A mystery tool

[Jonny DukeParticipant @jonnyduke11118]

[Jonny DukeParticipant @jonnyduke11118]

The photos show a tool that belonged to a good friend who has passed away. I wonder if anyone can tell me anything about its purpose?

To me it looks like it might be for scribing marks at a set depth inside a cylindrical hole. The end with the screwed on insert is fairly sharp. It seems to be intended that the length between the sharp end and the "base" can be adjusted finely, as the screw barrel is differentially threaded.

I can see that it could be useful in marking out where ports are to be cut in 2 stroke engine cylinder barrels. Perhaps the steam engineers have a similar use. I wonder if it was home made, or perhaps bought (it came in a nice mahogany box that is lined with snooker table cloth).

All help will be much appreciated,

Jon

[Ian ParkinParticipant @ianparkin39383]

Its a woodworking marking gauge

 

Ian

 

http://www.rutlands.co.uk/sp+woodworking-whats-hot-special-offers-woodworking-special-offers-solid-brass-wheel-marking-gauge-dakota+dkx21

Edited By Ian Parkin on 18/05/2015 15:25:17

[Clive HartlandParticipant @clivehartland94829]

Its used for scoring lines on joints cut with a chisel, it cuts quite deeply and stops the wood chipping as the chisel breaks through. Useful on box joints and when rabbeting as you score a line and it stops the blade ripping the edge of the groove away.

Clive

[LambtonParticipant @lambton]

Available from Axminster Tool Centre £24.35 if anyone wants one like it.

[Norfolk BoyParticipant @norfolkboy]

Jon,

The design looks much nearer the original design of the TITE MARK guage by Glen Drake (Lie Nielsen)which currently retail at £99.00 The Axminster is a servicable but inferior product. The Titemark is a stainless rod and well thought out locking sliding nylon grub screws wheras the Axminster is a chromed rod with locking screw that mark the chrome and so form a register unless the screw is swapped out for nylon. There is less backlash and finer thread on the adjuster and less mass, the Axminster having an unnecessary ogee instead of a single radius.

I have both, having learned cheap is not always best.

Regards Alan

[Brian OldfordParticipant @brianoldford70365]

Without wishing to take the discussion too far off topic I think it must be said that whilst many of us aspire to own a chest full of Lie Nielsen tools we simply do not have deep enough pockets and have to make do with the less expensive yet serviceable items.

[Norfolk BoyParticipant @norfolkboy]

I was really trying to make sure that Jon who is selling things for his friends estate was potentially aware of the possible value and not misled by close copies.

Just trying to help, Alan

[ianjParticipant @ians]

by coincidence I built one of these marking/scribing gauges last year, an interesting and useful little project. First photo is mine. second is a tite bond and third is a veritas example. Ian

Ian

[“Bill Hancox”Participant @billhancox]

And behold the enhanced version.

**LINK**

Bill

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Can't see whats wrong with a couple of drywall screws myself

[Clive HartlandParticipant @clivehartland94829]

Possibly a good project for a novice engineer who is interested in metal and wood. Some brass turning and steel with a small hardening project added for the cutter and the end result a worthwhile tool.

Clive

[Jonny DukeParticipant @jonnyduke11118]

Thanks very much everyone for your helpful replies.

I now know what the tool is for! I suppose I should have considered woodworking. I was maybe thrown off that trail because my friend only rarely engaged in woodworking. The stem on this tool is in stainless.

Thinking of woodworking marking out gauges, my father had a rather nice conventional pin-type gauge in which the pin was fashioned as a small blade so that it cut the wood. This gave better marking out results than the common or garden pointed type of gauge. I think it was made by Chesterman.

Kind regards to all,

Jon

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