Hardware Store Awl vs Scratch Awl?

[chuck123wapati]

5 hours ago, Klara said:

The way I see, any pointy thing that does not actually cut the leather will do. I have a round awl from a "automatic leather sewer thingy" (the ones with a spool of thread built in, but removable), and a much more solid one that came with an electric drum carder to take the fleece off the drum. Never seen the need for a "proper" scratch awl.

Though with my new bench grinder I could probably make one, just for fun.

mine is an old ice pick, most folks have never seen one.

[Squid61]

1 hour ago, chuck123wapati said:

mine is an old ice pick, most folks have never seen one.

My old ice pick, you know the kind with the wooden handle missing most of the old red paint, has a 5 inch spike.  I think I'd have to cut it down to be useful.

[chuck123wapati]

1 hour ago, Squid61 said:

My old ice pick, you know the kind with the wooden handle missing most of the old red paint, has a 5 inch spike.  I think I'd have to cut it down to be useful.

yup exactly the kind and it works fine as is. i would cut it down but i use it for other stuff as well, even picking ice once in a while lol.

[HBARK]

In Canda here you can check out Lee   Valley Tools.I use their scatch awl .Very nice tool and not expensive, had mine for a number of years

[MtlBiker]

48 minutes ago, HBARK said:

In Canda here you can check out Lee   Valley Tools.I use their scatch awl .Very nice tool and not expensive, had mine for a number of years

Thanks for the tip... I buy from Lee Valley regularly.  But are you suggesting that Lee Valley scratch awl is somehow better than the one from Tandy Leather for over 3 times the price?

Edited April 23, 2022 by MtlBiker

[HBARK]

I got mine about 15 yrs ago at Lee Valley.I paid 20.00 for it,not sure what they cost now but it is the nicest scratch awl I have ever had