Make your own marking gauge for FREE!

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[@nathanpearce7169]

I just built a marking gauge thanks to you! Tomorrow me and my brother are drinking homemade mead, smoking cigars and building the workbench you showed us.

[@RexKrueger]

I wish I could be there. For what it's worth, I'll have a new bench design up next week.

[@magicdaveable]

My marking guages were built by my Dad. He was a physician but a truly talented artistic woodworker (cabinet maker, folk artist). They very similar to yours.

[@RexKrueger]

That's awesome. My dad was a salesman but was (and is) a very talented mechanic. I've learned a lot from him.

[@TomLeg]

I made the same sort of marking gauge, or rather, several. I used a scrap of narrow hacksaw blade. Useful tip: I used a dabs of red and green nail polish on the tips of the lock dowel to indicate which end locks and which unlocks.

[@jtscustomcutlery317]

Hay hay hay who’s running this video? You, or Rex!?! Lol 😂

[@jtscustomcutlery317]

Hay hay hay who’s running this video? You, or Rex!?! Lol 😂

[@MrWhynotnow]

I just started getting back into woodworking after a few decades off. I've been dragging out the Skilsaw and working on the floor for a few years for around the house projects. I found your channel and have made your Joiners bench (all construction scrap found free), just made your shooting board (bought your plans), made the crochet, and made this handy little gauge. I've ordered the long vise screw and going to glue up my Doug fir scrap wood vise for the leg vise. Got a list of other projects to do, and love all your instructive videos. Keep up the great work. You inspired me to get my hand back in the game! Thanks brother.

[@rod1148]

As a novice with limited tools, I've watched a lot of woodworking videos in the last couple of years but you have the best I've seen. Clear, concise, not a lot of fancy tools or equipment and no annoying soundtrack. I look forward to watching more of your productions. Thank you.

[@timyong6152]

Also has good sense of humor thrown around casually that glues all of the content all intact together

[@lilcicero77]

Apart from anything else, this is the best explanation of what a marking gauge is for I've ever seen. And that's just in the first three minutes !

[@whogavehimafork]

Thanks to you I just made my first marking gauge! I made it from some dark colored mystery softwood with some nice spalting and some oak dowels from the hardware store. It was an extremely rough cut 2x4 that had been laying in the corner of my carport since we moved in. I planned on using it for some sharpening jig or something, but after the first three or four passes with the hand plane it had revealed a very pretty grain that was rather smooth and supple. Then when it was time to apply the finish, the exact moment I wiped some linseed oil on the fence that piece of junk scrap wood took on the most beautiful chocolate color contrasted by the spalting and I could not refrain from saying out loud to myself "Oh my god...". I was amazed. It was truly a diamond in the rough. This tool is without a doubt my most beautiful woodworking creation and it was all thanks to you Rex.

[@jaimiemackie8062]

I watched one of Rex's videos about marking gauges, and because I am just starting out in professional carpentry, I don't have all the tools I need to be proficient at the craft. Its really hard to get certain tools where I live, so I've had to be creative and make my own. The long screw through the 2" x 2" block that I learned about on this channel has served me SO well that I've written on it that NO ONE is allowed to throw it away. It is such a simple solution to a very important tool that I know that I need before I get myself some more durable steel tools. They've been used for millennia before steel was invented, so I'm happy with how far I've got to building my own tool collection.

[@chaplainand1]

Hi Rex Thanks for the video. I appreciate a) no background soundtrack (yea!!!) b) the encouragement offered c) your word use - accurate and precise - for instance and d) progression of difficulty. I made a six-part entry-way bench/seat a couple years ago for my daughter's family from a scrap piece of 2x12 fir lumber: seat, legs, stringer, and two locking wedges. I hand-drew the plans (in storage now). Basically, a bench top at about 17", a length of about 24" (arbitrary - to fit the space), leg angle of 10 degrees or so set so they don't extend past the ends of the bench, and a mortised stringer to hold the legs together. I cut two tenons on each leg to set into through mortises in the seat. I added an arch to the bottom of the legs. I attempted to balance size and location of the elements to be functional an pleasing to look at. I used wedges in the ends of the seat tenons. No fasteners nor glue. Tools: pull saw, hand plane, combination square, measuring tape, speed square (angles), chisels, mallet, clamps (no vice at the time), and both a marking knife (modified Ever-sharp paring knife - like a $ - and a sharp pencil. I did have a newly minted workbench on which to do most of the work. I probably took about five or six hours - most of that time in getting accurate layout and cutting six mortises and tenons. I used 150 grit to ease all the corners and to smooth it out - all by hand. I left it unfinished since the family was not ready to make a finish decision. I'm guessing that between indirect sunlight and daily use, it will take on a nice patina over time. Might be a fun project. Please stay well. Blessings to you and yours. Handy Andy

[@virgforsberg2754]

Paul sellers bit put your pin in the drill and drill it in works great, your gauge is easier to make!

