Best Awl Design and Shape?

Craig · **Reply #30 on:** April 06, 2010, 01:52:18 AM

Quote from: Mike, Lord of the Spammers! on April 05, 2010, 09:56:10 AM

Got to be the Wenger SI awl, with the 93mm Vic effort being a close second

They really are like having a Makita drill in your pocket

Since I got my Farmer I reckon it does about 80% of the jobs that I used to get the drill out for

Neil · **Reply #31 on:** April 06, 2010, 02:47:43 AM

Another vote here for the awl on 93mm SAKs

Mike, Lord of the Spammers! · **Reply #32 on:** April 06, 2010, 07:21:00 AM

Quote from: Chako on April 06, 2010, 12:48:06 AM

The longest, being the Coast tool, is 2.5" long.

These do not have a sharpened edge. They do have a very sharp point and the body is square after the initial taper.

The holes can't be very clean then if it's unsharpened

evil510 · **Reply #33 on:** April 06, 2010, 09:13:09 AM

With the aid of all of your input and photos, I mixed and matched ideas and came up with an awl solution that I think will work great for me. I started off with metal better than that of the standard Wave blades, so it should be able to handle the abuse it will see. I went with a long, slender awl... just a hair over 2.5 inches. I noticed that the majority of awls sharpen the same edge so that it cuts when turned clockwise. In order to have clearance for the plier head, I had to sharpen the opposite edge (some SOG's are sharpened like this?). This turned out to be a blessing in disguise as I am naturally left handed. I tapered the thickness at the tip, similar to a Spirit, but not so much so that the tip would lose strength. The tip itself... I did a mild version of the beveled tip of a SOG (only 1/8 inch). There were definitely some clearance issues to deal with. If I wanted a short stubby awl, the process would of been straight forward. Since I wanted a larger, more substantial awl, I had to make a notch on one edge to get it to sit flat inside the tool. It is so long and wide that it overlapped the flat part of the scissors handle, which I will have to reshape tomorrow so there is no interference. It is a supertight fit but managed to utilize every bit of extra space in there. The large flathead driver (which I may still replace) got moved to the other handle next to the large bit driver. I wanted all things screwdriver related on the same handle. The awl is where the large flathead driver was. I am eliminating the small bit driver altogether as I will never use it because I have a complete set of double ended precision screwdrivers I made to fit the large bit driver. So... now I have the extra spot where the small bit driver was. Debating on what I will put there. Oh, also, anyone have any Surge scissors they are willing to sell or trade? Time permitting, in a day or two I will have finished and cleaned up the install. Afterwards, I will post pics. Thanks again you all!!

~ evil ~

Benner · **Reply #34 on:** April 06, 2010, 11:04:27 PM

I have an old British army knife. Would be a great EDC if I could actually open the damn thing.

Spork, Lord of Lime Jello! · **Reply #35 on:** April 06, 2010, 11:52:55 PM

Quote from: Benner on April 06, 2010, 11:04:27 PM

I have an old British army knife. Would be a great EDC if I could actually open the damn thing.

Charger · **Reply #36 on:** April 07, 2010, 12:36:12 AM

i gotta see pics of all your (bit)mods yet too. are they posted anywhere?

yes ALL not awl. SOmething about that word brings out the worst in peoples pun habits

evil510 · **Reply #37 on:** April 07, 2010, 03:22:55 AM

Hey gang! It's AWL done. I apologize for the quality of the pics, they were taken with my phone.....

Initial cutting and shaping to fit into the Wave.....

It is subtle, but the thickness tapers towards the tip. Cutting edge added and sharpened.....

Close-up of bevel grind on the tip.....

Installed.....

Yet another view..... this thing is huge!

All in all, I am quite pleased with the outcome. After dealing with the clearance issues, it folds up and locks perfectly. I put it through the paces today by punching holes and reaming just about everything in sight. It passed the test with no problems or issues. Thank you all again for your input and your photos. They helped a lot in the decision making process for making an awl that suits my needs perfectly.....

