I've been planning to make a marking gauge for a while and I'm finally ready to get started. I mostly use wheel gauges today. I have one cheap pin gauge that's mostly worthless and doesn't get any use.

I wan't a small-ish gauge with a 6"-8" reach on the beam. It will have a knife style V shaped cutter attached at the end of the beam. I already have blanks for the cutter but that's the only thing set in stone.

Never having made anything like this, I'm looking for advice on design and tips on building it.

Thanks in advance!