How To Sharpen An Awl?

[Thomas]

Alright i have looked and looked trying to find info on how to sharpen a diamond shaped awl. I can't seem to find anything on here at all. If someone can help me with this problem. The tools that i have to sharpen it are a two sided wet rock, a 3000 grit norton stone, some ceramic dowels for polishing, and a homemade strop for polishing.

Thanks for the help.

Thomas

[bruce johnson]

Thomas,

I used to think mine were sharp until I spent some time with an old guy who could handsew a little. He took mine and made them so the acute angle sides of the awl will easily slice the edge of test piece of skirting. He worked the grits on some stones alternating with the edge and against the edge when he switched grits until the last grit on some wet dry (600). That he went into the edge until he had a foil edge the first 1" or so of blade and then stropped to remove the edge. He had that muscle memory to hold the angle constant and was quick about it. I have done that and can get the job done without as much effort now. I recently tried the 1x30 belt sander I have with superfine grit belts. With the platen as a backup and eyeing the angle from the top, I am getting pretty fair with that.

[celticleather]

There's also a useful tutorial here:

http://www.bowstock.co.uk/saa.html