Pushing awl thru two layers

[ps0303]

Is it normal for the awl to not want to go thru two layers of say 8/9 oz? I see some use a small drill bit. Is that better?

[barra]

a good or half decent awl blade should go thru that like hot butter. Make sure it is sharp and the point is not burred. You can also smear some leather dressing on the blade and wipe it off. A small film will remain making the blade glide thru. The old timers would scrape the blade over their scalp to get a miniscule amount of oil on the blade.

Barra

[Shorts]

Yup, sharp and smooth. This will make your awl swift!

[Randy Cornelius]

The only awl blade that I have been able to use "out of the Box" has been the ones I get from Douglas Tools. The ones I used to use from Osborn had to be sharpened and honed to be able to use. I would take them to the grinder and shape them to the correct size and angle, then hone them shooth and finally strop them to polish the blades so they would go through like butter. You can use one, but the Osborn blades are a lot of work. The Douglas ones are expensive, 20.00 as I remember but are worth it if your time with worth something.

Randy

[kseidel]

ps0303,

If you stick the tip of the awl in a cake of bees wax just prior to punching, the awl will slide through easily; even on very hard and thick leather. Repeat after every hole.

Keith

[338uwm]

I've found that useing a piece of a broom handle. With a good chunk of bees wax at the tip works great as a backer. I do this when stiching several layers together. A good sharp blade goes a long way as I learned that the hard way.

Instuctions on how to make the backer. Things needed Part of an old broom handle bees wax, and bailing wire. I drill a small hole about the same size of the bailing wire half way through the broom handle cut off about 2 foot of wire. Insert in hole wrap around handle going towards tip set bees wax on tip I perfer a whole patty/cake. continue to wrap wire halfway up the wax and come back down towards where the wire started and trim excess wire off. If wanted wrap the area were the wire started and ended with electrical tape to precent scratchs or cuts from the the pointed end of the wire.