Brass Pocket Bevel (See all bevels)
are an essential for boat builders. An esteemed builder once told me he closes up shop if he can't find his pocket bevel. Why? A small bevel can get into places not accessible with a standard carpenters' bevel gauge which is not only too long but also too wide to effectively get into a corner. Our 2" pocket bevel is 3/8" wide; the 3" and 5" pocket bevels are 1/2" wide. The 2" pocket bevel is $22.95, the 3" size is $24.95, and the 5" size is $26.95 (5" bevel supplies very limited).

Our pocket bevels employ a riveted pivot which allows a firm and even tension of the blade- but of course it can't be locked rigid. Once the bevel is picked up with the tool from the workpiece, it can be laid on the Bevel Boss to measure the number of degrees of bevel. For those who eschew numbers, it can be marked on a template or scrap for future reference. Because there is no locking mechanism, it can be accomplished one-handed, and without the heel of the blade creeping out and unknowingly throwing off your measurement.

The tension on the blade can be tightened to suit the owner by tapping on the rivet with a very light hammer (on an anvil or other heavy metal object). These brass pocket bevels include several refinements not found in user-made tools. The blade is spring bronze - a bit tougher than brass. There are stainless steel shim washers on both sides of the blade. Because the rivet is flush and very tightly riveted, a special lubricant gives it a very smooth action.

Try one out and let me know what you think. They were a big hit when I first showed them at the Port Townsend Wooden Boat Festival in September, 2002, where I sold about 75, and that's in Port Townsend- that bastion of self-reliance and build-your-own-tools tradition.