It does just what it is designed for - assists in laying out measurements for molding and trim. It is fairly easy to use, once you get the hang of it. The directions are somewhat vague, so it took a bit of practice to determine the best way to mark the cut lines on molding. Otherwise a real handy product that easily fits in your tool belt.

This tool is very helpful when trimming out, it makes you get consistent reveals which I think makes a difference. The guys kidded me about this one but using it lines you up quicker and makes you more consistent.

I was somewhat surprised at some of the past reviews here. I've owned this tool for 2 years, and I've found it to be quite useful. I'm not sure what kind of miracles some here were expecting. It's just a simple, basic layout tool, that is well designed, virtually weightless and performs a number of useful functions for doing finish work. I have a lot of lay out tools, many of which can do some of the same things this tool does, but if mine came up missing today, I'd have another one by tomorrow. I have the plastic version and it is very sturdy, not flimsy at all, but I would love to find one of the aluminum ones.

Bought this thinking it would save some time, tried using it a few times and deceided my way worked better as well as faster. Still hope that the guy who invented it made lots of bucks!

this is the second one of these that i have owned because someone stole my first one, my old one was powdered coated aluminum, this new one is cheaper plastic, it works fine but i don't know for how long, i have had it now for about 3 weeks and it already shows signs of wear, i belive i might need to get a new one sooner rather than later, still a great tool just cheaper quality. So far i have not found a replacement that is aluminum. They just don't make em like they used to

I was skeptical of this tool's value when I first purchased it, but now I can't live without it! I have been doing a lot of interior trim work, and I use it constantly! I have never before been able to get better results hanging straight, level/plumb trim with such even reveals! I'd highly recommend this to any finish carpenter, novice or professional!

this tool really comes in handy while installing trim. one thing they could have done to improve it would be to make the bottom corners a sharp 90 degree angle instead of a round one.

This is a handy little tool and I look forward to using it. One small disappointment relative to the other reviews, this one is not made out of metal. It is solid plastic. Still stout, but not aluminum. (I didn't see any disclaimer that the existing reviews were for a different product).

This item seemed like a good stocking stuffer kind of thing. Haven't used it yet, but it appears that it will be a time saver.

If you install mitered casing trim the standard way, you do the two side pieces first, and then measure for the top. I used to have all kinds of troubles getting the top piece's angles to be exactly 45 degrees and form a tight miter. It turns out most of this was probably due to the left and right pieces being ever so slightly not plumb.

This tool is a big help for that -- just pop it in the corner of the jambs and put the mitered side piece against it -- boom, perfect 45! Now your top piece will be nice and 45 too, and you'll save time cutting and tuning.

It costs as much as if it were made from stainless steel or perhaps platinum, but it easily saved me 10 minutes per side of each door I did, and lots of trips to the saw, so I'd say it's worth it.

I didn't even know about all the other cool things it does (see the additional pictures on amazon -- cool!

I have recently bought a new house and I am in the process of a full renovatation. New kitchen, bathrooms, floors and all new windows and doors. I am also replacing all the "clam shell" type molding with a more tradional "colonial style" throughout the house too. This tool is great for anyone who has to trim a lot of doors and windows. It works exactly as advertised.

Not very useful even for the money. If I'm going to nail it to a bench, I'll use the jig I already have thank you. I don't need to measure the jamb, just measure inside to inside and add your reveal... I was looking for a quick way to measure the inside to inside trim itself. I wanted to mark 30" on the trim, slap this thing on each end and it automagically add the reveal as I drew the 45 degree angle. I can find no way to get it to do that.

I don't really "get it" ..maybe I'm not using it right...but haven't really found a place to use this yet...but it's still in my carpenter's hand box. Instructions appear to have been written by a pastry chef...not a carpenter. I do some casement work, but mostly cabinets. Maybe you'll have a better use for it.

This device is not particularly helpful or useful for installing trim. Maybe it helps the visually chalanged, or if you have never installed trim before and dont know how much reveal to leave. At least it didn't cost very much.

found it hard to line up with casing and extremely hard to hold on to with the molding, I was expecting a miracle and didn't get it, I am back to the original way of marking with level then cutting to fit. Thought this was the answer.

It takes awhile to get it to work right. The instruction could be a little better.

although a couple of reviewers found this gadget a little useless, I found it very helpful, I do home remodel for a living & I own a lot of tools, I like to try every new product I see, this little device make doing casing very easy, It may be useless for the big time carpenter but for someone who doesn't do casing on a regular basis it works fine, at least it does work for me, I've done about 30 doors with it & it gets it right all the time...

