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Thread: Spar-maker’s gauge (octagon marking gauge)

  1. #1
    Supporting Member Philip Davies's Avatar
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    Spar-maker’s gauge (octagon marking gauge)

    Spar-maker’s gauge (octagon marking gauge)-d86710b9-5bd5-4fa2-8a30-3adbc4bd9d24.jpg

    The idea for these octagon gauges was published first in “Fine Woodworking”, submitted by Percy Blandford. As he wrote over a hundred books on topics as diverse as Blacksmithing and canoe building, probably a few of you may recognise his name. There is an interesting obituary of him online, from the Telegraph.

    So, originally a boatbuilder’s gauge, I made mine to scribe tapered octagons for chisel handles.

    Spar-maker’s gauge (octagon marking gauge)-image.jpg If the spurs are set proportionately to the width of the gauge, they will remain proportionate irrespective of the angle.
    Spar-maker’s gauge (octagon marking gauge)-image.jpg

    As usual, this tool is made from salvaged material. The stocks are made from the notes of marimbas which a local school threw away, beautiful tropical hardwood, from which I’ve made a number of small items, eg cabinet handles.
    Spar-maker’s gauge (octagon marking gauge)-image.jpg

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  2. The Following 4 Users Say Thank You to Philip Davies For This Useful Post:

    bobs409 (Aug 17, 2019), bruce.desertrat (Aug 13, 2019), high-side (Aug 14, 2019), Jon (Aug 13, 2019)

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    Supporting Member bruce.desertrat's Avatar
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    How come I can never find this miraculous trash like a trove of tropical hardwood like that!.

    Very nice; I've seen the same design called 'mortise' gages as they work well for laying out mortises (and tenons) evenly on the stock.

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  4. The Following User Says Thank You to bruce.desertrat For This Useful Post:

    Philip Davies (Aug 13, 2019)

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    Supporting Member suther51's Avatar
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    "If the spurs are set proportionately to the width of the gauge, they will remain proportionate irrespective of the angle."

    Exactly what a spar maker would need for marking the tapered stock of a spar in progress. This is indeed some thing to store in ones memory bank, like money in the bank.
    Thanks
    Eric

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    Philip Davies (Aug 13, 2019)

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    Thanks Philip Davies! We've added your Octagon Marking Gauge to our Marking Gauges category,
    as well as to your builder page: Philip Davies's Homemade Tools. Your receipt:




  8. #5
    Supporting Member Philip Davies's Avatar
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    Bruce, you can have some,8 you would like to collect.



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