the LV standard

Bruce, a MN Galoot

>I've just not seen any reason to try anything else.

Bruce

Re: Tite-Mark v. LV micro wheel gauge?

Jack Guzman from Maine

>I have the LV micro adjust and on a trip to Warren Maine I picked up the mini Tite mark.It is so nice to use I think the cost difference is well worth it.The mini is smaller than the regular tite mark and costs a bit less.---Jack

Re: Perfect -- thanks!

Dave Mount

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Re: Thanks all

Dave Mount

>Lot's of good information. Still don't know what to do, but plenty to think about. . .

Dave

Re: Whoops, one other question about LV models

Dave Mount

>On the LV micro adjust, if one doesn't want to bother with the microadjust for a particular setting, can you ignore the collet and just lock the thing down with the thumbscrew, just like the standard model? Or do you have to use both locks to use it?

Put differently, if one buys the microadjust and doesn't like it, is the unit still as serviceable as the standard unit, excepting the extra money that was spent unnecessarily?

Thanks.

Dave

Re: Thanks all

Clay C in Miami

>Just one more voice for the Tite-Mark. Works like a dream, plus you are supporting a small US business and a very creative individual woodworking inventor. The morticing wheels are a must ...

Clay

Re: Whoops, one other question about LV models

Arw01

>Yes, you can loosen the collett and only use the small thumb screw on the head itself.

Alan

Re: Tite-Mark v. LV micro wheel gauge?

Tony - Memphis

>Never tried a Tite-Mark, though it looks like a real nice tool. Santa brought me a LV with the marked rule. I really like it. I use the micro adjust a lot. One tip....don't let your thumb get in the way! I now have a permantly "marked" thumb! Guess what, there ain't much meat on top of your thumb. As usual, stupidity krept in my shop one night...

Tony

Re: OK -- decision = LV standard

Dave Mount

>Having read and thought about all this, you collectively have convinced me to get the LV standard. While no one claims the Tite-Mark isn't a great tool, this is a first wheel gauge. Relatively few people seem to think that graduations or micro-adjust are must-have features, and one-handed setting seems like an important thing to me. At $24.50 USD, it's not like it's an investment that rules out the Tite-Mark in the future if I decide I "have" to have it.

Interesting that I ended up with an option that wasn't on the table initially (and even less expensive to boot!). Thanks all for a good discussion.

Dave

Fine choice...

Christopher Fitch @ Memphis

>I have that gauge except with the rule markings.

I find that I never use the markings since I set the gauge from the work itself.

They don't interfere or distract so it's not a problem having them.

Also, I originally thought I really needed the micro-adjust but then I slapped myself after realizing that the current LV gauge worked quite well. You will be pleased with it.

Re: OK -- decision = LV standard

Paul Kierstead

>As a owner of both (LV standard and Tite-mark) I still use my LV heavily; it is a really great guage.

BTW, it does need sharpened (rub it around on its flat face on a stone) once in a while; takes seconds and really helps.

Dave, don't buy it!!

john jesseph

>Seriously, ping me off list...

I have both LV guages

Derek

>Original and adjustable. I have the same problem as was mentioned by at least one person with the original guage - it can move after being locked down - I do not use it much.

I also have the adjustable one. It does not move, for me. I do not find the adjustment hard to use or awkward. YOU make it close and turn the "fence" intil it is right on and then tighten the nob. It was not obvious how to use it until I spent 3 minutes reading the directions.

That said, I am toying with the idea of the Tite-mark because I would like to get a mortise guage. I have looked at the alternatives and they are all pretty expensive, if they appear to me to be quality made. Supporting a small USA business and getting a quality product seems like a winning combintation to me, so when I can do so, I may pick one up. Maybe.

Dave, I have both.

Bob Dodge

>Dave,

You asked if anyone felt that the Tite-Mark was worth double the price, well, I guess that depends on what you're specifically looking at. From a perspective of the materials used and workmanship, I'd say the Tite-Mark is definitely worth the difference.

I found much better heft and control, too. The knurling has been improved recently, and is much sharper, a more positive feel to it. I really don't care at all for my LV wheel gauge. Mind you, I have the basic model, and it's just not in the same league as the Tite-Mark, both from the materials used point-of-view, and usability. In fact, I thought I'd never buy another wheel-gauge again. Just not my cup-of-tea. I've used an old Stanley el-cheapo for 30 years, and for the most part, it's served me well. Not exactly "purty", but gets the job done. Often, I simply use my combination square, and a good dark pencil line. A very light touch, with a very sharp pencil. I find it easier too see the line as well. I find you need really good lighting when using the wheel gauge. Just my old eyes I guess.

Why did I go with a wheel-gauge? Well, the Tite-Mark just felt sooo good in the hand. I got a far better grip with this unit, since I tend to wrap several fingers along the knurled barrel of that gauge. You really get a sense of mass and control when handling it. This is one VERY well made tool. I'm still not 100% convinced that the smallish wheel will satisfy me though. That's probably just a matter of my lack of experience with that type of gauge. I just don't find the bearing surface large enough, especially at the end of the stroke, when only 1/4 of that wheel is in contact with the material.

With my old LV wheel-gauge, I tended to hold the gauge between my thumb and index finger, near the wheel. The knurled barrel on the Tite-Mark just feels a whole lot more positive from a control point-of-view. Now I use the thumb and first two fingers. Somehow it just feels a whole lot different compared to wrapping my fingers around the rod.

Bob

Re: Tite-Mark v. LV micro wheel gauge?

Todd Stock

>Save your money and get an Asian knock-off like the Shop Fox, unless you really need the ability to reliably set to a couple thou.

Probably not, right?

Re: OK -- decision = LV standard

paul womack

>At $24.50 USD, it's not like it's an investment that rules out the Tite-Mark in the future

Actually, all joking aside, it is very useful to have more than one gauge.

Whilst it is difficult to set most gauges to an exact measurement, as long as the gauge isn't moved, all the work pieces marked with the gauges are marked identically, to very close tolerances indeed. They will thus match/fit.

If you have more than one gauge, you have a better chance of leaving a setting "on" a gauge.

For instance, when performing stock prep, I often require many boards to be of the same thickness, but the width may vary.

So I leave a gauge set to the thickness, and use a separate gauge for width.

Quicker, more accurate, and a great reason to own more tools.

I normally use "ordinary" marking gauges for stock prep. These should cost less than 1.00 GBP at yard sales etc.

BugBear