10 Best Contour Gauges To Buy In 2021
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Best Contour Gauges (Updated): Realizing that the shape you have just cut out isn’t accurate can be really frustrating. All that time and effort for nothing! And you have to do it all over again, with more pressure on you to get it right, but no guarantee that it will be any better.
Imagine if you could do away with all the hassle and effort and get an exact cut within seconds! That is exactly what a contour gauge can offer you. This simple yet innovative tool can help to measure irregular shapes and objects just like an expert, in half the time.
In this contour gauge review, we shall look at the ten best contour gauges available in the market today that can satisfy all your measurement needs.
10BestBuy.com selects
Saker Contour Gauge (10 Inch Lock) Profile Tool- Adjustable Lock
Ideal for woodworking, auto-body, auto-metal sheet, stainless steel, and tile.
VARSK Contour Gauge Duplicator with Lock - 10 inch
LUTER Plastic Contour Gauge, 10 Inch Profile
MUTANO Contour Gauge Duplicator (10 Inch Lock)
NadaKin 3 Pieces Contour Gauge, Plastic Outline Profile Shape
Werkzeug Contour Gauge Shape Duplicator (10 Inch Lock)
RAK Contour Gauge Shape Duplicator (10 Inch Lock)
Proster Profile Contour Gauge 3pcs Simple Gauge 5inch 6inch 10inch
Awefrank Contour Gauge Duplicator 10 Inch Profile
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Top 10 Best Contour Gauges Reviews and Buyer’s Guide
01
Saker Contour Gauge (10 Inch Lock) Profile Tool- Adjustable Lock
Ideal for woodworking, auto-body, auto-metal sheet, stainless steel, and tiles.
- Made with ABS plastic
- 10 inches in length
- 2.36-inch pin depth
- 13.6 ounces in weight
- Ultra-thick aluminum core
- 10% thinner teeth
Saker Contour Gauge is a product of Smartsaker a registered trademark of the British company Saker Tech Ltd. located in Bolton, United Kingdom. The company offers a fine selection of merchandise including hand tools, power tools, lawn & garden tools, life tools, and lamps & lighting. If you’re looking to buy a Contour Gauge, this is one of the most trusted brands in the industry.
Saker Contour Gauge offers both accuracy and durability. It is one of the best contour gauges in the market. Made with ABS plastic with an ultra-thick aluminum core, it will stand the test of time. Moreover, at just 13.6 ounces in weight, Saker Contour Gauge is extremely easy to carry around.
With regard to the accuracy, Saker Contour Gauge is ten inches in length and has a pin depth of 2.36 inches. It also has ten percent thinner teeth, which will give you high-resolution patterns.
You can expect to get a perfect reproduction of any rigid shape. It also comes with a locking mechanism that will ensure that the pins stay in place so that you can reproduce the pattern someplace else.
Smartsaker’s goal is to offer the most innovative, cool, and fun gadgets of exceptional quality. The high quality of the product, however, means that it is not as cheap as some other products in the category. But nonetheless, it is still a quite affordable piece of equipment. Saker Counter Gauge is one of the premium choices for men and women working in plumbing, flooring,
roofing, or any other handiwork. So if you’re searching for the best contour gauge available in the market, you need not look further than Saker.
This item can be shipped anywhere within the United States. However, the item can be shipped only to select countries outside the U. S. due to Covid-19 protocols.
- Locking mechanism
- Adjustable tightness
- No magnetic blocks
- Does not come with an angle connector
02
VARSK Contour Gauge Duplicator with Lock - 10 inch
Ideal for woodworking, auto-body, auto-metal sheet, stainless steel, and tile.
- Made with ABS plastic
- 10 inches in length
- 2.5-inch pin depth
- 18.4 ounces in weight
- Heavy-duty aluminum alloy core
- 0.05-inch pin
VARSK was born in 2018 when founder Vincent left the college to follow his passion for innovative tools in NYC. VARSK Contour Gauge is their first product and it became an instant hit in the market. Since then, they’ve been producing a range of effective and essential tools.
VARSK Contour Gauge is made from heavy-duty ABS plastic pins. It also has a 45-degree pin teeth design which will maximize the accuracy of the measurement. The contour gauge is quite easy to use and you can duplicate any shape instantly. The deepest pin can reach 2.5 inches, and a single pin goes down to 0.05 inches in width, maximizing the shape to get the perfect fit.
