JessEm WOOD SABRE MARKING GAUGE (08801)

I have Veritas dual wheel marking gauge for marking mortices and needed additional one - long with micro adjuster for more generic usage. I was considering only those made in USA or Canada (I do not want to buy products coming from the East frequently with stolen ideas and technologies). My options were:1). Tite-Mark by Glen-Drake Toolworks, also sold by Lie-Nielsen. $139.002). Veritas Micro-Adjust Wheel Marking Gauge sold by Lee Valley $58.503). Jessem Wood Sabre $105.00The first two are very nice products but I decided on Jessem and do not regret because:- Does not require a secondary measuring tool (calipers) to setup the depth. It is very quick to setup depth with an astonishing precision of 1/256" using graduated micro adjuster. I checked it with my digital calipers and it was dead on.- Does not roll off the workbench.- Has a wider reference surface against the work piece.- Heavy and comfortable in the hand.- Long rod allowing a bigger range of markings.- The tightening screw firmly holds the rod and does not allow the rod to slip during marking the line.- Quality materials and workmanship and came perfectly adjusted from the factory.- It is reasonably priced for high quality product made in North America considering a number of parts used and factory calibration of the micro adjuster.

Pros:Extremely accurate. Well machined etc.Innovative design allows for quick and precise marking.Cons:Too big and unwieldy. It is much bigger and heavier than a conventional marking gauge. I would prefer a gauge that is 30% smaller. It is closer to a panel gauge in size.

This has become my go-to marking gauge and it's finding more uses than I initially imagined. For example, I need to scribe a line from a 3/32" from an inside line. Rather than measure from the board edge to the line then figure out the offset from the edge to get the desired 3/32" offset from the inside line, I align the blade to the inside line and use the caliper dial to offset it 3/32". Easy peasy. Sometimes, I've also used this as an impromptu depth gauge or since there's a scale, to take quick measurements from an edge to an inside feature, shhh, don't tell the Jessem folks.What sets this unit head and shoulders above the other marking gauges is the ability to dial in the desired position from zero to six inches and almost anything in between. There's detentes every half-inch and the micrometer unit can be used to adjust to locations in between. Solidly built and very well made. Can be manually re-calibrated (for zero) if you ever feel you need to tweak it. My only beef was that the unit had some sticky residue on the reference face, maybe something left over from the machining. Not enough to take off a star as it cleaned up easily with isopropyl alcohol (the Jessem tool gauge I bought also had the same sticky residue).

but hard to figure out how to use properNot a knock on JesselIt’s just the operator

This tool is so well made and such an incredible addition to my woodshop! Yes it is a bit in the spendy side, but the precision this tool delivers is second to none! If you need precision, you NEED this tool. You will not be disappointed at all!!

This is the best wheel-style marking gauge I have ever used. I have been looking at the Wood Sabre for a while and have hesitated buying it because the cost was so high compared to other wheel marking gauges. I decided to go ahead and get it after misplacing my cheap Woodriver and haven't looked back since. This makes marking dovetails a breeze and you can be absolutely sure of this instrument's accuracy. It is well made and the fit and finish is phenomenal. The half inch detents have a satisfying "click" and the screw adjustment can be fine tuned to 1/256". I'm not sure I'll really need this level of accuracy but it's nice to know that it's there if I can get my woodworking skills there. The cutter is replaceable like most other marking gauges of this type and can be purchased from Jessem directly. I'm not sure if other brand's cutters will fit this one but I imagine not. The only real drawback is that the shear size and weight of it may take some practice to get used to and it can make your apron pockets sag. That being said, this marking gauge is a dream to use. Now, if they made a dual marking gauge I'd be getting that one too.

As with Everything that rolls through the shipping center of JessEms factory and then on out & into the world, this is top quality and rich with innovative features. However, there in lies MY issue. For me, when I pick up a marketing gauge, I want it to mark nice, Deep, CLEAR Lines, & NO MORE. This tool has a heft to it you learn to appreciate with hand tools, as well as a look that can only be described as beautiful. Yet, I find myself reaching past these to a cheap brass marking gauge that does nothing but mark nice deep straight lines. Love the quality, just not a fan of over complicating tools that were intended to be simple

Love this marking gauge. Yes, it’s expensive. But it is amazing. Great precision. Useful for depth setting. Plenty of uses.