In order to complete your woodworking marking and measuring equipment and have all the necessary wood tools , you need to have some protractors , some trammel points , some feeler gauges and some dovetail makers .
If you like to remember all the info of the marking – measuring and the importance of it , go HERE .
In a quick :
1) The protractor is very helpful to check your angles especially when sharpening and get precision angles with your chisels , planes , et.c .
2) The trammel points are extremely useful when you want to mark big arcs and circles , when your dividers cannot do the “mission” , because they’re too small , concerning their opening .
3) The feeler gauge is helpful and used when you check the flatness with your straightedge and want to see the “gap” . When you flatten the soles of your hand planes , the feeler gauge is your precious assistant .
4) The dovetail marker is a woodworking tool that assist you to create dovetail joints , when you don’t want to make them traditionally , using a square , a divider and a chisel .
So let’s see some suggestions i have for you :
The General Tools Angle Protractor .
This square head and stainless steel , protractor from general tools is my 1st suggestion for you , and you can check its very reasonable price on Amazon in here .
It’s a very well constructed woodworking tool , having an 6″ arm to set bevel , transfer angles , et.c and a 0o – 180o degree semi – circle laser etched scale in both directions for quick and accurate measurements .
It’s way above the very cheap plastic ones and you get more than you pay for this protractor . It could have kind of a more tight locking nut , but it’s not a big deal . It’s a very nice choice for your first maybe basic protractor .
The Mitutoyo 968-203 Protractor Square Head .
This chrome and stainless steel protractor , comes from the Mitutoyo elite tools company , doesn’t need introductions and you can have it on Amazon in here .
The quality , accuracy and attention to details , are more than visible and for sure it worths the extra ( not too much ) money you’ll pay .
It”s a 6″ graduation range protractor , made in the US(comes in a vinyl case) and the markings are very easy to read and do your measuring job . If you can have only one protractor , have this one !!!
The General Tools General, 523, Trammel Set .
This clamp opening and 6″ scriber points , stainless steel , trammel point set , is a very fine and not expensive woodworking tool you can have and check more on Amazon in here .
Of course the scriber points can be replaced with regular pencils , pens , markers , crayons and whatever else is needed for the marking job you want . Even a divider can be used for scribe in here .
You can attach this trammel set to any straight surface you like , aluminum , general metals , wooden board – piece , et.c and the “limit is the sky” .
You can make whatever circle you want , the only thing is to find a nice straight piece of a beam to attach it .
The FastCap ACCUSCRIBEPRO Accuscribe Scribing Tool .
I like very much this fastcup scribing tool , because it’s like a mixture of a compass and a trammel point and it gives you the benefits of these two “worlds” . You can check its price on Amazon here .
It has a very smart general design and it can be used as a divider and as a trammel point to scribe biggers arcs , whenever is needed . This extra joint is has in the pencil area , gives you more scribing freedom , different angles and choices . This is its biggest advantage .
It has a very good quality made from polymer , it’s easy to have it inside your toolbox with the other wood tools and not afraid to harm it .
Ths pencil holder is tight and the adjustments in any desired angle aren’t hard to do by you . It is the incarnation of “you get more tool than you pay” . Yes , you get it right , it isn’t expensive and it worths to have one for sure .
The GEARWRENCH 32 Blade Deluxe SAE/Metric Feeler Gauge .
In here you won’t need to spend much money , you need the basics as : accuracy , easy to read metrics and a nice value for money carpentry tool .
This Gearwrench feeler is just a very fine tool and you can check it on Amazon in here .
It has a measuring range of : 0015 to.035″ (0.038 to.889mm) and the holding knob is easy to loosen and find your blade and then tight it again . You won’t need more and you’ll stop putting 2 or 3 blades together to check thicknesses .
The POWERTEC 71515 Dovetail Marker Guide .
This CNC aluminum dovetail marker is a very fine and a basic dovetail marker , having four angle choices and you can have it by Amazon here .
It’s very well manufacturered , solid and this black-white edged colored design makes the metrics reading , “piece of cake ” . It’s durable , thick enough and the words rust and corrosion , will be “unknown” to you for many years .
Powertec is a very reliable company and for less than $20 bucks , you’ll get high quality and precision .
The General Tools Woodworking Dovetail Jig – 12″ Template Kit .
Even if for the dovetail markers , i have the mentality to not spend a “ton” of money , this adjustable dovetail jig from General tools , worths every penny !!!!
You can check its price on Amazon in here and let’s see its “millions” of benefits .
1) It’s one piece aluminum layout , reassure you , that both ends of your dovetail will match perfectly , stiff , tight and be very well made . No matter if you’re a beginner( it helps big) or a pro woodworker this is a great assistant .
2) It’s very easy to use it , no matter your experience and the inside manual helps the most , even if it can be improved , but in general you’ll understand its usage . After a couple of tries , you’ll make your 1st( or not) joint as a pro .
3) You can adjust it in a “nano-scale” to make tight dovetail joints , with easiness .
4) You can combine its use , with your other woodworking tools-accesorries , hand saws , routers , et.c . Using the correct height of your router bit , you’ll make the joint tightness you want .
It needs some tries and experiments , but not a big deal .
5) It does the same quality job in any type of wood : hardwood , softwood , industrial , with characteristic easiness and accuracy . Just be more focused when your cut hardwood .
Remember in here something about the types of wood .
6) Very reasonable price , for what you get and what you’ll do with it .
This dovetail jig will make you feel like a super – pro woodworker and for sure will skyrocket your confidence .
Keep woodworking and gain happiness from it .