The gauge comes with a metal lock mechanism, which is much more durable than plastic locks. This will help keep the shape and help you transfer the pattern anywhere you need. It also comes with a bonus Little Allen Wrench, with which you can adjust the tightness so that you don’t have to worry about too loose or too tight pins.
VARSK challenges you to increasingly high standards of rigor and precision and creativity. The tool is designed and engineered better and more intentionally than many other products in the market.
The premium quality of the product, however, means that it is not as cheap as some other products in the category, but is still affordable. It will be a great choice if you are a professional looking for the best contour gauge available in the market, but can also come in handy for home use.
This item can be shipped anywhere within the United States. However, the item can be shipped only to select countries outside the U. S. due to Covid-19 protocols.
- Locking mechanism
- Adjustable tightness
- No magnetic blocks
- Does not come with an angle connector
03
LUTER Plastic Contour Gauge, 10 Inch Profile
Ideal for woodworking, auto-body, auto-metal sheet, stainless steel, and tile.
- Made with ABS plastic
- 10 inches in length
- 13.6 ounces in weight
LUTER Contour Gauge is made with ABS plastic and is very durable and sturdy. It is a 10-inch multi-functional contour profile gauge that can measure in inches on one side and in centimeters on the other. It has a simple design and a durable build. It also offers a high degree of precision. Moreover, at just 13.6 ounces in weight, LUTER Contour Gauge is extremely easy to carry around.
The gauge is simple to use – all you have to do is press the pins’ teeth onto a shape and trace. It has an integrated ruler that provides convenient standard and metric measurements. It also comes with Small Philips head screws on either end of the gauge which allows the fine-tuning of the pin tension. If the pins are too loose, you can use pliers to press down the brass cap ends again to restore some tightness.
LUTER Contour Gauge is ideal for measuring irregular items, winding pipes, auto metal sheets, circular frames, pipes, tile, laminate, wood planking, ducts, flooring, carpet, molding, etc. For those looking for the best contour gauge for home use, then this is the perfect choice for you as it is one of the cheapest in the market.
This item can be shipped anywhere within the United States. However, the item can be shipped only to select countries outside the U. S. due to Covid-19 protocols.
- Cost-effective
- Adjustable tightness
- No locking mechanism
- No magnetic blocks
- Does not come with an angle connector
04
MUTANO Contour Gauge Duplicator (10 Inch Lock)
Ideal for woodworking, auto-body, auto-metal sheet, stainless steel, and tile.
- Made with ABS plastic
- 10 inches in length
- 2.4-inch pin depth
- 16.48 ounces in weight
- 6.06-inch pin
- 45-degree angle design
MUTANO Contour Gauge is a great measurement tool that can easily duplicate and transfer any shape accurately. With 158 scratch-resistant teeth and a measuring-depth of 2.4 inches, the gauge allows tracing shapes in high resolution. It has a built-in ruler that provides both standard and metric measurements.
MUTANO Contour Gauge is made of stable ABS plastic that is high-strength, rustproof, and durable. The gauge also has an upgraded locking mechanism that is smooth to push, which ensures keeping the shape with no movement out of form. It also comes with a mechanism to adjust the tightness of the pins so that you can maintain high accuracy.
The gauge uses a 45-degree angle design which makes it convenient to trace. All you have to do is push to copy the shape, lock the tool, cut or trace and you’re done!
MUTANO Contour Gauge has almost all the specifications of premium contour gauges. So if you’re a professional but still want a cost-effective contour gauge, then MUTANO Contour Gauge is the best contour gauge available in the market. It is ideal for both home and workspaces.
This item can be shipped anywhere within the United States. However, the item can be shipped only to select countries outside the U. S. due to Covid-19 protocols.
- Includes 1 mythic card
- Includes 3 rare cards
- No Artefacts
05
NadaKin 3 Pieces Contour Gauge, Plastic Outline Profile Shape
- Set of one 10-inches and two 5-inch gauge
- Made with ABS plastic
- 2.36-inch pin depth
- 26.08 ounces in weight
- 0.05-inch pin
NADAKIN Contour Gauge is a product that offers precise shape duplication. This 3 piece set of gauges allow you to copy the shapes of varying lengths and sizes. All three gauges are made out of high-quality ABS plastic and have high strength, crocking resistance, and is also rustproof. It works well in copying the shape of any irregular items, replicate the shape of moldings, or match cut-outs, exactly for woodworking or tile flooring.
