Irresistible marking tools

[Derek Cohen]

I admit it. I am a sucker for marking tools. I have a couple of Chris Vesper sliding bevels and squares that make me smile ever occasion I use them.


https://i.postimg.cc/NFqtRBWj/Vesperat-WIA2.jpg


https://i.postimg.cc/RhrsgFS2/Vesperat-WIA3.jpg


I have bronze Tite-Mark and stainless steel Veritas wheel gauges, both works of art, and even made one of my own ...


https://i.postimg.cc/GpR1X3qc/8_zpsdjorefly.jpg


A mortice gauge I built (it uses sized cutters) ...


https://i.postimg.cc/G3gdbChQ/1_zpsgyw8ijei.jpg


It was inspired by the Kinshiro cutting gauge (on the right), a gift from Wiley. Very precious ...


https://i.postimg.cc/Fzt8xCqx/JMarkinggauge1.jpg


There are many more. This post is not about them, but a fore taste of the tool I have just purchased. It is on its way, so I cannot tell you what it is like to use. It is on a Black Friday special at present, so if there are any like-minded fools here, this is a heads up.


I was watching this video by Adam Savage ...


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVQFvHuJHec&ab_channel=AdamSavage%E2%80%99sTested


The question is who needs a fancy compass? Well, I will certainly use it.


But I could just sit an look at it - some tools are art, and one really should appreciate the effort that went into both design and build ...


The Iris drawing compass (by Makers Cabinet) ...


https://i.postimg.cc/WbykQ3K0/Makers_Cabinet_Iris.jpg


https://www.makerscabinet.com/


Regards from Perth


Derek

[glenn bradley]

Silence foul temptress!!! :D
- Sir Launcelot

[Howard Pollack]

They are all beautiful. The Drawing Compass is stunning. -Howard

[Curt Putnam]

I met Chris in 2012 and bought a Black Red Gum cutting gauge from home. It is one of my most treasured tools. Chris makes some remarkable tools. That circular compass looks to be a jewel - but how does one center it on a point?

[Derek Cohen]

Good point Curt! I found this ...

The "stand" of the IRIS also acts as a center-finding tool. You put the stand inside the fully-opened IRIS and the stand's tip is right at the circle's center. Mark your dot, remove the stand, then adjust the iris to the desired size without moving the IRIS and the dot will be in the exact center of any circle you make. There are also measurements along the outside diameter or the IRIS that let you make the exact size circle you want, or measure the size of existing circles or cylinders.

https://i.postimg.cc/hvc4S2Mk/download.png

https://i.postimg.cc/BbpSt2VX/download-1.png

Regards from Perth

Derek

[Andrew Pitonyak]

I wanted the Lee Valley pencil sharpener, but missed out on that. I have the Maker's Cabinet Pencil Sharpener (hand plane pencil sharpener), it arrived and I have not had time to unpack it yet. Lots of things showed up at the same time, like my new Washita stone, and I am trying to finish my toothpick boxes. So much to do, so little time.

Looking forward to how you like the iris.

I expect that the center finding portion is likely to be used to make sure that you circle that you draw goes around the center as opposed to simply marking the center.

[John Erickson]

I agree Derek, quality made tools are hard for me to pass over too. I'd like a set of squares from Chris Vesper but with Cherry infills, I'm waiting on my request.

[Mike Henderson]

I appreciate looking at those expensive tools but I wouldn't buy one. I have a number of compasses that I purchased used on eBay for a few dollars each that do a fine job of drawing circles. That Iris is $123 plus shipping.

Mike

[Curt Putnam]

Thanks Derek! That is a reasonably clever solution for the Iris.

We all have to decide where our disposable income goes. For some, the concept of "disposable" is a pipe dream, others simply have a tight wallet, yet others spend and should not. Good tools often suffer from the "sour grapes" viewpoint. I may not be able to afford some tools or even wish to afford some but that does not mean I get to diss them. Superb quality is its own reason for existence in the same sense that beautiful art is.

I could never afford a Holtey plane but I can appreciate, even from mere pictures, for the quality it represents. We really need a Tool Porn thread.

[Jim Koepke]

It is a very clever tool. The way it can be centered and then the size changed without moving is a great feature. It is reminiscent of drop center compass. Though one of those usually doesn't reach enough to draw a seven centimeter circle.

jtk

[Bill McNiel]

Stop it Derek, you are killing my retirement budget!