Woodpeckers Gap Gauge - New One Time Tool

[EV]

What is wrong with a vernier gauge?

 

[Kevin McConville]

I agree with the caliper comment - I can't see why one would want this tool? I'm hoping I'm attaching the picture correctly and if so you can see that there is an easy transfer of internal to external measurements built into the design of a standard caliper. It also creates depth measurement transfer as well. Can be inch, metric, or both, digital or vernier etc etc

[attachimg=2]

 

[Billedis]

I don't understand why everyone wants to trash Woodpecker one time tools.  Yes, maybe they should be available on a regular basis, but they have some pretty good ideas.  Lately I have purchased just about everyone of their one time offers, and once I have everything I think I need, I will stop purchasing.  Pretty simple in my limited experience.  If you enjoy other offers thank you for mentioning, but, think about starting another thread on that item.  Thanks for listening, and I trust I am not offending anyone.  Bill

 

[Kevin McConville]

Bill, I don't in any way want to trash woodpecker, they make some great stuff and have raised the bar on many items, as does Bridge City for fans of that company.  Both use "one time" type sales and while they irritate me when I want to buy one that is out of stock it's their company and if that's how they manage their inventory and development expenses then so be it. My confusion is what one would use this tool for? If it's just for transferring inside dimensions to outside ones then I would think the vernier caliper would be much better suited for this.

Perhaps is use is for something more than just that?

 

[rmwarren]

I agree with the caliper comment - I can't see why one would want this tool? I'm hoping I'm attaching the picture correctly and if so you can see that there is an easy transfer of internal to external measurements built into the design of a standard caliper. It also creates depth measurement transfer as well. Can be inch, metric, or both, digital or vernier etc etc

[attachimg=2]

I'd say there are downsides to calipers, and I use them constantly, (1) the potential to get them canted a bit and throw internal measurements off and (2) sometimes the vernier/handle gets in the way. Also nearly impossible to set a tablesaw fence with them since the top edge of the jaw extends beyond the internal jaws faces.

I don't think I have a real need for the WP gap gauge but for what it is designed to do it appears to be an excellent tool.

Just my  [2cents].

RMW

 

[bkharman]

I don't think anything is wrong with a caliper. I have a nice one that I use quite often for various things. Mainly depth settings. I bought my Bridge City Because it simplified my process and also put my mind at ease that I was going to drop or knock off the bench, my nice calipers.

You can use a measuring tape and sneak up on cuts if you want to and accomplish the same results but the cost of the tool to me is insignificant compared to the ease and comfort I get when using it.

Cheers. Bryan.

 

[Kevin McConville]

Couple of things;

- A little practice and you can get repeatable measurements with calipers but they can intimidate some, but they are pretty versatile once you use them a bit. Also using the depth gauge feature of the caliper can give very accurate fence position to the outside of the blade for something like tenon length. But if that's not how you work then that's ok as there are dozens of ways of doing it and whatever works for you is really what matters.
- Not sure how the Woodpecker Gap Gauge could be used to set a table saw fence?
- If the comparison is being made to the Bridge City Kerfmaker KM-1 then I think the comparison breaks down as all this tool does is "echo" and internal feature to an external one and vice versa. The KM-1 does kerf compensation so you can use an undersize blade or bit to chop out the dado with multiple passes and get the size bang on to your material without measuring and calculating.

 

[Holzhacker]

Instead of coming out with some of these recent goofy tools, think MFT square, WP might want to bring back a few of the really good past tools they had. There are at least a couple I would order. Not this thing though.

 

[Stoli]

There is no metric scale on the back side of my 2013 version. Not to say there won't be this time around; only woodpecker can say for sure.

 

[Sparktrician]

It looks like the large one has both inch and metric on it, is there metric on the other side of the smaller one?

Looking at my first-run Mini, it has Imperial on one side and metric on the other.  Not sure why Woodpeckers would not do this the second time. 

 

[Cheese]

Instead of coming out with some of these recent goofy tools, think MFT square, WP might want to bring back a few of the really good past tools they had. There are at least a couple I would order. Not this thing though.

On the Woodpecker's web site, under the OneTime Tools area, there is a place where you can "vote" for which tool/tools you would like them to do another run of.

I agree with you, of all the great items they've produced, I can't believe that this Gap Gauge is one of the most popular.