Designed aesthetically, the gauge has an in-built scale on either side, which allows easy measurement in both inches and centimeters. The high definition laser cutting line is clear and easy to read. Each needle has precision down to 0.05 inch which will give you a high-resolution copy of the pattern. You can also use a screwdriver to adjust the screws on both sides to loosen or tighten if you think the original is too tight or loose.
NADAKIN Contour Gauge is also user-friendly – all you have to do is press the teeth against the object to match the contour and then trace the shape you need. Although it does not have a locking mechanism, the three gauges conform to shape and holds pattern very well. You will not need to transfer profiles to paper or cardboard again.
For experts who regularly have to deal with larger products and need more than a single gauge or those who are starting a small term business, NADAKIN Contour Gauge is the best contour gauge choice for you.
This item can be shipped anywhere within the United States. However, the item can be shipped only to select countries outside the U. S. due to Covid-19 protocols.
- Different lengths
- Adjustable tightness
- No Locking mechanism
- No magnetic blocks
- Does not come with an angle connector
06
Werkzeug Contour Gauge Shape Duplicator (10 Inch Lock)
Ideal for woodworking, auto-body, auto-metal sheet, stainless steel, and tile.
- Made with ABS plastic
- 10 inches in length
- 17.28 ounces in weight
- Durable aluminum core
- 5.1-inch width
WERKZEUG Contour Gauge is made from tough and durable ABS plastic. It is well built, lightweight, rustproof, sturdy, and durable. This profile gauge creates an instant template for curved and odd-shaped profiles simply and easily. It can duplicate any shape instantly.
The width of the WERKZEUG Contour Gauge reaches 5.1 inches, while the width of ordinary contour gauges is 3.93 inches in average length. This extra width allows for higher resolution copies. You can also adjust the tightness appropriately using the tool in the product packaging.
Once the object has been contoured, the unique locking mechanism makes sure you don’t lose the pattern, allowing you to make highly accurate copies every single time.
This contour gauge can measure countless irregular items, auto metal sheets, circular frames, pipes, tile, laminate, wood planking, ducts, flooring, carpet, molding, etc. It is smooth to use and ideal for both home and workspaces.
Besides, all customers can enjoy a 60-day Money Back Guarantee. Customers can just return and get refunded in case the purchased product is not satisfactory for any reason. So, if you are someone who is going to try out this innovative measurement tool for the very first time, then this is the best contour gauge choice for you.
This item can be shipped anywhere within the United States. However, the item can be shipped only to select countries outside the U. S. due to Covid-19 protocols.
- Locking mechanism
- Adjustable tightness
- No magnetic blocks
- Does not come with an angle connector
07
RAK Contour Gauge Shape Duplicator (10 Inch Lock)
Ideal for woodworking, auto-body, auto-metal sheet, stainless steel, and tile.
- Made with ABS plastic
- 10 inches in length
- 0.05-inch pins
- 16 ounces in weight
- Heavy-duty aluminum core
RAK Contour Gauge is simple to use and takes out all the guesswork, calculations, and learning curve. It allows you to copy any shape or duplicate any object profile with ease. It is made with high-quality ABS plastic and an aluminum core. The heavy-duty construction has durability that you can see and feel.
The longer body allows for more flexibility and applications. At only 0.05 inches thin, the RAK Contour Gauge can duplicate any shape precisely. It has a patented locking feature that once contoured, helps you get accurate reproductions every single time. It also comes with a built-in standard and metric ruler which will save you much time by helping you line up your cuts.
RAK Contour Gauge can be used for endless applications. It is also incredibly portable and compact. The flat profile makes for easy storage and transportation. It is a versatile tool that is great for carpentry, flooring, layout work, tile, installation, and auto body repair. Even if you buy it for a weekend project, you’ll end up using it for countless others.
