Why Use a Cutting Gauge?
George VondriskaDescription
If you want to accurately mark your woodworking projects, a cutting gauge is tough to beat. This tool features a knife-like wheel, making it ideal for creating clean lines across the grain in wood.
Marking Gauge vs. Cutting Gauge
Marking gauges and cutting gauges serve different purposes, and you’ll need both. A marking gauge is best for making parallel lines to the grain, while a cutting gauge is designed for cross-grain lines.
The marking part of a marking gauge resembles a pointed pin, which can cause tearing or bouncing when used across the grain. In contrast, the knife edge of a cutting gauge might follow the grain when used for parallel lines. So, it’s important to recognize the differences and have one of each.
Why Not Use a Pencil?
Pencils can be used for marking your projects, but they aren’t ideal. The problem is that a pencil line is often unclear. Even with a sharp pencil, there’s still some width to the line, leaving you to choose which part of it to follow. While this approach works sometimes, it’s not always reliable. A cutting gauge (for cross-grain) and a marking gauge (for parallel to the grain) will give you much more precision.