2 in 1 Fat Boy Scriber
Overview of the 2 in 1 fat boy scriber
The 2 in 1 fat boy scriber is a tool for fitting doors as well as a general scribing tool.
It is the same size as the standard fat boy but with the 6mm front aluminium lip removed.
In door fitting mode a 0.5mm stainless steel plate is bolted to the front of the scriber.
Once the door is reduced in size so that it fits in the frame and there is at least a 0.5mm gap, the plate fits between the door frame and the door and slides along the door frame marking a line on the door at a given distance away from the frame.
Plane down to the line and the door should fit with an even gap on all 4 sides.
When in scriber mode the plate is removed. You can use the marking wheel holder to score a line to work to. Work accurately to the line and your scribe should be just about perfect!
Go to the marking wheel holder page to see the holder in scribing action in a big boy scriber and how using masking tape gives you a clear line to cut to.
Great on cross grain work but it works equally well on mdf and along the grain on solid.
The 2 in 1 fat boy scriber holds the 12mm Quangsheng cutter which fits the Quangsheng marking gauge.
Replacement cutters are available at workshopheaven.com and other online tool stores.
If you want the scribing feature of the 2 in 1 fat boy using the marking wheel holder but not the door fitting feature the deluxe fat and skinny boy scriber is the better choice for you.
As with the over and under, big boy and universal big boy scribers you can flip the body of the 2 in 1 scriber 180 degrees so the marking tool is above the pivot point.
This gives you 6 different angles the marking tool can be presented to the work piece.
You then have further adjustment in all 6 positions by pivoting the scriber body.
When using the marking wheel holder the aim is to get the face of the marking wheel as near as possible to a right angle with the work piece.
You need to swap over to a cap head bolt when the body is flipped as the knurled tightening knob would catch on the cradle of the scriber.
A suitable bolt is provided with the scriber along with an allen wrench.
Setting up and using the 2 in 1 fat boy scriber for door fitting
When using the 2 in 1 fat boy for door fitting the marking wheel should be somewhere near parallel to the scriber base.
With no washers added set the cutting wheel 6mm from the front of the steel plate. The wheel is parallel to the base in this position with a 1mm gap between the base of the scriber and the marking wheel. Tighten the holder thumb screw and pivot bolt so that nothing can move.
You then add 0.5mm washers between the brass spacer and tool holder to give the desired gap around the door.
If you are using the deluxe marking wheel holder with the 2 in 1 fat boy because the cutting wheel can be adjusted independant of the scriber body you don’t need washers to set the scriber up for door fitting.
Making the marking wheel holder scribe line more visable
Chiselling a flat along the line gives a visual stop for you to aim for with a hand plane.
More on setting up the 2 in 1 fat boy scriber for fitting doors
The 2 in 1 scriber has a 0.5mm stainless steel plate which screws to the front of the scriber. The plate fits between the door and door frame and runs along the door frame scribing a line on the door parallel to the frame.
This diagram shows you how to position the marking wheel for door fitting.
Set the marking wheel in this position using the brass spacer only (without 0.5mm washers).
Once the wheel is set 6mm back from the front of the stainless steel plate the wheel is parallel to the scriber base and there is automatically a 1mm gap between the base of the scriber and the cutting wheel (this means the line scored will be at right angles to the face of the door components).
Lock the tool holder and pivot bolt in this position and add washers between the brass spacer and tool holder to get the desired gap you want around the door.
Please note the washers are added above the brass spacer (not between the cutting wheel and brass spacer).
By setting the marking wheel in the above diagram position the wheel is parallel to the edge of the door. You then unscrew the m3 countersunk bolt holding the wheel and add 0.5mm washers above the 4mm brass spacer to give you the gap you want around the door.
For example. Presuming you have fitted the door so the bottom and one side fit the frame and it is wedged in the opening (as in the video above) and you want a 1mm gap around the door, add 2 x 0.5mm washers. As the wheel is already set 1mm from the scriber base the added washers will set the wheel 2mm from the base.
Fitting mortice and tenon joints with the 2 in 1 fat boy scriber
With larger mortice and tenon joints which aren’t cut on a dedicated tenoning machine (timber framing for example) you might end up with a gap in the joint on one side.
By utilizing the front plate you can scribe a line the required distance to loose the gap. Chisel up to the scribe line and the joint should close up.
On curved work use the scriber to transfer the curve to the tenon shoulder. Chisel to the line to fit.
Marking feet on chairs, tables etc after construction to eliminate rocking
When using the scriber to level the feet on chairs, tables etc avoid the wedges used to stop the furniture rocking by using the back end of the scriber.
These 2 images show the 2 in 1 fat boy holding a pencil and marking wheel holder backwards. You can do this with all the scribers giving you another option if there is an obstacle in the way.
The right hand image shows the body of the scriber using the upper hole on the aluminium cradle.
The different positions available on the 2 in 1 fat boy (there are 6 variations) helps you to keep the marking wheel as close as possible to a right angle with the work piece.
Keep it sharp!
Always a good idea to work with sharp tools.
With the marking wheel fitted to the holder it is very easy to run the face of the wheel on a sharpening stone.
Opting for the deluxe marking wheel holder with the 2 in 1 fat boy scriber means you don’t need washers to set the cutting wheel up for door scribing and you don’t need to move the scriber body in the cradle as all cutter angle adjusting can be done on the deluxe marking wheel holder.
If you would like a scriber suitable for either the marking wheel holder or the deluxe marking wheel holder but don’t won’t the door fitting feature of the 2 in 1 fat boy you can buy either marking wheel holder along with a scriber seperately.
The following scribers are suitable for either marking wheel holders;
universal and standard big boy scribers
deluxe fat and skinny boy scribers