Woodworking Marking Gauge Kebiki Inspired

Thank you for clicking on this instructable. Please leave a comment if you have any questions and I will reply as soon as possible. This is a simple marking gauge for woodworking (Kebiki inspired - a japanese hand tool).

It is used to scribe lines to wood pieces. With a small wedge (key) the beam is locked into place and the same size can be traced to other wood pieces.

If you like there is a small video, if you want to see these steps in moving pictures.

For this project I used

Some hardwood scrap pieces
A brass nail
Super glue
Bandsaw or jigsaw
Drill with drillbit
Handplaner
A ruler
A sharp knife
A chisel
Sanding block and sanding papers

Step 1: Preparing the Pieces and the Beam

For this project I used left over floor boards from acacia wood. But any hardwood will do.

I start by removing the roundover so I have one flat/straight side.

I put the piece in a vice. If you dont have a vice then you can do a make shift vice with another piece of wood just clamped to the work table (like the one you can see in the pictures).

After one side is flat, I trace a line (the thickness of the beam). Then I cut the piece on the bandsaw (but handtools will do fine).

I put a piece of sandpaper on the table, so I can sand all four sides flat on the beam.

Step 2: Preparing the Wedge/key

I just free hand a wedge shape on the off-cut piece. I made mine "roundish". I have never seen that before, but It gives a nice two finger grip.

After I'm happy with the shape, I cut the piece on the bandsaw (you can use a jigsaw or scrollsaw ofcourse). And then some sanding.

The important part here is that the key and beam are the same thickness. Sand and correct if necessary.

Step 3: Making the Hole

When the beam and key is places together you can meassure how big the hole should be.

Meassure the narrowest part of the key and beam.

I trace the shape and size of the hole onto the other piece (that will be used as a block). I first meassure and use a pencil, then I cut with a sharp knife (to make a cleaner hole).

I make a hole for my jigsaw and cut the hole roughly to shape. I used a small file to make the final correction.

If you dont have a small file, just use some sanding paper wrapped around your beam-piece.

Step 4: The Marking Pin

I had a small brass nail that I filed sharp and flat.

To prevent the beam from splitting I predrilled a hole in one end of the beam. Just to be on the safe side I also used a mini-clamp.

I dipped in some super glue to hinder the nail from moving. You can also use a small screw or a piece of other metal that is thin and sharp.

I filed all the pieces and put a smal bevel, just to make it nicer to grip and handle.

Step 5: Final Assembly

I cut down the block to be a bit smaller and rounded the sides a bit. You can have it any size you like, as long as it register to the wood that you will be scribing to.

All the pieces should move effortless but not to be loose. If they are too woobly, you may need to shim it with another wood piece (If you watch my video you can see I add a small piece just to fix this).

If you need to sand down the wedge/key a bit, please do so. It should be easy to open and lock and the beam must not move when its in the locked position.

So be careful what you put on for finish. To much wax may rend the wedge frictionless and you will end up with a very silly rattle toy instead.

And you dont want to put on any finish that could rub off to your work pieces. I used furnish wax. It worked for me. Oil would absolutly work too.