[@DrMark666]

on a budget with a new home, and found some old olive wood in the garden. I now have an olive wood marking gauge, thank you so much.

[@kqxp]

Just made a softwood version of this for lack of having any hardwood to hand. A fence block cut slightly thicker. Dowel from an old drying horse used for both lock and beam. All holes piloted then drilled out with a forstner bit - approaching the hole intersection from both sides. Works nicely. Cheers Rex old stick.

[@Victoria-jo3wr]

I just made mine last night! The locking pin was a bit of a tough fit, you're right. I had to make a few before I got it. But the other parts were very simple and it works well! I'm so excited to finally have a proper gauge :) thank you for taking the time to show us how to do this! Some advice to anybody working on theirs: once you've got your fit dialed in, don't be too aggressive with your finish sanding on the beam and pin. It can change the way the parts interact. I learned that one the hard way...

[@TruthIsLove.]

I just made this as my first woodwork piece, first time no mistakes thank God (still need to install a pin). Thank you! So glad to get into Joinery and see such a helpful community of carpenters/joiners. Took me 5 hours but time much better spent than gaming on phone

[@torque9889]

The two hardest things I found starting out with no prior knowledge and after watching a million KZbin videos on wood working was - sharpening tools (most vids assume you have some basic knowledge which I didn’t) and cutting a straight line with a handsaw, mostly on the downward line. No one ever seems to cover that last one even in beginner woodworking tutorials, I ended up just learning through trial and error and wasting a lot of wood in the process.

[@sisaktamas]

I did some sawing these past days and sometimes had this problem of not cutting in a continuous plane. I can control the saw pretty well but with thick boards it’s too difficult. So today I had an idea to clamp another piece along my line and as I was using it I realized I improvised a ‘shooting board’ or rather, ‘shooting surface’.

[@markharris5771]

I’ve had a bit of a binge buying tools that need some restoration, 18” wooden plane to be my smoothing Jack, about 20 augers, a brace and bit, 3 sets of hollows and rounds, a Stanley Continental drill and then I have to beef up my workbench. But once I've done all that I'll make this gauge with a blade and peg for marking dovetails etc. All my other gauges have pins. A superb video and series Rex, thank you.

[@RexKrueger]

My pleasure!

[@michaelmarrett6423]

I really like your videos! You give very clear, articulate instructions while, at the same time, taking the stress out of the projects by making it clear as to when a particular dimension or measurement does or doesn't require utmost accuracy. Also, by giving alternative methods and/or material options, you make the instructions very user- friendly. You seem to be equally comfortable at thinking in either analytical, or intuitive terms. Furthermore, your "quirky" sense of humor makes your videos even more enjoyable to watch. (My wife calls me " King of Corn", LOL ). Finally, thank you so much for showing and explaining how to do things on a realistic budget, so that everyone can benefit; not just the "rich guy" with the "decked out" "dream shop". So thanks again for everything you do, and keep up the good work!

[@JusBidniss]

The square-cut end of a piece of scrap, with an ordinary drywall screw driven perpendicularly into it, has always served any marking gauge needs I've ever had. The edge of the countersink head is sharp enough to make a decent mark, and the depth is infinitely adjustable just by twisting it in or out. And if you lose it, you've lost a scrap and a screw -- make another in 2 minutes.

[@thurgogopro5338]

And you adjust the position of the screw with what??

[@sourcererseven3858]

@@thurgogopro5338 I didn't get it at first either, but they're not marking with the point of the screw, but with the side of the head. The screw is driven in perpendicular to the fence (into the endgrain if you will) and they drive it in or out for adjustments. Make 5 of those gauges in different size categories and use the screws to dial in the last inch or so. Heck, as far as I can see (I'm just starting out) you only _need_ a couple different settings regularly, so make one gauge for each of these and never touch the setting. If you're fine with them taking up a bit of space ;) I'm actually intrigued by the simplicity, at least for the beginning.