The RAK Contour Gauge comes packaged in a high-quality gift box, so if you are searching for the best contour gauge to gift a do-it-yourselfer, then this is the right choice.
This item can be shipped anywhere within the United States. However, the item can be shipped only to select countries outside the U. S. due to Covid-19 protocols.
- Patented locking mechanism
- Adjustable tightness
- No magnetic blocks
- Does not come with an angle connector
08
Proster Profile Contour Gauge 3pcs Simple Gauge
Ideal for woodworking, auto-body, auto-metal sheet, stainless steel, and tile.
- Made with ABS plastic
- 10 inches in length
- 2.36-inch pin depth
- 32 ounces in total weight
- Both ABS Plastic & Metal
- 3-piece set
PROSTER Contour Gauges works well in copying the shape of any irregular items and is ideal for woodworking, tile flooring, or linoleum installation. This 3 piece combo includes a 250mm contour gauge, a 150mm contour gauge, and a 120mm contour gauge. Two of the gauges, the 250mm and the 120mm, are made of durable ABS plastic, while the third is made of metal.
The 250mm large contour gauge, comes with four magnets which make it ideal for measuring metal surfaces that are placed higher up and difficult to reach. The smaller 120mm is ideal for measuring objects in tight spaces where a larger contour gauge will be of no use. The third medium-sized contour gauge is made of an alloy of steel. This is the perfect gauge to use if you need a high-definition precision cutting line with good definition.
This PROSTER Contour Gauge 3-piece combo is the perfect choice for professionals as it includes gauges in three different sizes. Whether you are starting a business or you work by yourself, this combo is the best contour gauge choice for you.
This item can be shipped anywhere within the United States. However, the item can be shipped only to select countries outside the U. S. due to Covid-19 protocols.
- Magnetic blocks
- ABS Plastic & Steel
- No locking mechanism
- Does not come with an angle connector
09
General Tools 837 Contour Gauge Duplicator
Ideal for woodworking, auto-body, auto-metal sheet, stainless steel, and tile.
- Made with ABS plastic
- 10 inches in length
- 2.36-inch pin depth
- 32 ounces in total weight
- Both ABS Plastic & Metal
- 3-piece set
PROSTER Contour Gauges works well in copying the shape of any irregular items and is ideal for woodworking, tile flooring, or linoleum installation. This 3 piece combo includes a 250mm contour gauge, a 150mm contour gauge, and a 120mm contour gauge. Two of the gauges, the 250mm and the 120mm, are made of durable ABS plastic, while the third is made of metal.
The 250mm large contour gauge, comes with four magnets which make it ideal for measuring metal surfaces that are placed higher up and difficult to reach. The smaller 120mm is ideal for measuring objects in tight spaces where a larger contour gauge will be of no use. The third medium-sized contour gauge is made of an alloy of steel. This is the perfect gauge to use if you need a high-definition precision cutting line with good definition.
This PROSTER Contour Gauge 3-piece combo is the perfect choice for professionals as it includes gauges in three different sizes. Whether you are starting a business or you work by yourself, this combo is the best contour gauge choice for you.
This item can be shipped anywhere within the United States. However, the item can be shipped only to select countries outside the U. S. due to Covid-19 protocols.
- Magnetic blocks
- ABS Plastic & Steel
- No locking mechanism
- Does not come with an angle connector
10
Awefrank Contour Gauge Duplicator 10 Inch Profile
Ideal for woodworking, auto-body, auto-metal sheet, stainless steel, and tile.
- Made with ABS plastic
- 10 inches in length
- 2.36-inch pin depth
- 13.6 ounces in weight
Awefrank Contour Gauge is a product of Smartsaker a registered trademark of Shen Zhen Baiyu Network Technology Co., Ltd. located in Guangdong, China.
Awefrank Contour Gauge is made of high-quality ABS plastic and is high-strength, rustproof, and durable. It can easily copy any shape and create an instant template for curved and odd-shaped profiles simply and easily. It is ideal for measuring replicas of molded products, replicating spindles on lathes, laying floors around molded products, replicating curves, and performing various other contour matching jobs in homes and shops.
Even though it doesn’t have a locking mechanism, Awefrank Contour Gauge has a row of teeth and a vertical shell, which fixes them in place when they impress the surface. It is easy to use and has scales on both sides, which makes measurement simple. It only weighs 13.6 ounces and can be easily carried around.
