Rockler has come out with a new 3-in-1 bar gauge (53052) that should make it easier to transfer measurements, square up drawers and boxes, and draw large circles or arcs.
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It comes with three different sets of tips and attachments – a pair of angled corner tips, flat-sided tips, and compass and trammel point tips.
The bar gauge kit doesn’t actually come with any shafting. You will have to provide your own 3/8″ hardwood dowels or steel shafts.
Bar gauges can be more useful than tape measures and rulers for layout tasks where relative dimensions are more important than actual values. For example, you would use a bar gauge to ensure diagonal corners of a box or drawer are equidistant apart.
Bar gauges allow you to transfer measurements directly, without having to take measurements. This can make layout tasks easier, but it also avoids a potential source of error.
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With woodworking projects, there are going to be a lot of times when you don’t have nice or pretty measurements. Instead of an even 12″, the opening width of a drawer or cabinet might be 11.962″. It’s easier to transfer these measurements using a bar gauge than with woodworking layout tools ordinarily marked with 1/16″ or 1/32″ graduations at the finest.
Bar gauges are also useful for sizing up the sides of a cabinet. For this you would use the flat-sided tips.
Attach the compass and trammel point, and you have a beam compass that can draw large arcs or circles.
Rockler’s 3-in-1 bar gauge kit comes with the three sets of tips, two aluminum body sections, two hex wrenches for assembly and adjustment, and instructions.
Price: $30 (wood or metal shafts are required, but not included)
Buy Now(via Rockler)
First Thoughts
I find myself feeling a little wishy-washy about the new Rockler bar gauge. On one hand, having to supply your own 3/8″ rods means you can make the bar gauge as big or small as you need. But on the other hand, you still have to source your own rods.
It seems that Rockler designed the bar gauge to be most effectively used with wood dowels. If you want to use different sized 3/8″ steel shafts, then the complete-it-yourself aspect becomes more involved.
If you plan on using steel shafting, the Veritas bar gauge is a great alternative. It is more expensive ($65), but not by much once you consider how much it would cost to equip the Rockler bar gauge kit with 3 pairs of non-extendable steel shafts. The Veritas bar gauge is also going to be more durable, with threaded brass tips, but it doesn’t come with compass and trammel points.
When built with wood dowels, the Rockler bar gauge looks to be a cost-effective and versatile setup.
Ktash
Thanks for reviewing this.
Does anyone know whether the wood dowels are any less accurate than metal would be? I’ve been wanting something like this for quite a while, since I saw the woodpecker one-time tool, way out of my price range. As much as I love the beauty and craftsmanship of the Veritas version, and think it’s good quality at a reasonable price, it’s still a bit steep for me.
Stuart
This was a first-look, not a review. I haven’t seen these in person yet.
Wood dowels are typically straight, but I don’t think they’ll hold their straightness over time.
Wood shafts and plastic tips should work well, but steel shafts and brass tips will last longer. I own a set of the Veritas gauge, and would buy it again in a heartbeat. Like you I pined for the Woodpeckers set, but it was priced out of reach. $90 for just 24-inch range, vs. $65 for the Veritas setup that comes with multiple connectable shafts.
fred
Hardwood dowels should be fine for almost any woodworking task that you throw at these. I am reminded that you are using these not so much as precision measuring tools but as marking / measuring gauges. When measuring across diagonals of a box you are building – you are probably less interested in the exact measurement as you are I that the diagonals match. When measuring the opening of a bookcase etc. – you want to know that the measurement is the same front to back. When setting the gauge up as a trammel point compass – for a lazy-susan table (as an example) – you will likely use a rule to set the distance between the points.
I too have a Veritas 05N30.01 beam compass set – but I also use 4 bar gauges that I made from maple stock and 4 sets of Veritas 05N31.01 bar gauge heads. They are nice – but creating the maple bars took a lot more effort than selecting, buying and cutting a few hardwood dowels. When I need more precision I use the Veritas beam compass or a Starrett trammel point set (#59A) that I have – since these offer fine adjustment screws.
Stuart
You make a good point.
I have one, maybe two rosewood tools, and a bamboo tool or two, and they’re great.
It’s not just the straightness or stability of the steel, but the greater ease of use and durability of the threaded tips, and how shaft extensions could be threaded on with ease.
Ktash
I was looking at the veritas website and found the bar gauge heads you mention for $15. I’m tempted to try those first and make some nice wood gauges for them. I can make a variety of lengths. The gauges look well made. http://www.leevalley.com/US/wood/page.aspx?p=32585&cat=1,43513,43553 Making the gauges will take some effort compared to cutting some dowels, you are right, though.
fred
I started with 5/4 (15/16 actual thickness) maple that I had on hand – so the construction started with running it through the planer – and then ripping it into strips
Ktash
Thanks, Fred. Always good to have the details.
Ktash
Also, there is no way to add this to your cart, the buy now button seems to be missing.
Stuart
Maybe check back later in the week? It was just announced and might not be available for purchase just yet, despite the listing.
Bradley Hanstad
I would not pay for this, mainly because I could 3D print something even better.
-Brad