[@unitycatalog]

most under-rated comment ever in the history of woodworking

[@UPTHETOWN]

Infinitely adjustable? How long is that screw

[@ylwavy]

@@UPTHETOWNdoesn’t need to be any particular length. Infinite fractional adjustments can happen within just an inch.

[@MrFatalisticfarmer]

I just want to throw this out there, I looked everywhere for this gauge and ended up making one myself, but the other day while shopping at harbor freights for clamps I stumbled upon one of these for 10 bucks, it was extremely nice looking so I got it to test it. For as cheap as it is and how harbor frieghts is hit or miss it was extremely well made, its got two markers on the bottom with one being adjustable for your mortisons, and one on the top for the regular gauge. Also I love your channel, you have literally been my guide for the last year for woodworking.

[@sheldondowney3648]

Your application of simple machines and knowing your materials keeps me coming back. You could do a video on materials, how to incorporate tolerances and mix materials in projects.

[@rogerleete4635]

Nice. I needed a marking gauge, and a quick search turned up this video. I made mine with a square beam, because of the materials I had on hand. Good afternoon project resulting in a tool I'll have for years to come. Kudos for a great video.

[@RaggedVentures]

To be honest, there are a lot of videos on youtube about installing a conventional vice on a bench. I agree that the handscrew clamp solution isn't adequate, but I'd rather see a workholding solution more contemporary with the style of low bench. Maybe some peg stops to work with the planing stop. I really love the workholding from Ingenious Mechanicks so far

[@lazerblade2]

Agreed.

[@TheDouglasTrevino]

Even though I think you can use some kind of vice for that bench, there are lots of channels doing vices. Hand made tools are great. When we see pictures of old master woodworker shops, they had dozens of special purpose tools for projects they liked to do. Great videos!

[@RexKrueger]

I think I can make my vise special. We'll see...

[@DB-lk5tt]

Make more tools: 1. Add the vice 2. A trundle lathe. 3. Add some furniture so that we know what we can do with all of our new tools.

[@guilhermepinh6139]

Thanks Rex! I'm Brazilian, I made my gauge today, the ideia of slice lock is amazing! In fact, I use your videos to improve my english too. Thanks for this.

[@olafgeurens]

Great vids Rex!!! A Vice, a wood plane, a spoke shave, .... There are to many fun options!!! Build on Thanks for the videos! Cheers mate

[@RamonMarais-k2k]

I have made two, a cutting and marking gauge. Japanese style. The pin for the marking gauge is a 2 mm drill bit cut, sharpened and knocked through a 1,5 mm hole. The cutting gauge bade was a jigsaw blade hammerd though a slightly undersised mortice in the stock. It is sharpened to the sameshape as a marking knife. What I like about the Japanese type of gauges is they have a large fence. Never got around to making a marking knife, just use the tip of the drop point blade of the stockman pocket knife I carry edc.

[@DiscoveryDarks]

You made me disable addblock because I wanted to support you in the only way I could. Thank you for the great videos!

[@violetvalentine6451]

man, the kebiki-esque wedge lock but it looks/acts like a button...and one handed lock/unlock. spectacular, thanks!

[@arnoldkotlyarevsky383]

I would love to see a series on plane making. I know you have already done a couple of those, but more styles! Maybe do a video series on box making. What about fancy joinery? What about other tools you could make? What about tools you can buy and improve? Veneers? Other wooden weapons like your mace! Show us how to make nunchaku! What about little wooden toys for kids? What about big wooden bongs for bigger kids?

[@johnsingletary6056]

I have just found your site and I love it! The way you seem to talk with the viewers and not at them. Also so far it looks as if you have started at the beginning ,with nothing, and showing how anyone can start woodworking with nothing. Basically showing how to make your tools by hand. Many of my go to tools or finds I found in a junkyard or even on the side of the road. I bring them home and well make them functional again , if not almost new. My whole point is this site is a lot of what I need to get started building with wood. I build anything I need around the house and to improve my abilities. You also remind me of who my wife and I call “Ole Blood and Guts” Roy Underhill with the Woodwright’s Shop on PBS. He made every tool in his shop by hand. Even human powered tools like drill presses and laths. We called him Ole Blood and Guts because he always tries to finish his project during the 30 minute time slot and ends up cutting himself. He started me out with trying to make things with wood. One the first things I remember was making the jigs for wooden screws. Your bench vice, he would have use a wooden screw he made with wooden nut blocks on the ends before buying a stored bought bench vice metal screw. Anyway I know no ones likes to read these long winded posts so I’m done! Love Your posts and keep them up. I got your joiners bench design plans and looking at the low Roman trying to decide between the two which one fits me best. Thx John PS: You don’t have to start bleeding to keep me watching!

