Equipment

Choose by length, accuracy and conditions A chalk line and a pencil with a straightedge can both mark a long […]

A folding rule can measure an inside opening without bending a tape into a corner, but the reading needs a

A tenon shoulder is the line where the tenon cheeks meet the surrounding wood. Marking it across all four sides

A pocket square is useful for checking whether a small box, drawer, frame, or cabinet component is actually square—not just

Marking a finished board is different from marking bare timber. A knife can score the coating instead of the wood,

What you are measuring A recess is a pocket or opening set back from a face. A setback is the

What a bevel gauge does A bevel gauge, also called a sliding bevel, transfers an angle without telling you its

A wheel marking gauge replaces the sliding stem and pin of a traditional gauge with a cutter that rolls along

A combination square is only useful for checking a right angle if its blade sits square to the stock. You

A sliding bevel is a simple tool, but it earns its place when a stair or handrail angle must be