I Need a Morticing Gauge, Which One?

Tite Mark

Neal in San Jose

>I just treated myself to a Tite Mark (available thru Lie-Nielson). I haven't used it much, yet, but it is well made and very versatile. I also got the optional fixed width mortise blades thinking they would be the cat's pajamas since they are EXACTLY 3/8, etc. Turns out none of my mortice chisels are right on, so I use the adjustable blades. A little fussy to set up, but if you are doing several mortices, it's worth the time. Since I have, um, shall we say multiple, marking gauges, I usually leave it set up for 3/8 to match my favorite mortice size. YMMV

Re: I Need a Morticing Gauge, Which One?

Dean J in MN

>Jim --

I'm partial to the Seaton-esque gauges I make myself. One thing to note, I get more use out of the dual pin gauges when I lay out the tenon, as the mortise is defined by the mortise chisel. So, you can get away with a single pin gauge for the mortise layout. But, then you are stuck with either using two guages to lay out the tenon (yuck) or a single gauge, set twice after pressing the chisel into the stock to cut the tenon (double yuck).

I made my mortise ("tenon") gauges pin's match my mortise chisels. Rather than having one mortise gauge, I have several. Quick, easy, and doesn't slip out of adjustment. You can also have more than one set of pins on the arm if you'd like to cut down on the number of gauges to keep track of.

So, my suggestion is -- make your own gauges. They are simple to make and you get to modify them as you see fit. (And I think they work a whole lot better than anything I've tried.)

-Dean

Re: I Need a Morticing Gauge, Which One?

Derek Cohen (in Perth, Australia)

>Hi Jim

I have four different mortice gauges. One is a Crown pin type, another is a wheel type, the Titemark (from LN), then there is a Japanese in-line cutting type, and lastly a Mujingfang double cutter, parallel type.

Of these, I prefer the Japanese in-line cutting type. Second is the Crown pin.

I really like the Titemark for dovetails - that is, across the grain marking. But it does not score deeply enough with the grain and especially on end grain. The variable wheels are more difficult to set up. (Incidentally, the Titemark mortice wheels will fit the LV marking gauge, as will the Titemark replacement cutting wheel).

Here are the Titemark cutters:

...and the LV with a Titemark mortice cutter and Titemark scoring cutter. This is my preferred combination for either the Titemark or LV:

Mujingfang, double cutter on right:

This is a useful gauge and it cuts well, but the lines do not end together. A minor quibble.

Regards from Perth

Derek

Re: I Need a Morticing Gauge, Which One?

Wiley Horne--So. Calif.

>Jim,

One word for you. Kinshiro. Kinshiro-san has all but retired, but still makes a few gauges a month. If interested, order a large one, ebony faced. Available through,

http://www.japantool-iida.com/

or

http://www.japan-tool.com/

Wiley

Re: I Need a Morticing Gauge, Which One?

Frank D. in Montreal

>Hi Jim,

I have this one and really like it:

http://www.japanwoodworker.com/product.asp?s=JapanWoodworker&pf_id=15%2E260&dept_id=12996

The blades are not offset like Derek's, and you can also leave one of the blades buried in the body to use it like a standard marking gauge (inverting the blades if you want to reverse the bevel to keep it on the waste side of the cut). I also find it very comfortable to hold, and the long shape is great for keeping the gauge snug against the workpiece as you trace the line; I based the marking gauges I made on this shape.

Re: I Need a Morticing Gauge, Which One? *LINK*

Mark Nowicki

>Hello Jim:

I used an Ulmia at a course at John Abbott CEGEP. It was amazing: smooth, rock solid adjustment, no backlash, perfect balanced.

Personally, I don't use a mortise gauge. I don't feel it is necessary. Since I cannot change the width of my chisel, it is sufficient to scribe only one line from the reference face. The same for the tenon, just the distance from the face is sufficient to sneak up on the width.

Regards

Mark


Ulmia 00320K

Do you realy need one?

Scott Burr in Ben Lomond, CA

>I have one Japanese one like Derick and Frank use it's a nice gauge. I rarely use it any more.

I mark a centerline with a Inca ruler and just center the chisel about that line. I can eyeball a motrtice up to 1/2" wide this way with very accurate results. Then size the tennon ot it.

Re: I Need a Morticing Gauge, Which One?