[@tomjkelleher]

I really like this project! I have a couple older Stanley marking gauges with wooden thumb screws. They often drift as I'm tightening them. I definitely like the idea of the one-handed locking pin.

[@axegrinder3746]

Hand-Screws clamped to my eternally flat slab "fire-Door" bench from the Re-Store with C-clamps or other HS's are/is super fast and you can place them around the bench wherever you like in seconds. Done it like that for decades. All these "woodworker benches" are fine but once you use a "fire-door" with all that room it offers no reason to switch now. Great site Rex, no BS, long intro, constant music, etc.

[@babiecasam]

Vise is a good idea. A pipe clamp vice is a great cheap solution.

[@averagejoe4837]

Not to mention versatile. I've seen where other people have made quick release leg vices, tail vices and bench vices using pipe clamps.

[@Burnnskii_Gaming]

oh man that solid machine like click when it unlocked was very satisfying. these videos have all been super motivational.

[@alwayslearning8365]

A vice is a good idea for the bench. Also a video on making a cheap Screw Clamp would be interesting and useful. Thanks.

[@davidkennel9512]

What Cris said...

[@garron6775]

What Davis said that Cris said...

[@VideoSafari7]

Brilliant gauge design; I made a fair one after the english pattern before I found your channel, now I'm going to have to make one of yours, because, well, it's just superior.

[@htuckey]

A vise would be great! I'd personally like to see some simple projects for Christmas gifts - old enough now to think about some things to leave my grandkids to remember me by. Maybe some simple but elegant boxes, or knives with hardwood scales, or whatever. That little stool you made earlier is definitely on my list to do. I'm really loving this series! And I thank you for doing it!

[@seaderwerks3046]

Had one in my amazon cart. Watched this and had three in an hour. Thanks a bunch man, appreciate this.

[@jjoyceman]

Okay, I made one. It works, and it works very well. You have to play around a bit with fit of the pin and the beam, but it's not difficult to get a tight snug fit that will lock and unlock easily. Gonna make a couple more...they will be very useful. Thanks for this great tip Rex, keep 'em coming ;)

[@909sickle]

I think you sold me on the wedge-lock design. I still like the screw lock design because banging on things can get tedious sometimes, but it's pretty clever. One of the first tools I made was a marking gauge, before I even knew a marking gauge was an actual tool that people used. I assumed everyone just used tape measures. I would like to see more tools made, especially with unique twists on the design.

[@akbychoice]

Foot vice on the low bench like used by wood carvers and pelt scrapers.

[@lourias]

Rex, your videos are AWESOME!! They are clear on where you are going to show, and how to do what needs to be done. I truly appreciate you no nonsense style, with that touch of personal experience for the viewer to understand why you do what you do and when you do it. Keep up the great work!

[@NJEsperantist]

I made one like this several years ago from an Instructables. Your design is better, adding the flat face to the bar. I love the 'stone knives and bear skins' approach to this series. It gets us back to our roots.

[@bascostbudde7614]

You're a very accessible speaker. Skilled, to the point, informative, entertaining without this detracting from the content. Thanks! It's a pleasure to watch and follow. When you cut from one segment to the next, I sometimes miss the breathing .6 seconds :) if it is on me, please do edit them in. I recommend your channel to the few younger woodworking trainees I have.

[@RexKrueger]

Thanks for the compliments and the suggestions! My editor and I have been getting too tight with the cuts. We're going to loosen it up and get the breath back in.

[@beni2094]

Not sure if you will see this ever but I'm really enjoying your channel! Great information, clever ideas and i love that you make your tools. Thanks for sharing!

[@PlainsmansCabin]

Another excellent video, Rex! Yes, a vise video would be welcomed! Especially, if you show us how to build one rather than buy and attach one! 😉 As to future project ideas... I’d like to see as much as possible on making and/or refinishing tools. I’d like to see ways of making more joints with “fewer” tools. I’d like to see ways/sources to reclaim lumber and get lumber from logs. (I currently salvage a lot of boards from pallets and am working on logs from a maple tree that blew down in my yard.) Keep up the great work, Rex!

[@babiecasam]

Great video! If you don't have dowel stock (or a large enough bit) you can also glue up the fence out of four pieces and have a square mortise for a square beam.

