Marking gauges are used to create layout lines for hand cut dovetails, mortise & tenon joinery, and other types of high-quality furniture and cabinet joints. There are many types of marking gauges, but the principles of their use are similar. The goal: create precise and repeatable cuts or scoring marks on wood surfaces that can then be used as reference lines for chisel, hand saw, and/or hand plane cuts. In this concise video overview, cabinetmaker Craig Vandall Stevens will show you how to get optimal layout lines on your next project. (2.5 Minute Woodworking Video)

A shop-made Japanese style marking gauge is used in this video, but the methods and principles shown can be applied to western style tools as well.

Craig Vandall Stevens’ uncompromising attention to the smallest detail makes him the quintessential artisan’s artisan. Each component of the furniture he makes, no matter how seemingly insignificant, is carefully executed at the highest level — the fit of a hand carved door pull, the curve of a leg, the selection of each piece of component wood — each of dozens of key elements are thoughtfully crafted into his work. The enthusiast could spend hours studying and appreciating the scope of his work. In my recent visit to his studio, I did exactly that.

In this concise video profile, I introduce you to Mr. Stevens and his work. Craig, who trained with the widely respected teacher and artisan James Krenov, is a master cabinetmaker specializing in the creation of highly individualized, “one off”, collectible grade furniture. Much of this work is purposely small in scale, designed to bring focus to the details. The entire process, from initial sketches to final finish, can take months to complete.

Craig is a specialist in the use of Japanese hand tools. His interest in these tools permeates his thinking about craftsmanship and, as we can see in this video profile, becomes part of his work. I hope you enjoy this profile of Craig and his work. Keith (4.5 Minute Video Profile)

For me, any trick that makes sharpening woodworking tools faster and easier, is a trick worth considering. In this video segment, I’ll show you how to build a compact sharpening station designed to hold either oil or waterstones securely to your work surface. This fixture also has the added benefit of helping to keep your worksurface protected from the inevitable sludge and grime that is part of the sharpening process. When you’re done honing your edges, stow the fixture out of the way. (4 Minute Video)