Kevin Adams

>Jim--

FWIW, I can second Wiley's suggestion (in fact, I followed his advice in the first place). Just a great gauge and beautifully made. I was able to get one from Tomohito-san at www.japantool-iida.com. You may have to wait a while or you may luck out like me and be able to snag one right away, just depends on Kinshiro-san's work schedule.

Take care,

Kevin

Re: Do you really need one?

wilbur

>Hi Jim,

I'll second the idea of not needing a mortise gauge, but from a completely different perspective.

I found that setting a mortise gauge to match my chisel width, and then trying to scribe a line with it not very easy, but this is probably due to the fact that I'm still a beginner at a lot of this.

What was easier for me was to use the mortise chisel to locate the position of the mortise, mark the location with a pencil, and use a single blade marking gauge to mark the sides of the mortise. An alternative that I am trying out is using a marking knife and a straightedge for the same purpose, after using the edges of the chisel to mark the mortise.

So I would vote for not needing a mortise gauge, because I'm too much of a klutz to use one. :@)

I'm a little surprised...

Frank D. in Montreal

>I thought everyone used a mortise gauge! The biggest advantage of a mortising gauge is the you use it to scribe the mortises as well as the tenons. As long as you register from the same face wit hrespect to the finished piece, your separate pieces will always line up perfectly, REGARDLESS OF DIFFERENCES IN STOCK THICKNESS (which is particular to hand work). You can't do that with only one line on the side or in the center, it seems to me.

Re: I Need a Morticing Gauge, Which One?

Paul in NJ

>I second Dean's suggestion, make your own! He wrote an excellent article in the December 2006 Popular Woodworking called "Mystery of the Marking Gauge'. I made three after reading his article and trying Adam's gauge at Pennsbury. They match my mortice chisels and are much nicer to use than any others I have tried.

Paul Dzioba

Re: I Need a Morticing Gauge, Which One?

MikeW

>And I will "third" Dean's adaptation of the Seaton gauge. We were arguing around here over the one Dean made me (meep meep) so we've since made two more.

I still need to make a few based on my mortise chisels. It doesn't take long, either, just a nice afternoon project.

Take care, Mike

Which Inca ruler?

Bill Houghton, Sebastopol, CA

>Pachacuti? Atahualpa?

I'm partial to Olmec rulers, myself, although it's hard to get a precise line with them, not to mention tiring to hold those stone heads.

And a third for Kinshiro

Pam Niedermayer - Austin, TX

>I often use several other gauges depending on what's at hand, but my Kinshiro is my favorite. I got a large version and bought the blades to make a small version.

I also like the gauge below, except for the need to keep a screwdriver handy; but it's very heavy, which apparently allows it to track almost regardless of grain.

Pam

How do you mark the corresponding tenon?

Pam Niedermayer - Austin, TX

>

Check out Colin Clenton's *LINK*

Ian (in Sydney, Australia)

>Jim

I've got one of Colin Clenton's screw action mortice and cutting gauges. both "pins" are actually blades and the gauge doubles as a cutting/marking gauge

a supurb piece of engineering

mine's in rose sheoak, not the ebony in the pic

Colin's a one man operation, but if you ask nicely he'll make a gauge to your specification

no financial affiliation, but I first met Colin the first year he visited the local (Sydney) wood show and have bought several of his tools.




Some of Colin's gauges

Doh! That should have been...

Scott Burr in Ben Lomond, CA

>Incra rules

Re: Check out Colin Clenton's

Wiley Horne--So. Calif.

>I'd like to second the quality of these Clenton gauges. I have the cutting gauge, bought it for cutting stringing. Expensive, but the quality and precision are commensurate. These tools are forever. Highly recommend.

Wiley

Thanks Everyone

Jim Shaver - Oakville, Ontario

>Hi,

I appreciate all the responses....I will let you know what I do in the end.

take care,

Jim

Re: Check out Colin Clenton's

Jim Shaver - Oakville, Ontario

>Hi,

I was at a friends today (Konrad's),

He has this marking gauge, in sheoak-lacewood....absolutely stunning!

I was amazed at the look and feel of this gauge.

take care,

Jim

Update

Jim Shaver - Oakville, Ontario

>Hard choices,

I have put in a request for a large oak-ebony Kinshiro. I will let you know what happens,

Take care,

Jim