[@RexKrueger]

Damn, I should have thought of that!

[@paulpower1972]

Shave horse would be a great addition. Loving this series, thank you Rex

[@censusgary]

Coaster's Bushcraft : I, too, would like to see a shaving horse build.

[@killermurderer2208]

Me three! I've never seen a shaved horse

[@bobd.]

@Rex Krueger - 05:55 The handscrew is fine, but improve the ability to secure it to the saw bench. Bore a couple through holes in the side of one jaw to the same diameter as the dog holes in your bench. Then you can pin the handscrew to the bench with a pair of dogs. You may still need the F clamp to hold it down, but it won't wander around and make work much easier.

[@Sawta]

The tip at 5:14 blew my mind! This is the type of stuff I wonder about, that has a really easy solution. If the edge is ragged, don't use that edge, just hold the square in place. Seems so obvious now!

[@Alanworman]

I brought the plans for this and susecfull made one. It works great and have plans to tune it up a bit and make a few more. Thank you so much Rex for the plans and video.

[@CindyBallreich]

What a fun little project! And now I have a nice marking guage without spending $40. Thank you!!

[@grahammcelrath8167]

Can’t get enough tools/implements and such. Love that you’re including metal work. Your sense of humor is awesome. The concept of doing stuff on the cheap. You really do a great job. I look forward to every video. Turning a Hungarian battle weapon? Who does that? Flipping awesome. Thanks very much.

[@gabesmith2725]

How about a "mad-skillz" practice block to work on planing S4S and square cross cutting? Then use two blocks to learn and practice basic joints like box-joint or lap-joint on one end and dovetails on the other. Two 6-inch pieces of 2x4 and a target plan would provide cheap and low-stakes practice. You could repeat it 8 times on a ~$5 8ft 2x4.

[@jonwolf461]

Bench Vice, bar clamps, "C" Clamps, All kinds of vices and clamps. :) Cheers from Canada !!

[@Great.Milenko]

to help with making your own dowel stock you can use sandpaper and a battery drill if you have one. put the stock in the chuck of the drill and hold it with the sandpaper whilst you "lathe" away at the stock to get it perfectly round pretty fast. obviously be careful and don't hold too tightly. let the stock slide through your hand its great for fine adjustments.

[@zootcst]

I'll be making a variation of your low Roman bench soon with an apron on one side. The main reason I haven't started it yet is that I haven't quite decided my workholding options. I'd love to see a vise build.

[@Markolainen_]

Thank you! I'm so happy with now owning a marking gauge! :)

[@fliplucky8813]

Thank you for this series Rex, I do get a lot of inspiration from your videos. I can see how things work, and make my own stuff out of it. Great explanation, very entertaining, and you know how to keep the attention. I think it would be amazing to have lessons from you in person. And to go forth with the series.... Well, tools are great, but actually having a project to make( i mean something not for woodworking) would also be nice. I would prefer a mixture of both.

[@RexKrueger]

We're just about ready to make more projects. It's taking a while to get the basic tools together, but more projects for sure!

[@TheCaptnHammer]

Just made mine! I cracked one of the square pieces on my first attempt, had an off level hole on the second, but the third times the charm and my gauge works great! Thanks for the tips. Became a Patron today and got the plans for free. Keep it up Rex!

[@reprosser]

Love the wedge lock design. I have a few marking gauges, but gonna build one with the wedge lock. As far a future projects, a vise would be good, then maybe some jigs.

[@Maker_of_Things]

Likewise, I have made a few marking gauges and used a wedge. but having the wedge captive is excellent!

[@TheDistur]

That's a sweet gauge. Might have to give that a try.

[@2dividedby3equals666]

What a beautiful design! Really elegant and simple!

[@AaronSprague1]

I have seen other builds video for marking gages but I think this is the easiest looking. I am going to give it a try along with the other type I have seen.

[@RexKrueger]

Let me know how it goes!

[@LepLebooD]

I would love to see a vise build! Good stuff!

[@AdeAhmat]

Me too.

[@CarlHeinHamel]

Vise please!

[@SpongeAndLeo]

@@CarlHeinHamel It's been done! Look for it :D

[@oldpuebloforge]

I made the marking guage, and it works great. Fun little project, and I immediately used the guage on a different and much larger project, and it worked great! Next I'm going to follow your video on making spokeshaves. I have some projects that I think spokeshaves would be perfect for.

[@johnkelley9877]

What a great idea! The lock is and excellent idea.I would like to see a vise added to the bench. Thanks for sharing this.