It is also cost-effective compared to the other contour gauges in the market. So if you’re looking for a contour gauge for a one-time project or minimal use, then this might be the best contour gauge choice for you.
This item can be shipped anywhere within the United States. However, the item can be shipped only to select countries outside the U. S. due to Covid-19 protocols.
- Locking mechanism
- Adjustable tightness
- No magnetic blocks
- Does not come with an angle connector
Things To Consider When Choosing The Best Contour Gauge
Length
Contour Gauges come in different lengths ranging from 5 inches to 20 inches. Getting the right length is crucial when choosing the best contour gauge for you. Too long, and it might not fit into a tight space, too small, and it might not capture the entire shape, which will make your job more tedious and less accurate.
The best length however varies from person to purpose as it depends on your purpose. If you are a craftsman who regularly does larger products then a longer contour gauge of 15 or 20 inches should be your best choice. If you are a handyman who has to regularly do small patch-up jobs, then a 5-inch contour gauge should be sufficient for you.
However, a 10-inch gauge would be most ideal whether you use the gauge at home or at work and would be sufficient to measure most surfaces including door frames, ducts, molding, winding pipes, and other common obstacles you normally face during regular home projects or professional jobs.
(Tip: If you’re looking for a bigger contour gauge, there is something called a metal contour duplicator that is solid and rigid, but allows you to bend it follow around a particular surface contour. There are several knobs on this belt-like equipment that you can lock tightly to keep the pattern.)
Pin Depth
The length of the contour gauge alone cannot determine its effectiveness. Just like length, you need to also consider pin depth, if you want to measure a larger diameter. Pin depth will decide the maximum depth that the gauge can duplicate.
The larger the diameter, the deeper the pins required. Most gauges are about 4 inches in width. That width includes the housing that holds the pins together.
Contour Gauges of the same length can have different pin depths and so you need to be careful while choosing the ideal one for you. You’ll easily find gauges with pin depths ranging from 1 inch to 4 inches. You never know how much depth you’ll have to deal with, so it would be wise to choose a contour gauge that has a pin depth that’s closer to 4 inches
Pin Material & Durability
Durability is another factor you need to consider before choosing the best contour gauge. The durability of a contour gauge largely depends on the quality of its pins. Most Contour Gauges are either made of metal (stainless steel) or plastic (ABS plastic). Both materials have their own positives and negatives.
Stainless steel pins are more durable in the long term as it will not rust or break. Bus since stainless steel pins tend to be thinner, there are chances that it might bend if stored improperly or used with much force. This will affect accuracy.
However, Contour Gauges with plastic pins are more common in the market. Contour Gauges with plastic pins cost lesser than the ones with stainless steel. And although they are not as durable as metal pins, plastic pins have a lesser chance to bend. They can, however, break if not used with care.
Locking Mechanism
Not all Contour Gauges come with a locking mechanism. The purpose of a Contour Gauge is to help transfer the shape of an object to another material. This may involve having to transfer the measured pattern someplace else.
Clamp locking helps to keep the pins in place while transferring the pattern. If the pins are loose, or if you want to transfer the pattern to a longer distance, the gauge might not retain the pattern, unless it has a proper locking mechanism.
If you are someone who wants to use a contour gauge as part of your profession, then the best contour gauge with a locking mechanism might be essential.
Adjustability
It is only natural that with constant use the pins used in the contour gauge will become loose. This might however affect the accuracy of the measurements. That’s why a contour gauge that allows you to adjust the tightness when required would be a great asset. The most recent contour gauges seem to have a mechanism that allows you to adjust the pins’ tightness with the two screws on either side.
Resolution
Just like your computer or smartphone depends on pixels for accuracy, a contour gauge depends on its pins for accuracy. The number and thickness of the pins in a contour gauge can both affect the resolution of the patterns you get. Metal pins are usually thinner than plastic ones.
Since they are thinner and much sleeker, contour gauges that use metal pins seem to have more pins per inch. However, high resolution is only required for more professional jobs. For other purposes, those with plastic pins will easily do the job and would be much more cost-effective.
