I've used the traditional European gauge with a point, or pin which are worse than useless, especially across the grain, where a cutting gauge works far better. I've use the more modern wheel type things...but how the hell do you know where the line is supposed to start or finish?
Not surprisingly, they rapidly got kicked into touch, but it was only by the merest chance that I happened to see that Classic Hand Tools were selling a rather inexpensive Japanese gauge which my daughter bought me for Christmas a few years ago...
...and what a revelation!
The long stock, coupled with proper knife which has around 10deg of 'toe in' meant that it was virtually impossible not to produce a decent gauge line, first time, every time. Any cabinet 'shop will always need more than one gauge so I decided to make a couple of replicas. Japanese White Oak wasn't available of course, so I had to 'slum' it with the English variety...but if it was good enough for the Royal Navy for the better part of the 17th and 18th century, I'm sure that the honourable Japanese wouldn't object too strongly.
My replicas were surprisingly easy to make, and although the metal work is perhaps a little 'agricultural' they do work exactly the same as the original, seen on the left in the pic. For a few hours work, I now have a couple of really accurate gauges that are every bit as good as the originals.