[@nightcatarts]

A nice addendum to this video would be a simple centre finding gauge. A piece of rectangular flat stock with a dowel in one corner & another dowel in an opposing corner, and a pin centred between the two. Rotating the gauge so the dowels engage on opposite sides of a board will allow you to score a line along the centre with great ease. A vice build would be great too, particularly if you can do it using some kind of cam tensioning system. Cams can be hard to understand but they're so versatile & easy to make compared with threads.

[@RexKrueger]

Man, I've made a few prototype vices using cams. Fail, fail, fail.

[@nightcatarts]

@@RexKrueger Ah, too bad. I keep thinking there must be a way to do it, but it might require some kind of twisted cam to convert rotation into lateral pressure.

[@RexKrueger]

I agree. That sounds harder to build than just buying a screw.

[@kitsurubami]

Yes please make a future video about adding a vise to the bench. I've seen a lot of make your own vise videos, but would love to see your unique take on it.

[@wisewoodworking2739]

I must made 2 of these from some scrap wood in about an hour. Thank you for the simple design and thorough explination!

[@Xizax41325]

I'm not a wood worker but I really enjoy watching your videos.

[@RexKrueger]

You should become a woodworker! It's cheap.

[@47marwynne]

The vise is a good idea. A divider for making circles etc would be another suggestion. I made a poor set. I would like to see what you have in mind on that project

[@oystercovecraftsman9219]

I love the design of these. Nice work. Would have been a good video too show how too make a dowel jig. This video is a little old now, not sure if you have shown the process of making one yet but a dowel jig is simple too make and would be beneficial for beginners 👍

[@bobthegeeknc]

Very simple and mandatory tool to have. Thx Bob

[@ErikBongers]

Ideas for tools: home-made clamps (short, long, quick-release), plough/groove planes. Ideas for techniques: joints, finishes, how to keep things straight and true, boring stuff (like literally), scrap wood hunting, old tool hunting (what to watch out for) Ideas for projects: clever space saving storage in boxes, on walls or cabinets. Small gifts in multiple copies. Improving or transforming furniture, ...

[@redneckthreepercent]

Cool marking gage. A vise on the bench would be cool and helpful

[@RexKrueger]

It's in the works. No easy to make one that's easy to build with limited tools and actually works. I'm in the development phase.

[@antonis_lg]

Few hours before you post this video, i was looking how to make my own gauge! OMG

[@vincentbianco583]

I’d love to see an easy to build vice. I’ve looked into some of the other vice videos people have and I struggle but your videos are always easy to follow! Definitely would love to see more tool stuff! Perhaps router plane? Or some type of chisel plane for cleaning squeeze out and things

[@RickBoat]

This would have been a good time to mention that you can get free/cheap hardwood boards by watching the various free trading lists, or garage sales, or even driving through up-scale neighborhoods on trash day and picking up discarded hardwood furniture. A chair seat could easily provide the needed wood for the fence for this. You might have to laminate 2 pieces of tabletop, but so? Pieces that are too far gone for easy recovery make excellent sources of hardwood boards. Also, this is another opportunity to mention that in SOME parts of the country, firewood is fruitwood or oak etc. When you only need a piece that's an inch thick and a couple of inches square, cutting it out of a well-seasoned piece of fire wood is no big deal.

[@RexKrueger]

You're totally right. All of those sources are excellent!

[@marcmengel1]

Homemade brace, maybe with a hex chuck like for screwdriver bits/drill-n-drive sets.

[@tj.rodriguez1400]

THANK YOU SOOO, MUCH ! AND I WAS LOOKING INTO BUYING ONE ! WELL !!! NOT ANYMORE ! I LIKED THE WAY YOU MADE THIS VIDEO ! VERY NICE AND SIMPLE !!! THANK YOU VERY MUCH ! I ALSO LIKE THE WAY YOU USE TOOLS LIKE IN THE OLD DAYS !! THANKS A LOT REX KRUEGER !!!

[@GraemePayne1967Marine]

Very good project! It encourages me to attempt it myself. Random ideas for more ... A dual beam marking gage for mortises, dadoes & etc. Some work holding devices, but not necessarily a screw thread vise. Doe's foot, bench hook, bench dogs & wedges, and so on. Is it possible to make a usable holdfast out of something other than iron? Making a walking stick. Making a shepherd's crook.