Joinable Parts
What do you do if you want to contour around a long space? Most contour gauges tend to be around 10 inches on average in length. You will have to repeatedly measure short portions using the gauge which can be really tedious and the chances of mistakes due to overlapping is also high.
In such cases, contour gauges that allow you to join multiple units together can come in handy. There are quite a few contour gauges available in the market today that have mechanisms that allow you to join two contour gauges together.
Magnetic Blocks
Some contour gauges come with edge magnets that enable them to stick to metal surfaces. This is an additional feature that isn’t essential but could be really convenient, especially if you are a professional. It can be really helpful when working with materials that are placed higher up and are difficult to reach.
Angle Connector
This is another feature that isn’t essential but can be crucial in certain situations. It is really cumbersome to make a contour around a corner or around rounded objects especially because the contour gauge is a straight instrument. Contour Gauges that comes with an angle connector will allow you to overcome this difficulty by allowing you to connect gauges at various angles.
Four Reasons To Buy a Contour Gauge
#1 It saves a lot of time and hassle
Measuring irregular objects and surfaces with a ruler or tape is an incredibly difficult task. You have to tediously measure section by section and no assurance that you’ll get it perfect. Even an expert craftsman could become victim to overlapping if he is not careful. And a simple overlap can get the measurement all wrong.
A contour gauge is an incredibly handy and versatile tool. It can save you a lot of time and hassle while measuring the most irregular and difficult objects and surfaces – that too with minimal effort. Even an expert craftsman wouldn’t be able to do a better job!
#2 Essential for handiwork
When you think “craftsman” or “handyman”, you don’t normally think contour gauge. You think of hammers, screwdrivers, drills, and crosscut saws. But many expert craftsmen have begun using contour gauges and many more are joining the bandwagon. That’s because they have realized that this simple, inexpensive equipment can help them be more precise and also let them finish their jobs faster. Quite soon, it is going to become essential if you are a craftsman.
It is not a tool that will play a role in every project like a hammer or a screwdriver. But when called for, there is no substitute. So if you are a craftsman or a handyman, you don’t want to be late to join the party!
#3 It is a versatile tool
The contour gauge is one of the most innovative tools to be designed in the recent past. It works on a simple principle and is incredibly easy to use. While most measurement equipment is restricted to measuring particular surfaces or shapes, the contour gauge is astonishingly versatile. It can measure countless shapes and surfaces of variable lengths and sizes and is applicable in various professions including carpentry, flooring, tile work, and many more.
Gone is the time when you thought measuring irregular shapes with perfect accuracy was impossible. Be it circular frames, pipes, tile, laminate, wood planking, ducts, flooring, carpet, or molding, a contour gauge can measure it all!
#4 It is easy to use
A contour gauge is quite easy to use. You don’t have to be an expert craftsman to use this too. All you have to do is follow a few simple steps.
- Make sure the pins are aligned by pushing the gauge against a flat surface
- Press the teeth of the gauge evenly against the shape to create a contour
- If the gauge has a locking mechanism, use it to lock the pins in place
- Transfer the gauge to the surface you want to copy it on and trace the shape.
Through these four simple steps, you will get an exact reproduction of the shape. It’s that simple!
Frequently Asked Questions
Different contour gauges come with different locks. Some have metal locks while some others have plastic locks. However, most locks work in the same manner. Contour gauges typically have a small lever on one end of the gauge. All you have to do is press or move this lever once you have used the gauge to create a contour, and the pins will stay in place. Then you can trace the shape someplace else.
A contour gauge can be used on countless objects and materials. It is ideal for measuring replicas of molded products, replicating spindles on lathes, laying floors around molded products, replicating curves, and performing various other contour matching jobs in homes and shops. However, it also depends on the size and length of the object. Longer shapes may require you to use multiple gauges that can be joined together.
No. Magnetic blocks and angle connectors aren't essential in a contour gauge. However, they are additional features that can come in really handy when you have to a metal surface that is placed higher up and is difficult to reach, or when you have to measure a tight corner.
Best Contour Gauges - Final Words
There are countless contour gauges available in the market today. Choosing the ideal one for you can be incredibly difficult. We have scanned through the market and reviewed the 10 best contour gauges we could find. Each one of them is unique in their own right. Choosing any of them will serve you well. So get you a contour gauge and start measuring now!