Best Try Squares for Checking Small Joinery Components
A try square is one of the quickest ways to check whether a small joint...
Equipment
Best Combination Squares for Checking Stock and Setting Depths
A combination square earns its place at the bench when it does two jobs reliably:...
Best Sliding Bevels for Copying Angles from Existing Trim
A sliding bevel is a simple tool with one job: hold an angle so you...
Pencil Gauge vs Knife Gauge for Marking Rough and Finished Timber
A pencil gauge and a knife gauge both mark lines parallel to an edge, but...
Mortise Gauge vs Wheel Gauge for Repeated Tenon Marking
What each gauge marks A mortise gauge has two marking pins: one is usually fixed,...
Combination Square vs Sliding Bevel for Setting Out Roof Angles
What each tool does A combination square and a sliding bevel solve different setting-out problems....
Marking Gauge vs Cutting Gauge for Laying Out Joinery
A marking gauge and a cutting gauge both transfer a measured distance from an edge....
Try Square vs Combination Square for Checking Timber Edges
What you are checking A timber edge can look straight and still be out of...
Best Narrow Chisels for Hinge and Latch Recesses
What makes a chisel narrow enough? For hinge and latch recesses, “narrow” usually means a...
Best Chisels for Repairing Old Door Frames and Sashes
Repairing an old door frame or sash calls for control more than brute force. You...