My pencil gauge

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Escudo

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What ho fellas,

Here are two pictures of the pencil gauge I recently completed. Inspired by a Colen Clenton gauge that caught my eye at West Dean.

3740133769_054a7955b2.jpg


3740134859_e7bc2446c6.jpg


Thanks to Paul C, Paulm and Rob for guidance when we discussed this project at the show.

The gauge is made from Sonokeling, manufactured in four parts and then reassembled (This aids fitting the nut for the screw, and cutting the mortice for the bar).

I boulled (I think that is the phrase) a brass piece to act as a wearing strip. I hope in due course to improve the screw with a nice brass milled one.

This has been an enjoyable project, and very worthwhile.

Cheers, Tony.
 
Wow, looks great Tony, nice work.

Philly does some nice brass bits, might be worth checking to see if he has anything the right size.

Cheers, Paul :D
 
One of those useful tools that I have often thought I should make, but never seem to get around to.
A great example.
Well done!

What on earth is Sonokeling?
It sounds like some scandinavian fish dish.

How do you grip the pencil?

xy
 
Hey, that looks great, Tony 8) 8)

Yes, Philly does some nice brass-headed machine screws (M6 I think) - I always buy one or two from him towards the Help The Philly Fund :D

Cheers :wink:

Paul
 
Tony - very nice piece of work, clean, neat and precise...how is the pencil secured, or did I miss that? I ought to make something like that...puts my current one to shame (a converted and very cheap Marples thing :( ) Like Paul has said, a well turned Phillybolt would really finish it off - Rob
 
Thanks for all the kind comments.

I agree a Philly bolt would look good, I will find out the size of the screw and refer to Philly. A collaboration. :)

The timber for this was made from a turning blank of Sonokeling which is a member of the Rosewood family. Quite a dark wood with hints of red and brown very pleasant.

I had originally planned to hold the pencil with a screw in the end, in a similar fashion to the main screw. However, after drilling the hole at a slight angle I realised that the pencil fitted perfectly with just enough friction to wind into the hole and sit very firmly in place. This may ease overtime in which case I will add a screw or find a new pencil.

A very handy gauge to have round the shop, and fairly easy to make. This could easily be made from a few offcuts, the screw and nut were only a few pence and the optional brass piece £2.

Cheers, Tony.
 
I want Tony to draw me in this years Secret Santa....
 
That is a nice gauge Tony - i've got a list of stuff to do for the 'shop, and i've put one of those on it.

Cheers

Karl
 
Escudo":2dm1hanx said:
I had originally planned to hold the pencil with a screw in the end, in a similar fashion to the main screw. However, after drilling the hole at a slight angle I realised that the pencil fitted perfectly with just enough friction to wind into the hole and sit very firmly in place. This may ease overtime in which case I will add a screw or find a new pencil.


Cheers, Tony.
Tony - you may well find that the pencil does become loose in time. The way round it would be to use a fine saw (narrow kerf) and saw a line down the centre of the stem 'til it reaches the hole. A small brass wood screw is then inserted in an adjacent face and screwed at right angles to the saw cut thus effectively closing it up again and in doing so will grip the pencil far more tightly. If it's done carefully(and this job warrants it) all you'll see is the head of a small brass screw in the side of the stem...just a thought - Rob
 
Yes, thats a good idea Rob.

The pencil really is a perfect fit at the moment, not all pencils are the same diameter and I may be able to find another to fit as the hole wears a bit.

I like the clean simple approach at the moment, but can adapt this part if need be.

Karl, I hope you also have a go at making a gauge. Let me know if you need any tips advice. It really is easier than I thought.

Tony.
 
woodbloke":110bflx8 said:
Tony - you may well find that the pencil does become loose in time. The way round it would be to use a fine saw (narrow kerf) and saw a line down the centre of the stem 'til it reaches the hole. A small brass wood screw is then inserted in an adjacent face and screwed at right angles to the saw cut thus effectively closing it up again and in doing so will grip the pencil far more tightly. If it's done carefully(and this job warrants it) all you'll see is the head of a small brass screw in the side of the stem...

Quite right. And if you want to really cute about it, extend the saw cut beyond the pencil a little way, terminating in a small hole to prevent it propagating into a split. That way you get a better grip on the pencil with less strain on the stock.

I don't believe I've got one up on the hand tools guys.

I win, I win,
Na, na, na-na, naaaah!
:)
Very nice job, Tony, very nice.


S
 
Sonokeling - Dalbergia Latifolia. Sometimes called [East Indies rosewood]
Comes from the same tree species as Indian Rosewood but differs in that it comes from Java in Indonesia.
It's also more readily available and cheaper than Indian Rosewood and looks just as good.

John. B
 
Right. I've been inspired...I was out in the 'shop last night and after rummaging around in the off-cuts drawer under the bench, I've sorted out some rosewood and wenge to make a new pencil gauge. Mine won't use a screw thread but will have a wedge instead - Rob
 
Nice job Escudo. Would be ideal for use with a Framing mount-cutter, for marking the 'window'. I cheated. I bought a cheapie marking gauge, at a boot sale, took the point out and and drilled a hole to fit a pencil.

I also had some nice brass bits btw... , but I went outside on a very cold day! :)

:wink:

John
 

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