Old timer told me to use a marking gauge instead of a pencil and I finally get why after 8 years

I spent the last 8 years just eyeballing my cuts with a pencil and now after marking out a dovetail drawer with a gauge at my shop in Portland last week I can't believe how much cleaner everything fits has anyone else had that moment where you ignore solid advice forever and then feel dumb when you try it?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_shane13d ago

Used to think gauge guys were just being precious about their tools. Then I built a set of kitchen cabinets and my pencil lines were off by like a 32nd on half the drawer fronts. Switched to a gauge for the next batch and everything just clicked together without me fighting it. Those old guys are annoying but they're not wrong.

king.dakota13d ago

So what brand of gauge did you end up going with, @the_shane? I've been looking at a few different ones but can't decide if the extra cost on a Starrett is actually worth it. Seems like a lot of guys either go all in on those or grab a Mitutoyo and call it good.