Need Your Brains For A Tricky Situation. (Sharpening Awl)

[DavidL]

I've tried sharpening a very misshapen stitching awl on a stone and after 2 hours it still won't punch holes evenly.

The problems with the awl are:

it is slightly curved

one slant of the awl is narrow angled and the edge beside has a high angle

middle of the awl has a bulge.

Not sure how this awl got through quality control, but it still seems redeemable.

[silverwingit]

Verdict: someone got to that awl blade before you did or... it's a lemon. It should have that diamond shape symmetrically on both sides.

Michelle

[DavidL]

Verdict: someone got to that awl blade before you did or... it's a lemon. It should have that diamond shape symmetrically on both sides.

Michelle

thanks for the reply. It wasn't retouched since the metal had no scratch/ polish marks. I found a solution to the uneven edges by shaving a groove into the edge of my stone and then push back and forth.

The awl is still slightly curved though. Any one had this problem before?

[Dwight]

Sometimes mine becomes slightly curved, . . . but I just bend it back straight.

When I get a new awl, . . . I start out taking a file to it, . . . and I make it diamond shape if it wasn't before.

I then use a carborundum stone to get a rough edge on it.

Then go to my Dremel, . . . get out he polishing compound, . . . make it shine with it.

I finish up the "blade" part of it with a little scissor sharpening tool I bought at JoAnn fabric. Little orange colored critter with a white ceramic stick in it, . . . set on the proper angle for a pair of scissors.

I run my awl 10 to 15 strokes down that little rascal after all the other work is done, . . . yessir, . . . it is then "sharp".

Don't wear sandals using one like that either, . . . you could really wind up sorry if you are a "dropper".

May God bless,

Dwight

[DavidL]

il be sure to look at the dremels at the hardware store when i get a chance. Fixed my awl blade, but still a bend on the blade even though I tried to get it straight. Im getting good at polishing awls and they are scary sharp, which is why i should wear shoes, but so far no nicks.

[dirtclod]

I had a awl fall off the bench one time and it went right through my boot into my toe. It was sticking straight up just like if you had stuck in the bench. That will make you speak in unknow tounge's !!

[Order and Chaos]

Back when I was working on a degree in technical illustration one of the instructors was showing us how to use an xacto knife to remove errant ink marks from the acetate. He accidentally sets the xacto in the tool groove up top crooked (the drawing table which was sloped), the knife begins merrily rolling down the table and falls, without thinking he tried to catch it... We had a stand in instructor for a couple days while his hand healed up.

[Nuttish]

Look at Nigel Armitage's YouTube channel for his video on awl sharpening.

You're going to get miserable results sharpening the thing unless it's straight. The proper angle comes from the width and thickness of material as it tapers back.

Do not despair. It's long enough to grind a new point and set the correct angle.

Or you could start over. They're cheap :-)

[silverwingit]

From the FWIW department...

To make a curved awl blade, you can heat a straight awl blade with an oil lamp or the equivalent to remove the blade's temper and while it is still hot you can press the point against a piece of wood until you get the bend you want.

I suppose one could heat a bent blade and then straighten it in a vise or with a few well-placed taps with a hammer.

I thought it should at least be mentioned in this thread.

Thanks,

Michelle

[JLSleather]

The problem will be that if you grind enough off the round side to form the diamond shape, it will then be off center on the handle and all of your holes will miss the mark -- like misaligned sights on a gun.

Yes, that's a joke. Point is, it's just not that critical.

[cst]

If it was me, I wouldn't bother heating it. You more than likely won't be able to keep it sharp once you've annealed it. It'll likely bend at every opportunity also. Depending on how bent it is, I'd either take a hammer or pair of pliers to it.

I got a couple of awl blades from Ludlow leather (I think) that I like pretty well. John James, about $5-6. They are inexpensive enough to keep a couple spares on hand.

Good luck