Keyway keys as precision gauges

[Dan Mitchell]

This seems like an interesting idea: http://www.finewoodworking.com/SkillsAndTechniques/SkillsAndTechniquesArticle.aspx?id=32939

[Rob Young]

This seems like an interesting idea: http://www.finewoodworking.com/SkillsAndTechniques/SkillsAndTechniquesArticle.aspx?id=32939

Works fine. However, it is somewhat frowned upon to use steel setup blocks around carbide tipped cutters. That is why you can get brass setup blocks.

That said, I made my own setup blocks from pieces of brass stock you can find at the hardware and hobby shop for much less than the $30-ish it costs to buy a small set.

To fill in between sizes I also use the shank from twist drills as sizing gauges. They are round so you can't check some things quite as easily but they work great for setting bit and blade heights. Just don't forget them and turn on the TS or router with the steel drill bit next to the cutter... :eek:

[glenn bradley]

I have 3 sets of bars and a couple 1, 2, 3 blocks in different locations. Indispensable at the RT and the DP as far as I'm concerned.

[Mike Cutler]

Being in the instrumentation, measurement and test field. I wouldn't define them as "precision".
However, they work just fine and are more than accurate enough for woodworking. I have many of them in the shop.;)

[Brian Kent]

Where would I find these?

Just found them at Rockler and other places by changing search terms to brass set up blocks. $17 for brass.

[Dave Wagner]

Various online sources carry them. "Brass Setup Blocks or Bars"

http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=16399&filter=brass%20setup

http://www.hartvilletool.com/product/11676

[Steve Clardy]

I got the brass set from hartville a few years back.

[harry strasil]

I have the short and long brass sets as well as 12 inch long keystock from my blacksmith shop, I use 12 inch keystock for my box joint jigs. I saw one at the WWing show, but it won't work for my setup, so I made my own.

[Steve Mellott]

Ace Hardware sells the steel keyway keys. I just bought 6 different sizes for about $9.

Steve

[Rick Whitehead]

Another thing that works well as set-up gauges are tool bits. Made for metal lathes, they are precision ground to size. They come in fractional sizes from 1/8"to at least 3/4". They are inexpensive; you can get the smaller sizes for less than a dollar each for the imported ones. They are available from metal-working supply places like Enco and MSC.
Rick W

[Bruce Page]

Nothing new, I've been using very accurate high-speed lathe tool bits to accomplish the same thing for years. They work particularly well for dados. I also have a set of adjustable parallels that allows me to set them to any width I need – up to about 2½” :)