Irwin Marples M2153 Mortice Gauge

I am in the USA and could not find this gauge here. The price at Amazon UK was, from my perspective, quite good and shipping was prompt and not expensive. I was well pleased with this tool. The beam is tight with no slop, the pins adjust easily, protrude at a proper distance to give a comfortable angle and leave an excellent line (or two). I don't know why, but the gauge seems to resist tracking along the grain better than the gauges I have been using. I find the knurled knob easier to use than the flat thumbscrew that some gauges use. The tool is very finely finished which probably doesn't add to its utility, but which I still enjoy. Altogether it is simply more pleasing to use than the other gauges I have. I wouldn't have expected it, but even in such a simple tool quality matters.

The photo shows a mortice guage by Marples of Sheffield. However, what you get is a guage by IRWIN Marples. Thankfully, its not made in the USA but is indeed made at Marples Parkway Works, Sheffield (thank goodness) and is a beautiful, quality tool. Was it worth the money? Emphatically, yes. I've read so many revues of other such guages made lord knows where but looking similar, but were neither use nor ornament, but this works a treat and feels as if it will last several lifetimes. I would have prefered one as pictured, but at least its made by Marples, even if its got the yank logo there too. Lovely kit.

The model I received was different from the one pictured, as others have found. Initially, I thought it would be useless for morticing because the two pins weren't even close to being equal in height. I read that others had the same issue and some filed the taller pin down. I found a different solution. If you unscrew the fixed brass morticing pin carrier or remove the sliding brass carrier (whichever has the lower pin) and mount it in a vice, you can drive the pin through from behind with a nail and hammer. I used digital callipers and went slowly and was able to get the pins to within 0.01 mm of each other.I didn’t have an issue with the moving arm not fitting securely in the body. It was actually too tight, which I fixed by slightly filing the inside of the body and waxing the arm. If the arm was loose, I’d have sent the gauge back for sure.The gauge now works perfectly.It’s very annoying that the gauge isn’t assembled properly and one shouldn’t have to fix these issues, but it’s doable.One tip - rake the gauge when scribing a line (so that the pins aren't at 90 degrees to the wood and it'll work much more smoothly.

Excellent accuracy and good quality. Very sharp and lined up scribing points.As good as the one I used in the 60's , which was my grandfathers.Have seen reviews saying this item is not as good as that from the origional Sheffield supplier.For me it is and well worth paying the extra over the cheaper beech versions.

Excellent piece of kit. Marking gauge pin one side and mortise pins on the opposite face. Don't know why this idea was not thought of long ago when you had two gauges on the bench.Very good brass clamp nut, precise and firm for good accuracy. The brass faced edge block will last for years without any wear preserving the accuracy and value of tool. Would highly recommend.

Bought what I thought was a reasonable one from eBay only for it to be delivered and be the tool zone brand. The quality of that was awful so returned it and spent a bit more to buy this. Loads better quality and great to use.

For a start, this is not the product advertised in the picture. The one pictured is the more expensive Gauge. You can telll as the printing on the side of the block pictured, is not the cheaper black printing on the item delivered.Irwin have really phoned it in on this one. The beam has a con-vexed bottom that should when clamped down fit and match the con-caved profile in the bottom of the block. This is vital as without these profiles matching, the beam will wiggle from side to side, thus throwing off your markings. No matter how hard you clamp down on the beam, it will always wiggle as it is not seated properly.If I could get a slither of sandpaper between the beam and the block and get the correct profile, I would, to save me having to waste time returning the item but you won't have enough of a gap to do this.This gauge has one job to do and that is to make accurate markings. It cannot do this and thus fails at the one job it has.Also the brass bar with the second pin on is seated too high in the grove, thus making the second pin slightly higher than the 1st one.I can't believe Irwin would think this acceptable.

Superb quality tool. I was thinking about buying a cheaper one but then remember this is a measurement tool, and that's not something you want to scrimp on. I've only had it a couple of months but I suspect this will last me a very long time! Definitely worth the price.

Funkar bra, jag är nöjd. Kvaliteten är bra

De buena calidad. Un tamaño adecuado. Perfecto.

Non può mancare nel laboratorio, ottimo e affidabile

Beautiful piece, but, honestly... it's not a true Marples, and its laminated, as opposed to true finished hardwood.

Di ottima fattura, curata la costruzione e il gioco tra i pezzi. Consegna ed imballaggio impeccabili. Amazon, come al solito è una garanzia.