Prick punches are sharper versions of center punches. Center punches accurately start a drill bit hole without it wandering away from the center. They can also be used with wood or plastics. Due to its flat design, it can more precisely mark against a ruler or square.Ĭenter Punch – Good | Better | Best – A center punch creates a dimple in metal. A marking knife is a knife designed for scribing lines. Use a thin knife blade to scribe a line for ultimate precision. Marking Knife – Good | Better | Best – When accuracy counts, a pencil line is too thick. Fine point markers are most useful for making permanent notes on your project or labeling objects around the shop. Fine point markers are thicker than ultra-fine point markers. The ultra-fine point is about the thickness of a ballpoint pen line and is used when accuracy counts. Ultra Fine Point Marker – Good | Better | Best – Markers, also known as Sharpies, has many uses from writing labels on paint cans and boxes, to drawing on tile, glass, metal, or rough lumber. You’ll see variations on our “mandatory” woodworking measuring tools and marking tools as well as some new tools to increase your ability to make much more precise measurements. Marking tools, including center punches, Sharpies, mechanical pencils, and a compass Nice to Have Woodworking Marking and Measuring ToolsĪdding in these tools brings you to a place where you have more options, flexibility, and capabilities in your project work. It is also a perfect companion to set the angle on a sliding T-bevel. Protractor – Good | Better | Best – Protractors find and draw angles. Digital models don’t require a protractor. The sliding T-bevel is excellent for transferring those angles to other tools like the blade of your table saw. Sliding T-Bevel – Good | Better | Best – Most often used in combination with a protractor, a sliding T-bevel lets you mark angles. Therefore I keep it in my shop apron so I have it on me at all times while working. The 6″ model is the one I reach for most often. If you can only afford one, get the 12″ combination square. The 4 piece sets include a center finding attachment for round stock and a protractor head. It is also a depth gauge and a router bit height gauge and marks lines down the length of a board. It is a tri-square measuring both 90 and 45 degrees. Check out our article on tape measure tips and tricks.ġ2″ Combination Square – Good | Better | Best – The combination square is one of the most useful woodworking measuring tools ever made. This facilitates better repeatability when laying out multiple parts of the same size. You can mark various parts of your project right on the tape. A story pole tape measure has a blank area you can write on with a pencil. Many of the best tape measures come in metric, imperial (fractions), or a combination of both on the same tool. Most woodworkers prefer tape measures but some prefer folding rules to do the majority of their measuring. Tape Measure – Good | Better | Best – This one is kind of obvious. Scratch Awl – Good | Better | Best – An awl is a woodworker’s best friend due to its many useful functions such as starting screws, accurately starting a hole for drilling, and scribing lines. 0.5mm mechanical pencils only work on very smooth wood or paper without breaking.
0.9mm lead works well on rough lumber because the added thickness prevents the lead from breaking. At the same time, it is not so thin it keeps breaking. The lead in 0.7mm mechanical pencils is thin enough to give you useful lines. Miss out on any of these and you cost yourself time-possibly even money.Ġ.5-0.9mm Mechanical Pencil or Wooden Pencil – Good | Better | Best – Mechanical pencils are great because they always create a sharp, crisp line. The following woodworking marking tools and measuring tools represent the foundational tools every woodworker needs to have in their possession. I keep most of my measuring and marking tools in easy reach hanging from the side of the air purifier I made Must-Have Woodworking Marking and Measuring Tools