Lee Valley Wheel Marking Gauge

WmZiggy · Post by **WmZiggy** » Sun Dec 08, 2013 5:49 pm

November 21st:
I thought some of you who don't get Lee Valley tool special emails might be interested in the Digital Marking Gauge they have placed on sale for $29.50.

http://www.leevalley.com/US/wood/page.a ... 36&p=71310

December 8th
Ok, returned from 10-day trip to Michigan to be with our son and daughter-in-law for Thanksgiving and waiting at my front door was the miter gauge I ordered from Lee Valley in November. When I posted the above, some questioned the quality, maybe even the need for a digital marking gauge. I can't speak to your needs, but I can tell you I am pleased with the quality.

I am impressed by the heft of the gauge, which they advertize as "Wheel Marking+Height Gauge+Depth Gauge 3-in-1". It weighs over a half pound (9 ozs). It is solid and comes with a micro-Phillips head screw driver to set any of the set screws along with three batteries.

The fence is 3/16" thick stainless steel, and the beam 1/4" thick with black facing and easy to read mm/in scribed on the surface. The digital housing is heavy plastic with large readout numbers in mm/inch-fractions/and decimal. The back of the digital house has a fraction/decimal chart inscribed on it. It can measure up to 6" with an accuracy of .001" over 6" and a repeatability of .0005". It is humidity and dust resistant. It has a hardened alloy marking wheel which can be removed and sharpened.

Bottom line: I'm very happy with its quality, heft, and features. A good buy at $29.95.

benush26 · Post by **benush26** » Sun Dec 08, 2013 6:56 pm

WmZiggy wrote:. It has a hardened alloy marking wheel which can be removed and sharpened.

Is there anything in the documentation regarding a source for wheel replacement?
Thanks.

Be well,

Ben

WmZiggy · Post by **WmZiggy** » Sun Dec 08, 2013 8:16 pm

Check out http://WWW.iGAGING.com They are the distributor. I would think you can get them from Lee Valley too.

Ed in Tampa · Post by **Ed in Tampa** » Sun Dec 08, 2013 8:27 pm

How is adjusting it. I would think without very steady hands you would tend to bounce between thousandths.

WmZiggy · Post by **WmZiggy** » Sun Dec 08, 2013 8:38 pm

In fraction readout easy, which for woodworking is all one really needs. In decimal readout not bad - hit .250 without fuss.

keakap · Post by **keakap** » Mon Dec 16, 2013 5:36 pm

benush26 wrote:Is there anything in the documentation regarding a source for wheel replacement?
...Ben

I don't know if Igaging offers spares, but Bridge City does for their tools and I believe they are same size (I can check if needed).
And if you get from BC, just get one- it'll last a lifetime.

keakap · Post by **keakap** » Mon Dec 16, 2013 5:45 pm

WmZiggy wrote:...and the beam 1/4" thick with black facing and easy to read mm/in scribed on the surface. ....

This is going to sound weird, I'm afraid, but anaway-- those easy to read markings, in & mm, on the beam, what are they for?

I went ahead and got the tool, and do like it very much btw, but when I was checking the 'zero' reading I noticed the digital display reads the distance from the face (fence) to the edge of the disc, which of course is perfectly natural. But at that point the measurements on the beam read about 3/32 different, using the edge of the housing. I dunno, I guess I'm missing something, but those beam figures seem almost useless. No big thing since the real porpoise of the tool is the digital readout.

Just wonderin'.

keakap · Post by **keakap** » Mon Dec 16, 2013 5:52 pm

Ed in Tampa wrote:How is adjusting it. I would think without very steady hands you would tend to bounce between thousandths.

So right! This is definitely not a "morning after" tool.
But it's not too awful bad- just gotta take it slow. On the good side, once the adjustment is locked in it holds for scribing very well.

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Mon Dec 16, 2013 5:52 pm

keakap wrote:This is going to sound weird, I'm afraid, but anaway-- those easy to read markings, in & mm, on the beam, what are they for?

I went ahead and got the tool, and do like it very much btw, but when I was checking the 'zero' reading I noticed the digital display reads the distance from the face (fence) to the edge of the disc, which of course is perfectly natural. But at that point the measurements on the beam read about 3/32 different, using the edge of the housing. I dunno, I guess I'm missing something, but those beam figures seem almost useless. No big thing since the real porpoise of the tool is the digital readout.

Just wonderin'.

I had not noticed but even in the picture posted in the thread, the dial indicator does not agree with the beam markings. I see a difference of about 1/16".

I checked my digital calipers after reading this the first time. The beam markings there equal the digital display.

WmZiggy · Post by **WmZiggy** » Tue Dec 17, 2013 1:12 pm

Sorry all, my wife wrapped all my tool presents up and put them under the tree. It will have to wait until after the 25th.