Make a Dovetail Marking Gauge With Hand Tools

Let me describe how I made this gorgeous Dovetail Marking Gauge, using just hand tools.

If you want to make one, you'll need the following materials and tools:

Materials

• Hardwood (I used African Blackwood and African Padauk)
• Wood Glue (I used Titebond III, but anything that sticks wood is fine)

Tools

• Workbench of some sort with planing stop and vice
• Bench hook
• Shooting board
• Hand plane
• Cutting Gauge
• Try Square
• Bevel Gauge
• Rule
• 3/16" Chisel (or smaller) or a small router plane
• Pencil

If you prefer a video, then I have one here:

https://youtu.be/1PkYvJIcTAg

I chose 3/16" for my finish dimension, so ripped my wood a little over this thickness to begin with, then planed it true at 3/16"

The fence is the part which sits on the end grain when marking dovetails, and it should have both ends square to it's length. Mark to length ( 1-1/2" is good), and saw.

The blade is the part that hangs against the long grain when marking dovetails, and it should have ends that are sloped at the required dovetail angle(s). I chose to make mine 1:6 on one end, and 1:8 on the other. Set out the slope using the rule and pencil, then copy with the bevel gauge. Now use the bevel gauge to mark the blade ends, before sawing to length.

Make an auxillary-fence for the shooting board that gives the dovetail angles you desire. For me, that was one end with 1:6, and the other with 1:8.

Then shoot the ends of the blade nice and clean.

Measure the width of the fence, minus the thickness of the blade. From that, mark a groove for the blade down the centre of the fence using a cutting gauge.

Now using either a chisel, or a small router plane, cut the groove. Use the cutting gauge to deepen the side cuts as you go.

A depth of about 1/16 should be fine.

Check that the blade fits snugly.

Apply glue to the groove, and insert the fence. If your chosen wood is oily, then first wipe off with mineral spirits or similar to aid adhesion.

Check that the blade is exactly perpendicular to the fence, using the try-square.

Once the glue has fully cured, saw the fence off at the angle of the blade, and then go back to the shooting board and shoot this clean.

Now you can put a little bevel on all the non-critical edges to remove the sharpness, before giving the gauge a coat of furniture wax.

Cherish, and use regularly!

Thanks for viewing my instructable.

I've entered it into the 'Hand Tool Only' contest, so if you liked it then please think of voting for it.

If you want to see it on YouTube:

https://youtu.be/1PkYvJIcTAg