Looking for a tool :Thickness Blocks?

[Mark Lincoln]

So, I have been watching videos and reading posts. Learning lots of new things to help me improve techniques. Sometimes I see things that I like the idea of, but am not ready to get. After fiddling in the shop I say, hey that little gadget would be nifty. And boom, I can't recall the exact name and or find one.

Today's Mystery Item. Thickness Blocks. That's my name for them. They look like Small metal rectangles (say half a business card). a set of varying thickness.

I have seen them used as spacing gauges for all sorts of applications.

Anyone know what the bloody daylights I am talking about?

and naturally if so any recommendations?

[Lee Ludden]

I think you are looking for setup blocks (http://www.amazon.com/PIECE-BRASS-SET-UP-GAUGE-BLOCKS/dp/B0012JGAC0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1270053335&sr=1-1). Machinists use them. I use these (http://www.amazon.com/Kreg-PRS3400-Precision-Router-Table/dp/B002YIG58W)(pictured below) which allow for pretty easy alignment for height and depth. I picked them up on sale at woodcraft a few months back.


http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51fcH5IEFcL._SL500_AA300_.jpg

[Jim Rimmer]

I've looked at the ones Lee suggests and also these
http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=16399&filter=setup%20blocks

Haven't bought any yet (got to let the credit card cool off a bit) but will be buying soon.

http://images.rockler.com/rockler/images/36918-01-200.jpg

[Kevin Groenke]

Sounds like gauge blocks or parallels to me.

More from the machinists realm, but useful in many ways ww'ing as well.

Parallels are used to elevate parts evenly in a vise on a milling machine among other things.

Another handy tool from the machinist's world is the 1-2-3 block.


http://www.ptb.de/en/wegweiser/industriekunden/normale/parallelendmass.jpg

http://www.arceurotrade.co.uk/imagecache/d6385bfd-7d90-4ca5-b3db-9b4a00b57d05_450x293v3.jpg

http://www.iicttraining.com/images/originals/1-2-3%20blocks.jpg

[Robert Parrish]

I have the ones from Rockler and use them almost every day, mainly on my bandsaw.

[Mark Lincoln]

Yes the Brass Machinist Setup Bars are what I was trying to think of. Thanks for the heads up.

[Kent A Bathurst]

I've looked at the ones Lee suggests and also these
http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=16399&filter=setup%20blocks

Haven't bought any yet (got to let the credit card cool off a bit) but will be buying soon.

http://images.rockler.com/rockler/images/36918-01-200.jpg


I got 2 sets when they were on sale a while back. Like 'em. "Your fingers can feel what your eye can't see" - they are also great for checking depths of dadoes, etc.

[Myk Rian]

Yes the Brass Machinist Setup Bars are what I was trying to think of. Thanks for the heads up.
Buy a 6" set and you can cut them in half for 2 sets. You can also use key stock in a pinch, available at hardware stores, but they are steel. Don't want them to nick your blades.

[Neil Brooks]

I think _gauge blocks_ tend to be cheaper.

eBay has them. Lots of places have them.

Nearly anything that can be bought as a generic "tool" can be found cheaper than if it's bought _as_ a "specialty woodworking" tool.

The same is true in many arenas -- eg, bicycling. Bike grease is ... wait for it ... re-packaged grease at twice the price :rolleyes: