While not quite tool pr0n, Woodpeckers’ red anodized tools machined from aircraft-grade aluminum billet are still very drool-worthy. One of their latest products, their dovetail marking gauges, are no exception.
When making hand-cut dovetails, a marking gauge is handy for laying out consistent pins and tails. Not only does it help you get the correct angle, but it helps you precisely transfer the markings from the face grain to the end grain and vice versa.
The gauges come in three different ratios: 1:6, 1:7, and 1:8. Traditionally you’d use a 1:6 dovetail when joining hardwood and a 1:8 for joining softwood — the 1:7 ratio is a compromise between the two.
Each of the gauges will run you $22. As these are one-time run tools, you need to order them before Jan 17th, 2011. Once they’ve compiled all the orders, Woodpeckers will manufacture them and ship them sometime around the middle of February.
It’s also interesting to note that, by popular demand, Woodpeckers has brought some of their other one-time run tools out of retirement. This includes their small T-squares and their 90º and 45º saddle squares. If you want to get your hands on theses tools, you need to order them before Jan 3rd, 2011.
Dovetail Marking Gauges [Woodpeckers]
One Time Run Tools [Woodpeckers]