Sharpen an awl?

[MtlBiker]

I'm new to using an awl and bought the "flatside awl haft", straight stabbing 2" and small diamond 1 5/8" awl blades from Tandy.  Are these supposed to be quite sharp?  Do they need sharpening, and if so, how?  Using the small diamond needle I find it rather hard to punch through two layers of 6 oz veg tan... I'm guessing because it's not sharp enough?

[fredk]

They should be razor sharp. So sharp that when you poke your finger you don't feel it and only know of it when you see the blood.

I use a small whetstone to keep my blades sharp. A whetstone of very fine grade

[MtlBiker]

7 minutes ago, fredk said:

They should be razor sharp. So sharp that when you poke your finger you don't feel it and only know of it when you see the blood.

I use a small whetstone to keep my blades sharp. A whetstone of very fine grade

Thank you!  I guess my awl isn't punching through well because it's not sharp enough.

But what's the technique for sharpening that shape of blade?  And how much of it do you sharpen?  The point and how far back along the shaft?

I've also got an Osborne awl coming along with a couple of blades.  It'll be interesting to see the sharpness (or not) compared with the Tandy one.

 

[DaveP]

8 minutes ago, MtlBiker said:

Thank you!  I guess my awl isn't punching through well because it's not sharp enough.

But what's the technique for sharpening that shape of blade?  And how much of it do you sharpen?  The point and how far back along the shaft?

I've also got an Osborne awl coming along with a couple of blades.  It'll be interesting to see the sharpness (or not) compared with the Tandy one.

 

Here's a really good video on sharpening an awl. 

 

Sharpening a Saddlers Awl - Bing video

[chuck123wapati]

35 minutes ago, MtlBiker said:

I'm new to using an awl and bought the "flatside awl haft", straight stabbing 2" and small diamond 1 5/8" awl blades from Tandy.  Are these supposed to be quite sharp?  Do they need sharpening, and if so, how?  Using the small diamond needle I find it rather hard to punch through two layers of 6 oz veg tan... I'm guessing because it's not sharp enough?

yup they need to be razor sharp another method that i use is to glue a piece of 1000 grit sandpaper to a popcicle stick then hold the awl still and  flat and polish the edge similar to using a file on a piece of steel. then a piece odf 2000 grit. I find it much easier to keep the shape  and angles of the awl that way. Good luck on whatever method you choose.

[Spyros]

Yeah good luck, if sharpening an awl doesn't put you off leatherworking nothing will.

Seriously though, take it slow.  A diamond shaped awl has many surfaces, they all have to be sharpened separately, and they also have curves that need to be followed.

And remember, if you get it wrong, a destroyed awl can always make an excellent dart 

[fredk]

Sharpen your diamond awl all the way the handle. Basically I do what chuck does, but I use a whetstone. On my awls I find just going over one edge is enough. I just use the whetstone to keep the point of my scratch [round] awl very sharp. I've read that some ppl use a dart sharpener

On that video, near the start, he shows the distortion of the leather as pushes the awl through. I use a cork block on the back side of the leather to push the awl into, thus no distortion. You can get a large cork block in a hardware store for just a couple of $$. Cut it down to a handy size

[chuck123wapati]

5 minutes ago, fredk said:

Sharpen your diamond awl all the way the handle. Basically I do what chuck does, but I use a whetstone. On my awls I find just going over one edge is enough. I just use the whetstone to keep the point of my scratch [round] awl very sharp. I've read that some ppl use a dart sharpener

On that video, near the start, he shows the distortion of the leather as pushes the awl through. I use a cork block on the back side of the leather to push the awl into, thus no distortion. You can get a large cork block in a hardware store for just a couple of $$. Cut it down to a handy size

but i use a wine cork lol. 

[MtlBiker]

40 minutes ago, DaveP said:

Here's a really good video on sharpening an awl. 

 

Sharpening a Saddlers Awl - Bing video

Great!  Thanks very much for that link, Dave.  Armitage videos are terrific.

 

37 minutes ago, chuck123wapati said:

yup they need to be razor sharp another method that i use is to glue a piece of 1000 grit sandpaper to a popcicle stick then hold the awl still and  flat and polish the edge similar to using a file on a piece of steel. then a piece odf 2000 grit. I find it much easier to keep the shape  and angles of the awl that way. Good luck on whatever method you choose.

That sounds like a very good idea (and an excuse to buy popcicles!).  Any particular flavor work best? 

 

[MtlBiker]

31 minutes ago, Spyros said:

Yeah good luck, if sharpening an awl doesn't put you off leatherworking nothing will.

Seriously though, take it slow.  A diamond shaped awl has many surfaces, they all have to be sharpened separately, and they also have curves that need to be followed.

And remember, if you get it wrong, a destroyed awl can always make an excellent dart 

Funny guy!  A dart... really. 

But how annoying that a brand new awl arrives too dull to be any use.

Maybe the Osborne one I expect later today will be sharper out of the box.