The Marking Out Rule Every Woodworker Should Know
One of the simplest but most overlooked decisions is whether to use a pencil or a knife to mark out. Peter Sefton outlines a straightforward rule: use a pencil when you're sawing, and a knife when you're chiselling.
A pencil line gives a clear visual cue for saw cuts, while a fine knife line offers the crisp edge a chisel engages with.
Peter explains
“A chisel will sit inside a knife line and help guide the cut — especially vital when chopping to a shoulder line.”
Peter recommends
A good quality marking knife or classic spear-point blade, noting that the quality of your blade’s sharpness and point profile can greatly affect your marking precision.
Using a strong knife blade can also prevent the scribing action from wandering with the grain.
The takeaway?
For critical work, a marking knife is not optional — it’s essential.