Making My Own Diamond-Shaped Awl.

[electrathon]

I would recomend using an antenna off a car. They are plentifull and are very hard. Stainless too so they will not discolor your leather like a will.

Aaron

[ToddB 68]

Howdy !

Trying to make my own diamond-shaped awl. ( have a haft with adjustable chuck.)

I started with a "square-cut" concrete nail, because it's hard and already tapered lengthwise.

Using my bench grinder, a flat file and a bucket of cool water, I worked the nail down to a more slender size while maintaining a lengthwise taper and cross sectional rectangular shape.

Now I need to add the diamond shape.

Does anyone have a design for a fixture to make an awl cross sectionally diamond shaped ? I am looking for something that could be made from hardwood and/or metal in my workshop. The fixture does not need to hold tight tolerances on the finished product (the awl). I would be satisfied with a close approximation of a diamond shape. In fact, what I mostly need is a design concept and then I can work out the construction details and fine-tune the fixture to hold my personal accuracy requirements.

Thanks for whatever help you can offer.

ToddB68

Hi All !

Attached are photo's of my completed Awl Blade, i.e. a full view of the awl mounted in an old haft I got from my Dad years ago,

along with a side-by-side sample of the concrete nail used. Also, three sectional photo's of the completed awl blade, for close-up views.

This, my first attempt at making an awl blade, turned out a little too thin in the forward section, but will still work for the leather tool sheath I'm in the process of making. I tested it and by using Bees wax on the blade, was able to push through two dry layers of 12oz. veg-tanned leather without the blade flexing. Of course, I had to take it easy and push slowly. In the future, I plan to make another blade, but it will be somewhat thicker cross-sectionally throughout the entire length.

ToddB68

Edited November 2, 2010 by ToddB68

[ToddB 68]

Hi All !

Attached are photo's of my completed Awl Blade, i.e. a full view of the awl mounted in an old haft I got from my Dad years ago,

along with a side-by-side sample of the concrete nail used. Also, three sectional photo's of the completed awl blade, for close-up views.

This, my first attempt at making an awl blade, turned out a little too thin in the forward section, but will still work for the leather tool sheath I'm in the process of making. I tested it and by using Bees wax on the blade, was able to push through two dry layers of 12oz. veg-tanned leather without the blade flexing. Of course, I had to take it easy and push slowly. In the future, I plan to make another blade, but it will be somewhat thicker cross-sectionally throughout the entire length.

ToddB68

Whoops ! Forgot to attach the photo's........see below.

Edited November 2, 2010 by ToddB68

[Albe]

Thanks Guys. Just made me one after my shop bought awl snapped last night close to the end of my first project.