~ evil ~

Chako · **Reply #38 on:** April 07, 2010, 03:48:56 AM

Wow. That thing is a pig-sticker.

You may have the first tactical awl there.

Smitty44 · **Reply #39 on:** April 07, 2010, 06:06:19 AM

Great job Evil,looks real practical,are you going to patent it,or just make enough for all the members.

&

Mike, Lord of the Spammers! · **Reply #40 on:** April 07, 2010, 07:31:32 AM

That's really impressive work there mate

evil510 · **Reply #41 on:** April 07, 2010, 08:46:49 AM

Quote from: Charger on April 07, 2010, 12:36:12 AM

i gotta see pics of all your (bit)mods yet too. are they posted anywhere?

Hey Charger. They are not posted yet. They are a part of my Skeletool project. While the Skeletool is already done (for now), I still have a few more bits in mind and had planned on posting them together. One card is basically hex drivers since I am an avid bicyclist. Other bits are an awl, 6 precision screwdrivers (3 phillips, 3 flat) for all of the electronic stuff I like to tinker with. Still debating on a few other bits to make. The one I put the most time, effort and thought into so far is my flat 1/4 socket driver.

Quote from: Chako on April 07, 2010, 03:48:56 AM

Wow. That thing is a pig-sticker.

You may have the first tactical awl there.

Thanks Chako. Part of the inspiration came from the pics of those long awls you posted. As a testament to being a tactical pig sticker, it punched through a car door, if that counts

Quote from: Smitty44 on April 07, 2010, 06:06:19 AM

Great job Evil,looks real practical,are you going to patent it,or just make enough for all the members. &

Thank you Smitty. If I had a way to mass produce them I would gladly make more of them. Keep in mind I am very old school in my ways. Any and all mods you ever see me do are done by hand tools and common everyday power tools. No fancy expensive machines here

MultiMat · **Reply #42 on:** April 07, 2010, 11:28:27 AM

That looks flippen impressive mate

To paraphrase Crocodile Dundee "That's not a AWL THIS IS A AWL"

thebullfrog · **Reply #43 on:** April 07, 2010, 03:23:47 PM

Quote from: Chako on April 07, 2010, 03:48:56 AM

Wow. That thing is a pig-sticker.

You may have the first tactical awl there.

"TacticAWL, coming to a Cold Steel dealer near you"

Multitaskertools · **Reply #44 on:** April 08, 2010, 08:54:22 AM

Quote from: Chako on April 07, 2010, 03:48:56 AM

Wow. That thing is a pig-sticker.

You may have the first tactical awl there.

I am just curious why the std awls are so short?

Neil · **Reply #45 on:** April 09, 2010, 12:45:19 AM

That is a very well finished tool you've made. Hats off to you

DaveK · **Reply #46 on:** April 09, 2010, 02:32:07 AM

Quote from: Neil on April 09, 2010, 12:45:19 AM

That is a very well finished tool you've made. Hats off to you

That's what I thought - looks like it was made in Portland. Great job

Gryffin · **Reply #47 on:** June 23, 2010, 12:03:40 AM

Quote from: Multitaskertools on April 08, 2010, 08:54:22 AM

I am just curious why the std awls are so short?

I think they're only intended for thin materials (leather, thin board, sheet metal), or for starter holes for screws in thicker materials. That's also why they're tapered: perfect for starting screws, and in thinner material you can adjust the size of the hole by how far through you ream.

Gryffin · **Reply #48 on:** June 23, 2010, 12:06:56 AM

Quote from: Neil on April 06, 2010, 02:47:43 AM

Another vote here for the awl on 93mm SAKs

Yeah, they're pretty dang hard to beat!

Since they're made from bent stock, the edge can kinda get "under" what you're reaming, so they cut very fast. And the hollow behind the edge keep them from binding up.