Should i return this tool to Woodworkers Supply?

[Kevin Gregoire]

i bought a marking gauge (http://woodworker.com/fullpres.asp?PARTNUM=131-786&LARGEVIEW=ON) that was on sale at woodworkers supply but after i got it
i started thinking that maybe you do get what you pay for but im not sure?

the beam of the marking gauge is just a little loose so the body face doesnt have a
perfect 90* and i wanted to know how important that was? are most gauges just a
little loose or fairly tight?

i was just curious what it does for the accuracy? also, the finish on mine doesnt look
anything like the picture, mine is almost black.

the tool was just under $25 shipped so im curious if i should return it or its fine and
just use it?

thanks

[Jim Matthews]

As you gauge your line, the blade will pull the face tight (http://www.woodmagazine.com/woodworking-plans/homemade-tools/a-case-for-marking-gauges/) to your reference edge.

Note in the drawing that the blade points away from the face at 5 degrees (or so) to make this happen.

To get this working properly, the blade needs to be sharp. It probably arrived shaped, but not sharp enough to score well.
$34 for a rosewood gauge with brass inlay is cheaper than my cost for materials.

I would hone this with my Eze-Lap diamond stone (http://Eze-Lap%20diamond%20stone), but the same could be done with sandpaper on a popsicle stick.

Each gauge has a little fiddle at the beginning - mine requires that I push the blade down into the surface I wish to mark, at the start.
After that, just pull straight down and the blade keeps everything tight.