Drawings, measuring & marking out · National 5
Measuring & marking out
8 cards · 5 quiz · 0 exam
Practical Woodworking · National 5 · mrkellydt.co.uk
What you're learning in this topic
Learning intention WALT
We are learning about measuring & marking out, specifically to:
understand
- the advantages of templates
be able to
- measure accurately with a rule, tape and calipers
- mark out with a try square, mitre square, sliding bevel, marking, cutting and mortise gauges and a marking knife
- work from a face side and face edge
- work to ±1 mm when marking out and cutting
Success criteria WILF
- I can measure accurately with a rule, tape and calipers
- I can mark out with a try square, mitre square, sliding bevel, marking, cutting and mortise gauges and a marking knife
- I can work from a face side and face edge
- I can explain the advantages of templates
- I can work to ±1 mm when marking out and cutting
Measuring tools
- Steel rule: accurate measuring of shorter lengths (300 mm, 600 mm, 1 m).
- Tape measure: long lengths and the alternative when a rule is too short.
- Calipers: outside calipers check diameters when turning; inside calipers check holes.
Marking-out tools
| Tool | Use |
|---|---|
| Try square | Marks lines at 90° to an edge, and checks squareness |
| Mitre square | Marks 45° lines for mitre joints |
| Sliding bevel | Set to any angle to mark or check angles, e.g. a dovetail halving |
| Marking gauge | A spur scribes a line parallel to an edge, along the grain |
| Cutting gauge | A small blade cuts a clean line across the grain without tearing |
| Mortise gauge | Two spurs mark both sides of a mortise or tenon at once |
| Marking knife | Cuts a fine line across the grain for accurate sawing |
| Pencil | Rough marking and marking waste |
| Template | A pattern for marking identical shapes quickly and accurately |
Good marking-out practice
- Choose and mark a face side and face edge (the loop and the tick). Measure and square from these every time.
- Mark out matching parts together (e.g. both stiles side by side) so joints line up.
- Shade the waste so you saw on the correct side of the line.
- Work to ±1 mm: the practical activity tolerance for marking out and cutting.
- Templates save time when the same shape is needed many times, and make every part the same, because you only measure once.
Your marking out is assessed before you cut, so you have a chance to correct it.
Key terms
| Marking gauge | Scribes a line parallel to an edge, along the grain |
|---|---|
| Cutting gauge | Has a blade to cut a line across the grain without tearing |
| Mortise gauge | Two spurs mark both sides of a mortise or tenon at once |
| Sliding bevel | Can be set to any angle |
| Mitre square | Fixed at 45° for marking mitres |
| Face side and face edge | Your reference surfaces: always measure and square from them |
| Template advantage | Every part is identical and it's quicker, because you only measure once |
| Marking-out tolerance | ±1 mm |
Quick check
1. Which tool marks a line across the grain without tearing the fibres?
- Marking gauge
- Cutting gauge
- Mortise gauge
- Pencil
Show answer
B: Cutting gauge. The cutting gauge has a small blade instead of a spur.
2. Which tool would you set to mark a 45° mitre?
- Try square or engineer's square
- Marking gauge or cutting gauge
- Mitre square or sliding bevel
- Outside calipers or dividers
Show answer
C: Mitre square or sliding bevel. A mitre square is fixed at 45°; a sliding bevel can be set to it.
3. Why mark out the two stiles of a frame together?
- It makes the frame look neater
- It saves time sharpening pencils
- It is a workshop rule for frames
- The joints line up exactly
Show answer
D: The joints line up exactly. Marking matching parts together keeps them identical.
4. Which tool marks both sides of a mortise at once?
- Mortise gauge
- Marking knife
- Try square
- Steel rule
Show answer
A: Mortise gauge. It has two spurs, one fixed and one adjustable.
5. What is the tolerance for marking out and cutting?
- ±0.5 mm
- ±1 mm
- ±3 mm
- ±5 mm
Show answer
B: ±1 mm. Overall sizes are ±3 mm; marking out and cutting are ±1 mm.
Printable worksheet
An I do, we do, you do worksheet for this topic, with a separate answer sheet.