Thanks to all that replied.

1) I already have a Fine Woodworking on-line account. Best $14 I spend
all
year.

2) I searched for home-made gauges and found a couple more. There was
one
person who just used calibers. Opened the jaws to 5 inches. Zeroed the
dial, clamped the jaws to the blade and tightened until he got to .003
on the dial.
Seems to work, cheap (I own one) and easy to build (unlike the other
one in FWW).

Again, thanks all. I'm going to use my birthday money on something
else then.

MJ