A while back, on a Walk-about...picked this old cutting gauge..

Got to checking it out...thumbscrew did not want to tighten down on the arm...Threads were basically stripped out...

 

The area where the knife blade is held in place with a wedge...Had split the end of the arm in two places...

The sliding part, called the head, does NOT slide all the wat back..stops about 1/2 way there...and binds up.    There is also a crack in it..

 

Plan is to replace the arm..and the worn out thumbscrew....Try to glue the cracked head back together.  Will then try a brass threaded insert, and a new thumbscrew....

Main question would be how long to make the new arm?    thinking maybe 12"...so I can reach the middle of most panels I make...

This might take a few days....

 

Stay tuned...

Wondering what the wood is? Maple? Beech?

Have no idea...it was too dried out to tell....as in OLD wood....drier than a Popcorn Phart....

 

Thumbscrew was so worn down, it no longer reached down to the arm....

 

Arm was so worn down from use in the first 2-3", it was round, as one corner was worn away...

 

Cutter is a rusty, krusty mess....looks almost like an Xacto blade was used.

 

I did get the head off, last night...after it had split into 2 halves.....been cleaned up a bit and glued back together

 

Brass insert, and the new thumbscrew are now in the shop....will see how that goes, later. 

 

Stay tuned

Looking forward to seeing this! The one I have is only about 6". I have one with a "pin" cutter but it is even smaller.

Old parts..

Will be keeping that wedge..about all...thumbscrew was also too short....will need to make a new cutter...

 

Head split,got it fix last night..

So, this morning installed a brass insert..

Then tested out the new thumbscrew..

To make sure it doesn't bottom out...

 

12" long scrap of Ash of squared up, and test for fit..

To make sure there was no binding going on... Next?

 

Xacto provided a new cutter..

After a bit of grinding, here and there...Fairly close?

 

Needed to chop a through mortise...one wall is flat, to house the cutter, the opposite wall needed to be at an angle, to match the wedge..

Not too bad?

Assembled the NEW & IMPROVED  Cutting Gauge..

May just give it a shot of spray finish,,then rub it down...

Not too hateful?

Cool. A mid March mini, quick project.

Sweet!!