Lee Valley Panel Gauge

Lee Valley panel gauge. When you need to scribe a parallel line for squaring up wide panels, a standard marking gauge won't do. Large workpieces call for a panel gauge.

It has a 25" beam, capable of marking to the middle of 4 × 8 sheet goods. The design is modelled on the Stanley No. 84 slitting gauge, which has a roller and tote at the blade end. Lee Valley made it of beech for stiffness, which improves accuracy, and replaced the tote with a horn for greater force and control of the cutting depth, especially at full extension. The horn can be flipped to suit your handedness or whether you pull or push the gauge. The hard-wearing Delrin roller travels smoothly without marring boards.

The 1" rabbeted step on the 9" wide by 3" tall fence gives good registration on the edge of a board. At the other end of the beam, a non-rotating, single-bevel wheel cutter leaves a crisp, clean line that you will be thankful for when ripping by hand.

Used with two hands, it can make a deep cut, going completely through thin materials such as veneer in only a few passes. It is indispensable when dimensioning or jointing several large panels to a consistent width without power tools.

Facts:
25" beam
9" × 3" fence with 1" rabbeted step
Beam, fence and horn of beech
High-carbon steel wheel cutter hardened to Rc50-52
Delrin roller
Brass locking knob