There are two main problems with a typical marking gauge: you have to tilt it just right to avoid pin chatter and, even then, the pin tends to follow the wood grain, throwing off your line. The Veritas wheel marking gauges solve both problems. The hardened steel wheel cutter scribes perfectly at any point of its circumference. Since it cuts wood fibres rather than tears, it marks cleanly, even on cross grain. The wheel's single-sided bevel also pulls the gauge face against the stock, maintaining accuracy. Its cutting edge is at the extreme end of the rod, useful for transferring dimensions such as tenon shoulder and mortise depth. The wheel retracts into the face of the gauge for storage and protection. The gauges are very easy to set, since each has an internal O-ring to keep light but constant friction on the rod.
The Veritas standard marking gauge is a great workhorse and excellent value. Due to the number of requests for a micro-adjust feature, we offer a second model with a slightly longer body fitted with a two-stage collet to allow fine adjustment of the cutting wheel. The collet has a fine-pitch thread; one revolution advances or retracts the wheel 0.8mm. The knurled thumbscrew then locks the setting. The rod of the Imperial gauge is graduated to 6" in 16ths; the metric version has graduations to 150mm. Very comfortable gauges to use.