[@eggster71]

Hi from the UK. I built a version of your low bench but looked at some other videos about them. I copied a simple clamping idea but cant remember who's it was. Basically holes spaced across the surface, like yours but along the length. You can secure workpieces using wedges and longer dowel pegs.

[@jonasdaverio9369]

Was it Paul Sellers or Pask Makes?

[@RexKrueger]

@@jonasdaverio9369 Yeah, that system is in the book. It looks great, but it's for holding boards on edge. I've already got that covered with the existing bench.

[@eggster71]

@@jonasdaverio9369, neither of them, no.

[@ConflictedSwitch]

Bench vise. Hold fast? MOAR TOOLS!

[@RexKrueger]

I can do that!

[@TomLeg]

I built a somewhat similar sawhorse / bench, and drilled a couple of holes in it for a holdfast. Of course the holdfasts are $25 to $50 each ... unless you spend $125 for the fancy Veritas version

[@javanbybee4822]

@@TomLeg or you could forge your own from rebar

[@TomLeg]

@@javanbybee4822 How much is it gonna cost me to build a forge? and I don't think the property management people I rent from would approve :-)

[@javanbybee4822]

Tom Legrady well, for a super easy forge you can use a blow torch and 2 fire bricks. Then use a piece of steel for a anvil and a normal hammer to forge it.

[@GNU_Linux_for_good]

Squaring up stock & boards with a hand plane is on my wish list.

[@erikjohnson6423]

I really appreciated the aesthetic of the bench you made at the start of the series. I'd imagine you could scale it up to a coffee table pretty easily. But what I'd really love to do is make a bookcase in that same rustic style. I have no idea how to make that work though.

[@RexKrueger]

My wife wants a coffee table in this style!

[@erikjohnson6423]

@@RexKrueger Hah, mine too! That's also who the bookcase would be for. And I think calling it a bookcase might be limiting, rather than thinking of it as a tall shelving unit, except when I think of a "shelving unit" I think utilitarian and even spartan, and this project should be more whimsical. But I thought it'd be a nice way for me to apologize for all the times I complained about moving my wife's books back in our rental days.

[@RexKrueger]

My wife and I both used to be English teachers. A few years ago, we got rid of 90% of our books. Haven't missed them.

[@erikjohnson6423]

I'm a big advocate of e readers and libraries, but I don't think it's too likely I shall convince her to downsize. At least this way she can't complain about all my tools ;-)

[@jons2447]

@@RexKrueger So glad to hear that, pal! In the last year (less actually) I bought "Everyday Woodworking", "Astronomy Hacks", "The Lore and Science of the Woodcutter", & "How I Reversed My Mom's Emphysema". I jump around in them as needed depending on what I'm doing. I used to buy books & magazines, 'saving' them, even rereading them. In the last ten-twenty years I've stopped reading 'recreationally'. Now I only read when I want to learn. That's one reason your book is so good. I don't really like trying to learn from videos, not sure it actually works. Have a GREAT day, Neighbor!

[@hasanzakeri8708]

This was great! Thanks a lot! For suggestion, how about an adjustable mortise gauge, or a curved bottom spokeshave? Also, a nice addition to the bench could be a holdfast or something like that. I personally used a harbor freight hold down clamp in my mini workbench, and it works ok. Just screw it to the bench or a piece that goes down to the dog hole and gets wedged under. But I would love to see a build on that.

[@PeteLewisWoodwork]

Nice marking gauge, I like it; in fact, I prefer it to the very expensive mortice gauge that I bought recently, made of compressed bamboo (which is an extremely stable alternative to wood, apparently, so I thought I'd give it a try and if it lasts as long as my now vintage CK Tools version that I bought over 40 years ago, then it will pass the test of time but I won't be around to see it). The reason why I like your gauge is because it can be used one-handed. I love one-handed tools, which is why I use so many old tools in my carpentry, such as a well maintained old Stanley block plane and so on. Hold something with one hand, plane it with the other - simple. People now sometimes ridicule me for that approach but, well...it works for me! Many woodworking operations, both carpentry and joinery, are difficult when tools require both hands because maybe you are holding something in place accurately with one hand and - well, it's either strap on another pair of arms or get help...which isn't always around. In fact, maybe a whole series of videos about one-handed...no, no, no, what am I thinking?

[@martynspeck]

Ideas for videos: How about building a jewelry box and/or a small dresser using these techniques? How far can you push this into larger pieces like cabinets and bookcases? In these videos I haven't seen you use plywood. Could you talk about plywood and hand tools? Can you plane plywood the same way? I suppose planing the face doesn't work since you're removing plys. If you build a dresser or a cabinet with plywood, do you need to joint it?

