Question About Awl Blades' Shape

[Cyis]

Why people use diamond blades awls rather that the oval ones, it seems the oval blades won't change the hole shape you pricking iron made.

[Tugadude]

This thread explains it pretty well...

http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=4612

[Cyis]

This thread explains it pretty well...

http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=4612

Thx bro,

but I'm talking about the oval blades not the round one. so it wont be a tiny hole on back

[Tugadude]

Same basic ideas apply. With an oval blade you still have two "corners".

[Nuttish]

There's no functional difference. The purpose of either awl is to cut open an angled slit just large enough sufficient to accommodate the width of two threads crossing each other through the leather. Only the first few mm of the awl need to be sharpened as a blade — the remaining length past the shoulder should be slightly rounded and dull such that the the awl is only gently stretching the slit to accommodate your needles and the hole will eventually tighten up around your threads.

[Tugadude]

I think there is a functional difference. From Twinoaks post in the thread I referenced...

The diamond cross section awl is sometimes referred to as a saddler's awl. One reason it's used is that it's pretty strong, and needs to be to push through thick leather. It also (when positioned correctly) presents a 'flat' face for the thread to pull against. This is important because if presented with the corner of the hole, the thread could cut the leather. Having a fairly narrow, but long (when compared to thread diameter) allows easy passage of the needle, but also closes up nicely.

One can argue how much difference it makes, but I think it is clear there is a difference.