Some wheel-type marking gauges are not sharp out of the box, and even the best dull over time. It takes a long time to sharpen them by rubbing the flat side on waterstones. Instead, I chuck the gauge in my drill press, set the machine to a slow speed, and hold a small diamond honing plate against the bevel. The diamond hone will sharpen the bevel in a minute or two. If you get a slight burr on the flat side of the blade, remove it by rubbing that side against the same diamond plate.
—JOSEPH HARTUP, Ridgefield, Wash.
Illustrations by Dan Thornton
From Fine Woodworking issue #295
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