Thread: Cutting Gauge or Marking Gauge ???

Good Evening Ian and Derek,

Given this thread I was interested in both of your opinions regarding the Les Outils Cullen Tools Marking and Mortice Gauges.

les_outils_cullen_tools.jpg

Given that they represent apparently good value and are for all intents and purposes quite well made:

You Can Never Have Enough Marking Gauges

Any comments on their operation, aesthetics, materials etc would be greatly appreciated as I am considering purchasing both the Deluxe Gauge and the Mortising Gauge from "The Best Things".

Regards,

Jimmy
BTW It was good to catch up with you the other day Ian and yes I will eventually finish my own gauge.... I promise.

Hi Jimmy

It looks a very good design. Nice deep fence, easy to access the knob to use one-handed, and solid beam holding.

Regards from Perth

Derek

Fww #16
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Originally Posted by Jimmy_MacTavish

.......

Given this thread I was interested in both of your opinions regarding the Les Outils Cullen Tools Marking and Mortice Gauges.

......Any comments on their operation, aesthetics, materials etc would be greatly appreciated as I am considering purchasing both the Deluxe Gauge and the Mortising Gauge from "The Best Things"....

Woops. my apologies, Jimmy, I thought I had replied to your post and I have just noticed that there's no reply from me here - I must've hit the wrong button or something!

WRT the gauges - I like the simple construction. It's obviously easier to saw or rout a precise recess for the beam & use a brass strip to close it, than chop a smooth & accurate hole through the middle of the stock. The brass can also carry the thread for the locking screw. All clever enough!

I have a small criticism of the method of securing the cutter on the cutting gauge. The way they have done it leaves a lot of beam sticking out past the cutting point. This would be a nuisance for me because I occasionally need to scribe a line in a confined space. However, that's something you may rarely or never need to do, & not an issue for you. And maybe it is a plus because it balances some weight over the cutter, which might be a good thing. I would like to try one sometime, to see what effect it has.

My final comment comes from pure prejudice against "synthetic woods". I'm sure the material has been thoroughly tested, & no doubt could outlast us all, but I look on all such materials with a jaundiced eye due to a few bad experiences. (The latest being that I'm faced with replacing the bathroom floors in a 15 year old house because the supposedly waterproof floor material is disintegrating! ). However, the fact that they don't feel the need for wear-strips on the faces of the stocks indicates this material is pretty tough stuff, so put that comment in the 'grumpy old man' category....

Cheers,