for many years i've had several (3) 1-2-3 blocks in my shop.  very handy for checking the zero of the fence, the zero of the miter gauges (with stops for repeated lengths, and also for use as a +1" stop block when cross cutting against the fence.  you can get these on eBay for about $18-20 for a pair.

 

i see recently that woodpeckers (think red) has their own version of this common item, calling it a plus 1" block, it's red of course, and they want $30 for one.

 

i think i'll stick with 1-2-3 blocks from eBay.

 

i also have some fractional blocks, 1/8", 1/4", 3/8", and 1/2" that are very useful for setting the fence with a stacked dado set, and also setting the blade height. don't recall where i got them.

I got a set from a local distributor (free) that's either going out of business, being sold, reducing some inventory, or something.  I'm just starting to use them and find them handy.  

Edited September 2, 20241 yr by kmealy

Some years ago I bought some square brass stock that was 36" long in 1/16, 1/8, 1/4, 3/8, 1/2, and 3/4" sizes. the 3/4" was only 12" long. But I cut some short 2" pieces from them, and with the longer ones some 12" pieces. I use all of them regularly. They probably are not NASA level precision, but they are dead on for woodworking. The longer pieces are useful for setting fences on the saw and the RT when you have to span a cutout, like for a buried dado blade or router bit.

I've been 3d printing several sets. Mostly metric sets.

Accomplishing 2 things at once---learning to 3d print using several different slicers & making something useful for the shop.

 

They are relatively accurate. Good enough for the projects that I am "tasked" to do. 

I use them all the time.  Made a bunch of foot longers out of MDF after I got my table saw aligned properly.

I've got a set of brass bars.  1/16" to 1/2" in 1/16" steps.  While I don't use them much since I bought a CNC, they do come in hand at my router table and occasionally at my table saw.  I believe I picked them up at a local hardware store. 

 

Thanks Dan. I believe Taytools is the only reseller of the hardware kits alone or you can purchase a bundle with (2) 1,2,3 blocks and the hardware at a very reasonable price.

I just used my 1-2-3 blocks (generic) to set my planer rollers vs the cutter head.  Spec on that machine is 0.30" below the head for rollers, chip breaker, and pressure bar, though I will typically set the pressure bar just a few thousands higher.  The last time I did this I still had the original cutter head in the machine, I never made a correction for the Byrd head I later put in - mostly it hadn't mattered much for rough work, but lately I've been planing thin stock for making inlay bands and I wanted to try going below 3/16" thickness so figured a tune up was the first order of business. 

 

One thing I've found is that I can't get replacement springs for the rollers, at least not without trial and error on spec'ing springs that cost around $20 each.  I think that vendor is discouraging small purchases   My usual source for such things doesn't carry one that is short enough in the size I need.

 

Those fractional blocks do look useful.  Might consider a set of those.