Uploaded December 2017 | Updated September 2026, 1 day ago
From 'good enough for government work' to 'that's so bad I can see it with my ear!', the How Far Out Gauge takes the guesswork out of measuring surfaces that are out of level or plumb. The gauge can be attached to any level over 2-3/8" in height and, with extra attachment cups available, can be quickly swapped between levels of different lengths, to suit the task at hand.
Invented by Michael Schuler, a career tradesman, this compact, high-quality tool is designed for real-world jobsites where ease of use and durability are essential. I use the gauge primarily for carpentry work but it's useful for any construction trade from concrete and tile to plumbing or structural steel.
Full disclosure: I AM NOT being paid for reviewing or featuring the HFO Gauge on Next Level Carpentry but offer my time and opinion for benefit of viewers and subscribers. I added the 'contains paid promotion' notification to this video because the Gauge I review in it was sent to me by FastCap and I don't want to run afoul of YouTube's disclosure guidelines.
For more information on the Gauge here's a link to the review I wrote for Tools of the Trade.net which is the Journal of Light Construction's online tool review website: toolsofthetrade.net/hand-tools/layout-tools/the-how-far-out-gauge_o
This link will take you to the HFO Gauge at FastCap:
fastcap.com/estore/pc/viewprd.asp?idproduct=55686
This link goes directly to the inventor's website where there's a bunch of useful info and links for the HFO:
howfarout.com
Michael is a very hands-on kind of guy so if you have any questions that aren't covered in this video or other links I'll bet you'll get a personal response for unanswered questions...
From 'good enough for government work' to 'that's so bad I can see it with my ear!', the How Far Out Gauge takes the guesswork out of measuring surfaces that are out of level or plumb. The gauge can be attached to any level over 2-3/8" in height and, with extra attachment cups available, can be quickly swapped between levels of different lengths, to suit the task at hand.
Invented by Michael Schuler, a career tradesman, this compact, high-quality tool is designed for real-world jobsites where ease of use and durability are essential. I use the gauge primarily for carpentry work but it's useful for any construction trade from concrete and tile to plumbing or structural steel.
Full disclosure: I AM NOT being paid for reviewing or featuring the HFO Gauge on Next Level Carpentry but offer my time and opinion for benefit of viewers and subscribers. I added the 'contains paid promotion' notification to this video because the Gauge I review in it was sent to me by FastCap and I don't want to run afoul of YouTube's disclosure guidelines.
For more information on the Gauge here's a link to the review I wrote for Tools of the Trade.net which is the Journal of Light Construction's online tool review website: toolsofthetrade.net/hand-tools/layout-tools/the-how-far-out-gauge_o
This link will take you to the HFO Gauge at FastCap:
fastcap.com/estore/pc/viewprd.asp?idproduct=55686
This link goes directly to the inventor's website where there's a bunch of useful info and links for the HFO:
howfarout.com
Michael is a very hands-on kind of guy so if you have any questions that aren't covered in this video or other links I'll bet you'll get a personal response for unanswered questions...
