Spiling sticks, joggle sticks and a “digital” rule

[clavius]

It's interesting to me how all of these very specific tools and techniques develop for different trades going back hundreds of years. I had never heard of a spiling or joggle stick before now. I have also used the version that Isambard mentions (also while cutting vinyl flooring), though that will only resolve contours larger than the length of the block. Very useful in that application following along baseboards and such.

I guess the "modern" and higher resolution version of the spiling stick is embodied in contour gauges like this:






Essentially a sort of analog computer, so not quite into the digital age like yours Phillip. Cool info, and a very interesting way to solve a problem.