Often, when people think of innovative design, they picture sleek, space-age features. When MICROJIG designed the FITFINDER ½ Gauge, however, the company thought outside of even that box. They went back to 2,000-year-old math—the Pythagorean Theorem—to solve a modern problem for DIYers and woodworkers.

A common woodworking or DIY task is finding the exact center or depth of a workpiece. Previously, this meant measuring once, twice, or many times to get an exact measurement down to a fraction of an inch, with no room for error. Makers would spend time painstakingly making a cut, only to find out the measurements were slightly off, meaning more material and starting again. The FITFINDER solves this problem with a smart design.

To use the FITFINDER, a woodworker places one of the tool’s legs on top of the material. The other leg will automatically adjust itself to indicate the exact center of the stock up to three inches thick, all working using basic geometry. The measurement can be locked in, and the FITFINDER can be used for square, rectangular, or round stock.

This all means that users can do everything from setting fences and transferring cutting depths to positioning band saw fences for resawing, dialing in router bits for edge banding, or centering pieces on the lathe for spindle work. The tool also makes overlap joints, half-lap joints, or rail and stile joints—all of which require extreme precision—simple and accurate.

With its innovative design, the FITFINDER increases productivity by reducing the need for repeated measurements and mathematical calculations down a process that takes seconds. It also means cost savings. Because the FITFINDER takes the guesswork out of measuring, makers can scrap less material due to incorrect measurements and cuts. They can also save money and space in the shop not having to purchase and store a wide variety of measuring tools that are less accurate.

The FITFINDER embodies everything the GOOD DESIGN Awards stand for. It is a product that makes life easier for the end user, and the reason is because the design is truly innovative. This product takes something simple—basic geometry developed in ancient times—and turns it into a tool that makes working in the shop easier, better, and more intuitive. It’s exactly what MICROJIG aims to do with its products, and it is deserving of this recognition.

Category:ToolsYear:2023Designers:Henry Wang, Microjig Inc., Winter Park, Florida, USAManufacturer:Microjig Inc, Winter Park, Florida, USA