[@ianpearse4480]

Just made my first panel gauge, great fun. Thanks for the ideas. Marking gauge next I guess. Keep up the great work

[@jwydubak9673]

Regarding vise. In C.Schwarz's book the vises had their screws fixed within the benches and used nuts to tighten them up. Such screws sticking out of a bench seem inconvenient. Please investigate tapping the bench so the screws don't stick out of it. I imagine replacing pieces of bench with hard wood nuts may be required. I admit making a wooden vise isn't the simplest project as it requires a tap and a thread cutter. I haven't seen this sort of wedging in a marking gauge before. It's brilliant.

[@RexKrueger]

Thank you! I agree that the screws sticking out seems sub-optimal. I think I have a solution, though.

[@allenwc]

One of the first things I made! Beam is made from Hazelnut, body from Douglas Fir. Scraps :D Man, I like the dowel locking pin. I spent a fair bit of time using a metal tap and die set to cut threads on a hardwood dowel and into the Body :( However I did flat sharpen the nail so it has a knife edge with the flat side towards the body. that way it "cuts" the line, rather than scratches it. Love the video.

[@benjaminadair9548]

Rex how are you doing we got hit hard in with the big FREEZE of "21". I went after donuts and fired up the table saw found a piece of sapele , alder & a broken leaf rake and made 4 marking gauges while throwing the ball for my lab dog. Great quick build. Cutting guage next. Then the rabbit & router plane

[@strangerbetter637]

These woodworking for humans videos are amazing! Please keep up this series

[@gnarthdarkanen7464]

Love the videos, Rex! I don't know about jumping into something as ambitious (just yet) as a vice on this one... I might suggest as steps toward that general direction, you could start with some "hold down" solutions to do (more or less) away with getting out an F-clamp to clamp down your hand-screw clamp... and a few more clamps for steadying... and let's face it, we could stand to learn a few methods for building clamps in general... (other videos...maybe?) There IS a channel on YT, called "Pask Makes" from a guy in Australia, and he mainstays a series called "Scrapwood Challenge", where-in he's done a few different types and methods for building your own CLAMPS, bar clamps, F-clamp-extenders, and even a quick-acting vice build that was pretty interesting... You might do really well to pop over there and check a few of his videos (even just the titles to see what he's doing. It's worth pointing out at this point that some of his builds ALSO include some requisite metal-work knowledge, too. I don't know if you're going to push big on that (with the smithing videos it's understandable of course) or maybe just split out which builds or inspirations go to what series as you move forward... BUT some of the fans of "woodworking for humans" here might need some extra tid-bits and tips on the metal work stuff... Finally, yes, I would like to see a vice... eventually. It's a wonderful utility. I just think a full-on dive right this moment might be short-changing the series in a manner of progress or coherency. Great work as always, and I hope this helps! ;o)

[@scottsimpey2965]

Great project, yet very simple. I’m kind of surprised that there aren’t marking gauges on the market similar to that where you just need one hand to operate it.

[@RexKrueger]

I find that surprising, too. Once you have that feature, it makes other gauges seem clumsy.

[@imortaldeadead]

Tools are allllways better when we get to make them I’d love to see what sort of vise you could come up with that we can all build Thank you for sharing 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@steveconlon8936]

Not a fan of the vise idea, but if I assume that we're talking about a double-screw type, then it makes sense. Other than that, using these tools to build household things...table, chair, hangers, etc...would be a great direction. I think that as we make things that we need in our lives, the next tools might be found as well. Love the series.

[@DannyB-cs9vx]

Stackable storage boxes would get my vote. They can be used for tools, or materials and supplies. You need to take one to a project, grab it and go. Something with a partial open front so that you can get at things while they are stacked. Say they are 12" high, the front top 6" could be open. You could also have a partial top. They could be made in different heights with different sized front openings. They could be made with something like lath strips stapled and glued to triangular riser corners. ( the lath strips could be ripped from a 2x4). The strips could be spaced so that the strips on the top of one box fits into spaces between the strips on the box sitting above it. This would lock the boxes and make the bottoms stronger while they are stacked. The boxes could be made 24" wide, (minus the saw kerfs), so there would be little waste from cutting the laths from an 8' board. 32" would work as well but the strips would need to be thicker to span the further distance. . I could do a sketch up model if my idea is not clear.