 

[Sean7a]

I've asked Woodpeckers to hop in here and give us a definite on this run re: metric n imperial rules on these new gap gauges.  Worst case scenario I'll relay the info back here myself if they're not up for posting.  Sorry for the delay and my inability to provide an answer yesterday.  We'll get to the bottom of this paradox sooner or later.

 

[teocaf]

My initial query was because of an intention to buy.  I was stuck at the hospital doing some tests yesterday and to pass the waiting time, I was looking at the FOG on my phone when i saw the dealer's post.  Looking at the pics on that small screen, I really thought that perhaps Woodpeckers had licensed or came up with their own versions of the BCTW Kerfmaker and Tenonmaker.  I happen to own a Kerfmaker which I use and really like and I had a Tenonmaker that I returned because at the time I did not find use for it, although now I think that I could use one.  So I really had my hopes up just glancing at those first pics, since the KM and TM are not stocked presently at BCTW either.  But alas, after some of the subsequent posts and checking on my own when I got back home, the absence of a measureless kerf setting on the woodpecker unit is a deal breaker for me.  I really wanted an additional KM  to keep at my other machines and a TM for some new found uses.  Perhaps the principals at Woodpeckers and BCTW could get together and do a licensing deal like has been done with other Woodpecker tools--that would increase my chances of getting what I and others are looking for?  Just a suggestion.  I guess my other option is to get back on the waiting list at BCTW although their production and delivery times are just as frustrating as they can possibly be.

 

[Sean7a]

Note - Both sides of each gauge, Mini and Standard, will be marked.  One side with an imperial rule and the other metric.

 

[fdengel]

I agree with the caliper comment - I can't see why one would want this tool? I'm hoping I'm attaching the picture correctly and if so you can see that there is an easy transfer of internal to external measurements built into the design of a standard caliper. It also creates depth measurement transfer as well. Can be inch, metric, or both, digital or vernier etc etc

If you look at Woodpecker's explanation of why both the mini and the standard version, that explains this as well.

The calipers use a very thin measuring surface; furthermore, that surface has the potential to "dig in" to soft materials like wood, and does not account for potential irregularities in the thicknesses of the material if something wasn't perfectly straight (or if it "warped" due to moisture or whatever after being formed).

These gauges being much wider should provide a better "average" over an area that should give a more useful metric when dealing with the softer material.

Calipers are really more optimal when working with metal.  Nothing wrong with using them on wood, but there are times (even when using them on metal) when they will give the right answer to the wrong question if you aren't paying very close attention to what you are doing with them.

Another consequence of the thin blades on the caliper is the potential to angle them on the workpiece, which can also throw of the reading slightly.  The wider surface of these gauges should also help to prevent that.

Furthermore, if you look at the inside measurement blades on the calipers, they are often too big to fit in something as small as a mortise, which the mini gauge was designed for.

That mini gauge would be very tempting if I didn't have a domino.  Not as sure that the standard one would be as useful to me even then, though I can definitely see both as being of utility to some.

 

[teocaf]

in theory, yes.  but in practice there is a way to use calipers to mitigate the circumstances you mentioned.  you finesse the caliper unto a soft wood, so it does not bite in.  you take note to seat the jaws so that the caliper is not angled.  if you angle it a lot you would definitely notice and if by chance it angles a bit you are still well within the tolerance of working with wood.  the caliper also has more ways to measure (3) and you can get a number reading right off the thing. 

so this begs the question:  do you get ONE multi function quality set of calipers and by going to it every time you learn how to use it accurately and efficiently OR do you have a drawer full of gap measuring gizmos that you futz around with every time.  i agree with the guy that sided with the caliper. 

in the case of the kerfmaker, that tool actually brings something extra to the process where you can compensate for the kerf right off the blade you're working with and you can set gaps without any measuring and transferring errors.  you can even squeeze it harder unto the material and obtain an automatic tighter fit into your groove.

in thinking about this, i was reminded of another little gadget that W came out with--the paolini gage.  can anyone that actually bought one tell me that they left their tape measure at home, like the video suggests, and went to the lumberyard just with the thing and were not frustrated?  who buys wood like that and without any overage for checks, defects etc?  so in this case a good tape measure will not only suffice but will do a lot more than some overpriced machined piece of aluminum. 

the woodpecker tools that i do own have that multi use capability--i wish some of their other stuff was better thought out.