Bar Gauge for Woodworking

This is a set of three bar gauges. Bar gauges are used to check inside dimensions on things like boxes, drawers, cabinet openings, etc. For example, when construction a wooded box, it is typical to check that the inside diagonals to see if they are the same, this assures the box is square. To do this, a bar gauge is inserted into the box and adjusted so its ends are snug in diagonal corners. The knob is then tightened down. The gauge is then moved to the other diagonal to check if it is the same dimension. Side-to- side width checks can also be made on the interior of a box.

Pointed ends are for use in corners and the rounded ends are intended for parallel surfaces.

Each set of gauges is 4 parts:

• An outside part with a pointed end.
• An outside part with a rounded end.
• An inside bar that has both a pointed end and a curved end.
• A thumb screw (this model is from McMaster-Carr model: “92581A410_Steel Raised Knurled-Head Thumb Screw”)

The inside bar slides into the outside part and the thumb screw is screwed into the outside part’s threaded hole. (The first time you insert the thumb screw you may have to press in while turning it clockwise. After the first time the threads mesh easier.)

Inside and outside parts can be mixed and match to get a length required for you needs.

The three sets are capable of being adjusted to the following dimensions:

• Short set: about 4.5 inches to 7.75 inches
• Medium set: about 7.5 inches to 13.5 inches
• Long set: about 10.5 inches to 19.5 inches

Lengths up to about  28.5 inches can also be formed by putting outside pieces on each end of an inside bar.

The inside bars were printed with 100% infill. All other parts are 15% infill.

Layer height was 0.20mm, no supports needed

No supports needed.

I used PLA.