Equipment

A try square is one of the quickest ways to check whether a small joint is actually square. It is […]

A combination square earns its place at the bench when it does two jobs reliably: checks whether an edge is

A sliding bevel is a simple tool with one job: hold an angle so you can transfer it to another

A pencil gauge and a knife gauge both mark lines parallel to an edge, but they leave different marks. A

What each gauge marks A mortise gauge has two marking pins: one is usually fixed, and the other moves to

What each tool does A combination square and a sliding bevel solve different setting-out problems. A combination square has a

A marking gauge and a cutting gauge both transfer a measured distance from an edge. The difference is at the

What you are checking A timber edge can look straight and still be out of square to the face. That

What makes a chisel narrow enough? For hinge and latch recesses, “narrow” usually means a blade about 6–12 mm (¼–½

Repairing an old door frame or sash calls for control more than brute force. You may need to pare out