Sharpen an awl?

[billybopp]

8 minutes ago, chuck123wapati said:

but i use a wine cork lol. 

MUCH more enjoyable to get those!

- Bill

[MtlBiker]

12 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

Thank you.  Looks like a great excuse (not that one is needed) to uncork a bottle or two of wine!  Really, it's just for the cork dear.  But now that it's open, it would be a shame to let it go to waste.

 

[chuck123wapati]

8 minutes ago, MtlBiker said:

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

 

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

 

there is no bad popsicle flavor imo  lol I'm partial to those orange cream things and they go great with a semi dry rose.

Edited February 25, 2022 by chuck123wapati

[Spyros]

Just now, MtlBiker said:

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.

 

I mean, if you're gonna be using an awl you're gonna have to sharpen it frequently anyway, so what's the point of paying them to do the first sharpening for you?  Make no mistake, the awls that come properly sharpened have definitely built it into the price, because it does take a while.

I would bet most of us have a couple of darts in a drawer somewhere, it's part of learning.

[billybopp]

It's a shame that awls do not usually come usably sharp.   If you do not feel confident in your ability to sharpen one, Leatherwranglers has them available in a ready to use state which may be money well spent for you!

- Bill

[tsunkasapa]

+1 on the wine corks, but it's a good thing I have friends that drink it, because wine is disgusting. Every bottle is RAISINS that don't get to go into oatmeal cookies!

[billybopp]

5 minutes ago, tsunkasapa said:

+1 on the wine corks, but it's a good thing I have friends that drink it, because wine is disgusting. Every bottle is RAISINS that don't get to go into oatmeal cookies!

There are a few beers out there that are corked as well.   Chimay comes to mind as one of them.......

- Bill

[tsunkasapa]

Other uses for the corks; after you've been stabbing into one for a while, it will get rather chewed up. It makes a great 'pincushion' to keep your needles in. Also, if you have a round handle awl, stabbing it into the cork at an angle will keep it from rolling off the bench when you set it down.

[Sheilajeanne]

On 2/25/2022 at 9:27 AM, 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

So using cork on the backside is better than another piece of leather? I've been using a nice, thick piece of belly leather, after I found my poundo board wasn't good for my punches.

[MtlBiker]

28 minutes ago, Sheilajeanne said:

So using cork on the backside is better than another piece of leather? I've been using a nice, thick piece of belly leather, after I found my poundo board wasn't good for my punches.

If you'll forgive me as a newbie... I think a cork on the backside is great!  It lets me have full control over my awl and how I'm punching through.  If I would use another piece of leather, it would be chewed up in no time plus the resistance felt while pushing would be quite different.  I don't have a cork "block" but rather use wine corks (of which I have PLENTY!) and what I'm doing so far is holding my leather assembly in a pony and after having marked where my stitching holes should be, I hold the wine cork on the underside (left side in my case) and push the awl through from the right.  No distortion of the leather and no danger of my poking into my fingers.  Now if you're using stitching chisels to make your holes, I'd think the poundo board would be better.  And if with the chisel you're punching through both (assuming there are two) layers, maybe the piece of leather would be better.  I guess it all depends on what you're doing and how.  But you've certainly got more experience than I do.