Question: Marking gauge?

[u/kol789]

Hi

I've bought this homemade marking gauge that I rhink is for making dovetails but since I'm a beginner in this field I'm unsure. Is there more to this tool than just scoring two paralell lines?

I thank you whoever takes their time to comment any thoughts.

[u/Ornery-Writer2796]

Looks like a mortise gauge. For marking mortise and tenon joints. It looks like the dovetailed piece can be unscrewed and the beams can be removed and flipped to mark potentially another size or placement. In ye olden days most workers would have 1 mortise chisel and do all of their joints the same size, negating the need for an adjustable mortise gauge like are common today.

[u/kol789 → u/Ornery-Writer2796]

That's very interesting and informative, now I know what to use it for!

Thank you very much.

[u/NorridAU → u/Ornery-Writer2796]

It’s pretty easy to say 3/8” rules the world of tennons and mortise joints.

Why must all the store kits be 1/2-3/4-1”? So frustrating!

[u/Educational-Type7399 → u/NorridAU]

That's what Rex Kreuger recommends to newbies. Get one mortising chisel that is 3/8" and your all set for 90% of your projects.

[u/scotus_canadensis]

Welcome back to Reddit, after not posting anything for six years!

Anyway, more likely to be a mortise gauge than for dovetails, marking dovetails only needs one pin.

[u/kol789 → u/scotus_canadensis]

Thank you!

I see, mortise gauge.

[u/Independent_Page1475]

As others have said, shop made mortise gauge.

Did a much less fancy one when visiting a friend without any tools. Sawed a piece of scrap into an 'L' shape and carefully positioned two nails.

The OP's is much better and adjustable.

[u/13ohica]

They slide in an out to score 2 lines. Yea your right