Thread: Marking gauge cutter

Very nice job violincrafter!!

Looks like it's seen a fair bit of use!!

Very nice. I have a question however, does the cutter turn or is it fixed to the shaft?

I reckon an Olfa rotary cutter blade would play that job pretty well, might have to give it a try one of these days.

Violin crafter, do you buy any tools or just make them all?

Hi Woodies!
The cutter is a fixed stationary blade. It would take a little more engineering to achieve a rolling blade but to be perfectly honest, I thing it wont work as well. You see if it were to roll or spin into the work you would need to add pressure to it, in order to scribe a cut. Technique comes into play with my set up because you can turn the unit by hand so as to vary the cutting edge. (I hope this makes adequate explanation).

As for purchased tools, YES I do have commercial equipment. For example I do have several Pheil chisels, and also Hirsh, and Jack planes etc. It would be impossible to make everything, but most of my violin stuff I made myself.

I use bow saws that I also make that are really good to use and many would be surprised of how good they actually cut. I like the Japanese brands of carving chisels, and Hirch, swiss Pfeil brand and Taylor.


I make up tools as I see fit to make life a little easier for "fiddle" cultivation LOL.

Have Fun!!!

Beautiful scribing gauge, great to use tools you've made yourself.

Yup I love it......Particularly the brass inlays!!!

V-Crafter,

Next time you make one give us a step by step run through on how you did it!!! I'd love to have a go at making one of these myself!!!!

REgards Lou

Yep, got that no problem. Thanks!

It's just that the Veritas version of a marking guage has a wheel that turns, and I just thought it might be an option. Not better or worse because I have tried niether so don't know.

I just make a scratch stock, and it turned out so well that I think a marking guage might be next on the list. All I have now is a double knife mortise guage which does work, but it's not real nice to use. Yes it's Japanese, so there you go. One Japanese tool that just doesn't do it.

Maybe a couple of wheels to have the option of marking mortises... Gears are turning now.

Mate that is fantastic! Did you make the adjuster / thumbscrew insert etc or has that come from somewhere?

I'd be happy to take one off your hands if you're ready to turn your work on tools into commercial enterprise.

Hi Mr Wood(L),
The knurl bit belonged to something else from a scrap yard! The thread is 1/4 " BSW that I cut into 6 mm size brass rod stock. Sometimes I use just a plain old piece of larger brass rod say 15 mm dia and cut a slice. That is then silver soldered to the threaded piece.

If you are interested in making some adjuster nuts for yourself then I let you in on a secret of mine. What you do is get several bolts from a hardware store. Then go to your local auto shop and get some welch plugs larger than the head of the bolt. For the next bit I use a jig to position 6-8 in a row with corresponding welch plugs as a mould. These are waxed so that you can do what I explain next.

You need a setting two pack resin of fibreglass resin and mix a quantity to be enough to fill the 6-8 welch plugs. You set your bolt into this resin and allow it to set over night. They can then be removed and you have some nice finger friendly adjusting bolts.

I hope I have explained this so you can understand the procedure.

Have fun

violincrafter

Or you can buy nice 1/4" brass bolts with knurled heads from Lee valley for a few dollars:

http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.a...455,43833&ap=1

Bit dear at $2 each (in lots of 5) but very handy.
The (matching) brass insert nuts are also very useful.

I also like wood thumbscrews - cost virtually $0 and supply limitless.....
Cheers,

Fantastic work Sir!

They are lovely! Fantastic timbre and lovely grain. Your work shows pure optimism and craftsmanship. I like them very much.

Cheers Mr IAN W.

V-c - I wouldn't imagine it would be too taxing for a musical instrument maker to cobble up something as straightforward as these - no meticulous shaping required!
The wood is Sheoak (Allocasaurina torulosa) - used very extensively as firewood where I grew up! Takes a lovely polish, and seems to wear very well, but bit hard to dry in big chunks.
Cheers,

After seeing the quality of the handmade tools featured here (particularly) and a couple of other sites (Rosewood Studio and Norse Woodsmith) I can feel my hobby start to take a very different focus...

Once my bench is done...

Cheers

What lovely timbre that is! HMMMMM you say they use this as FIREWOOD!!!! I SAY WHAT?
Oh my, my, I reckon Im coming up north to your neck of the woods and dowse your next barbeque or open fire and jump into them there ashes!!! Would'nt I be popular at a Sheoak bon fire? lol
This timbre is on my shopping list and next tool from it would be most pleasing! I will have to get some. That grain really is magnifico. So is your nice workmanship.

Mr Wood L I bet you will produce some fantastic equipment when you get that bench! Rosewood isnt it GRAND?

I'd certainly like to attend a few of their classes. I need it