Unlike many of the reviewers who bash this tool, I have actually used it and have made "perfect miters" with it. I am a professional woodworker and I do use it. It is handy for marking a reveal around door jambs and for making a perfect 45 degree reference line in the corners. The only problem I have with it is I was expecting it to be be metal and it was plastic. I have seen them in metal in stores and other reviewers referred to them as metal. The plastic works fine. It is just a lot of money for plastic.

Not being a professional trim carpenter, this tool really helped me do a good job trimming doors and windows. I read the negative reviews calling the tool useless--and it may very well be to an old pro. If you make your living trimming out houses, you're probably beyond this. I agree with the complaint about the lack of instructions. It took me a little while to figure out how to use it. Just examine the pictures and practice with some scrap, and you'll soon be rolling right along.

This is a gadget. How much it will help you probably depends on your skill level. I do not know of a single pro-trimmer that uses this thing. Most pro-trimmers do not even use a tape measure for installing casings anyway, so this "toy" only adds a step. I highly doubt it will give you "perfect miters every time" so do not expect it will. Perfect miters are elusive to the best of us at times and it takes experience, skill, an accurate saw and a good blade, and a few installation tricks to to get the "perfect miter" that won't open up. Given that this tool ranks #4 in sales must mean something, but I would not expect it to deliver on all it claims it can do for your casing work. Bench Dog is makes some excellent products but I am not so sure of this one.

This tool does exactly what it claims to - gives you a perfect reveal every time, and beautiful mitre joints. I ordered this a little while ago, and just had a trim job to do. Now, I'm ordering another one for my partner!

This gadget is available in both plastic and metal. The one Amazon ships is plastic. For about 3 bucks it would be an OK novelty. Here is why it's useless. The only thing it does is to hook the end of your tape with a 3/16" offset to account for the reveal, when you measure the inside dimension. You still have to add 3/16" to the measurement for the reveal at the other end. If you can add 3/16, you are certainly capable of adding 3/8". And you don't need any tool for that, just measure the inside of the jamb. The other "feature", the reveal guide, is already in every carpenter's tool box. It's called a step or trim gage, and it's adjustable for ANY reveal. The Bench Dog is for 3/16" reveal only.

Another time saver. I use this instead of setting up my combination square every time I trim out doors and windows. A great little extra every carpenter should have!

This is a great device, living up to all its promises. Simple, functional and well constructed. Well worth the price, and more!

If you work alone and install trim...get this. The slots are perfect for holding your tape in place for ensuring accurate measurements before making a cut. I also like the fact that all reveals are uniform by simply placing the tool on the jamb and not having to constantly take your tape out. Very easy to use and figure out from the pics on the packaging.

The package contains no instructions on how to use the tool, only a few pictures. It takes many trials and wasted trim pieces to figure out how you are to measure your trim using this tool.

The package instructs you to go to their website for more detailed instructions. The website has the exact same pictures as the package and no more instructions.

I emailed their support for further instructions and was informed none are available and they are working to develop them.

Buy a good square and tape measure instead. Adding 3/16" is not rocket science.

This is handy especially if you work alone. Makes trim installation easier after you become familiar with it. Beware that the older model was made from quality aluminium and this is now a cheap plastic.

I grabbed one of these at a home center a while back. I was at first impressed by the look and feel of it. I have used it when installing trim, building cabinets, and doing layout. I genuinely find the tape measure slots handy because I do most of my work alone and find it difficult to accurately span a six foot opening wihout a lot of cuss'n, spitt'n and chew'n. Also, I think the orange color compliments my yellow tools.

When I ordered the Trim Loc Casement tool, I thought it would be a flimsy lightweight unit. I was surprised when I received it that it was built out of such thick aluminum. It is protected with a baked on finish that should last. It is one of those simple tools that give you big consistent results. Trying to eyeball the casement trim offset won't give you the consistent professional results of this tool.
I have several Bench Dog tools, and not one of them is less than best in class. They are decorated in many woodworking reviews, and this one deserves five stars. Highly recommended.

I don't necessarily care about some of the features of this tool but for the one main thing it does it has become a "must" in my toolbox. It quickly and precisely locates casement trim when installing, making the job go more quickly and giving me more consistent reveals. Anything else it does is gravy.

This tool is the the most valuable tool I own .Being a trim carpenter this tool saves me time and the boss money !!!I can trim out a large home in a few hours and it eliminates wasted cuts.It gives me perfect miters !!!

This tool makes it very simple to get fast and professional results! I was extremely surprised at the accuracy and ease of use. It really takes the guesswork out of measuring inside miter angles, and is invaluable when nailing the trim to get a perfect reveals each time! [the price] might seem a little pricey but I would have paid twice that. If you are planning to install several window casings it is worth every penny.