Diamond Awl problems

[Fowlingpiece]

6 hours ago, alpha2 said:

that is great news! I don't do Facebook, though, is there another way to contact them?

307-737-2222

 

[480volt]

You can also email Douglas Tools:

dsctools@rangeweb.net

[goody2shoes]

On 10 July 2017 at 11:24 PM, zuludog said:

I have a spare, new, 2 3/4" John James awl blade & haft which you can have for the price of a pint.  PM me if you're interested

Same offer goes for anyone else in Britain if goody2shoes doesn't want it

Hi thanks very much for the offer, do you mean the blade is 2 3/4" ? If so unfortunately that won't be for me as I'm looking for at most 1 3/4 and as thin as possible. 

Thanks any way

[goody2shoes]

6 hours ago, 480volt said:

You can also email Douglas Tools:

dsctools@rangeweb.net

Thank you I have emailed them 

[cowboycolonel]

If you haven's solved your problem already, i suggest  Richard Anderson.  He hand=makes every awl and does a magnificent job,  I use his awls to do hand stitching on saddles ( which isn't the easiest leather to pierce) and have been very successful. Never hurts to have several around though.

[480volt]

8 minutes ago, cowboycolonel said:

Richard Anderson

Contact info?

[cowboycolonel]

All I have is a number, and I believe he is in Wisconsin.  (715) 532-6301

[Boondoggle]

On 7/10/2017 at 1:49 AM, goody2shoes said:

Hi guys and gals,

I'm having some awl problems, my trusty perfectly honed awl that was passed down to me snapped whilst making a cartridge bag, since then I have tried a few new blades but they all seem soooo sharp and no matter how much polishing each edge it doesn't feel right,and I can feel it just slicing through the leather.  I'm using a Blanchard at the mo, any suggestions? 

Thanks

I use the Blanchard blades and they are fully sharp down the edges, which is consistent with the french style.  They are easily dulled though.  I just run them back and forth on the straight part of the edge a bit on a medium and then fine stone, and strop the edges as well.  You don't want to dull too much of the point, but if you feel the hole is still too large, you can dull up the shoulder as well.  I do this after getting the four sides all gleaming.   I also find that the Blanchard points are too acute for my taste.  Rounding them off a bit seems to help with maintaining the point sharpness.