Tool for measuring plank bevel angle?

[CharlieCobra]

Therre was an old, retired shipwright that came back out of mothballs to plank a boat he'd cared for during the last 40 years. He had a tool that was hinged on one end, looked like a divider and he could measure the bevel angle. It was brass and very cool. Anybody know what it was and where I can get one?

[Peerie Maa]

A lot of old school shipwrights made their own tools. See if he will let you take a photo and copy his.

[SchoonerRat]

Maybe it was a bevel gauge.

[Peerie Maa]

Maybe it was a bevel gauge.

Common as muck, Charlie is bound to have seen one of those.
These are shipwrights bevel gauges:

[Ian McColgin]

I could not find the WB article that shows how to make nice guages. They are just riveted at the joint for their stiffness holding the angle. I find it helps to have several different sizes down to at least shorter than the narrowest plank. I also have a couple where the tightening screw sticks out the far end of the handle, for those places where you can't get a hand in next to the apex.

G'luck

[Gerarddm]

We made them out of brass last quarter in Boat school. Thin & flat, fits handily in a 3" work apron pocket.

[Eddiebou]

You can surely make your own. A wooden double bevel gauge is an afternoon's project. Even if the centers aren't perfectly concentric, just read 'em the way you measured 'em. Make a bevel board and go to town.
Lots of people make them out of old hacksaw blades. I made mine out of boxwood and copper nails. It floats if I drop it overboard.

[JoshuaIII]

Cut hack saw blade with a rivet.

[J.Madison]

http://www.duck-trap.com/hardware.html#holdingiron
Here is the one I have. It works great! Priced $18.00. It would not be hard to make your own either.

[Jim Ledger]

I've seen a design for a plank bevel gauge that has a short blade corresponding to the plank thickness. The body of the gauge has one concave side that only touches the frame at two points so that the bevel can be taken on parts of the frame with outside curvature. Naturally, the plank width would affect the reading somewhat but they are simple enough to make that several of different lengths could be easily made, just two thin pieces of wood riveted over a short metal tongue.

[wood1]

I racall back arround 1987 in the wooden boat shows in newport there was this old guy with a small exhibit showing his invention a compass bevel gage may be the name was the" yankee bevel gage " it had one pointy leg and the other had a flat hinged piece that took the bevel, he had a small section of a boat that he planked as a demo for his tool,
I still have a small micro wooden bevel gage that he was giving as a gift to "anthusistic visitors"

well this was my trip down memory lane I tried Googeling it but couldnt find a picture
hope my english is ok with you
good day
Itai.

[Don Z.]

Well, now, that's curious. I was looking at old WoodenBoats today... # 51, page 32. The Yankee Planking Bevel. Developed by Mr. Chester A. Rice, of Greenwich CT. An address was listed, but the article said "50 years of building experience", and that was in 1983.

But if anyone has a photo that could supplement the drawing in the mag, that would be awesome.

[CharlieCobra]

Thanks guys

[hokiefan]

I use my el'cheapo big-box plastic & steel bevel guage all the time. I'm amazed how many times I've pulled it out while working on a project and chatting with a neighbor. They'll invariably say, "Whats that thing? Hey, that's neat."

Cheers,

Bobby

[Barry]

This one is only $425.000!!

http://www.sydnassloot.com/SCR1.htm

[Ron Williamson]

IIRC,there was an article by or about a boatbuilder named Joe Trumbly.Maybe two articles, one about boats,one about a gauge that he made.
Late '80s,maybe.
R

[George Ray]

(1) Bevel Gauge: Measure the angle
(2) Bevel Board: store the angle at each station on the board and refer back to it as needed.

Notes:
My favorite gauge has a bottom screw because bevel gages are not symmetrical and have a deeper grove on one side and sometime you need the deep side and that puts the tension screw on the blind side and makes it difficult to adjust.



Nice little article on use of gauge and board on Museum of Yachting Website.
http://moy.org/Exhibits/6MetreNewBui...ng-bevels.aspx