Awl/Reamer on Vic

[Lynn LeFey]

So I tested the Awl/Reamer the other day on a pine board, and it drilled a hole pretty quickly. Being somewhat impressed, and deciding the thing needed a REAL test, I pulled out some 1" thick white oak scrap I had... and it drilled a hole through it. More slowly, obviously, but it worked.

It also made a new hole in my belt easily and pretty cleanly.

Probably no news to anyone here, but this is by far the best awl I've ever tested, and I'm a little shocked folks aren't shouting it from the rooftops.  "This thing will drill through oak!"

[magentus]

It is one of the best things about the Vics - I agree. Have you tried the awl on the Alox knives? That's EVEN MORE AWESOME.

[J Mackrel Jones]

If I may throw in a quote from the Swiss Army Knife Owner's Manual -
"A knock at the door of the cabin and the young man wonders if he
should open it again. Not all of his visitors have been invited, although the
company was usually welcome, often unpredictably entertaining, and they
sometimes brought with them a bottle of vodka. This visit turned out to
be as interesting as any, but he got to thinking about how to put a peephole
in the front door. When his visitor departs, the man gets out his SwissChamp
and opens out the reamer. With its point he starts a hole at eye level in
the center of the rough oak door. After half an hour’s work he has drilled
a hole wide enough to see through. He opens the door and it is snowing
outside. The scents of snow and fresh wood shavings remind him of why
he so likes this place and time. With the tool’s sharp edge he smoothes the
new peephole outside and in. He has no tube-with-lenses to install in it,
but after all this is Siberia."

[magentus]

reminds me of J Peterman from Seinfeld - The Urban Sombrero.

[theonew]

I tried shouting it from the rooftop once but the people in the next building told me to shut the smurf up

[Heinz Doofenshmirtz]

The awl/reamer tool on Vics is truly excellent.  I wish Wenger made their awl tool half as good!

[captain spaulding]

Was this a inline awl?

[Lynn LeFey]

This was the standard awl, specifically it was one on a Tinker: the 'T' style that folds out from the center (bottom side) of the tool.

[Currahee]

For me, the awl/reamer (especially on an alox model) is definitely one of the most used of all the SAK tools. I can't tell you how many times I have used one to start a pilot hole for a screw, or just to punch a hole through something. Amazing tool!
 
Congratulations on your discovery, Lynn!

[Smaug]

Lynn, you crack me up with your "proof testing."

You're one of those rare people who will take the time to put a tool through its paces to give you confidence in it, rather than just wait until you need it and then try it.

I would have to have a gun to my head to try to drill a hole through an oak board with a SAK reamer. But I'm sure glad to know I would be able to save my life in that situation!

Contrary to what magentus said, the inline awl may not work as well for drilling through boards. It has kind of a big, chunky rounded part that wraps around the scale a little, and I think this would slow things down quite a lot. The inline awl is certainly better for scraping and prying though.

[magentus]

Granted, but I find it much more comfortable to use. If they used the back spring design in an 'in line' position would that be the best of both worlds?

[Lynn LeFey]

Lynn, you crack me up with your "proof testing."

This is the terror created by unemployment: Boredom.

So bored I bored a board. 

I am very VERY sorry for that horrible bit of wordplay. 

[Spork, Lord of Lime Jello!]

I am very VERY sorry for that horrible bit of wordplay. 

Y'awl don't worry about it...it's awlright 

[ColoSwiss]

Is that like the rather stout lady who took a trip and was a broad broad abroad.

(Not sorry at all  )

[Currahee]

Those were some awlful [sic] alliterations!

[Heinz Doofenshmirtz]

I don't know how much of this punishment I'm going to be able to stand!   

[Steinar]

Contrary to what magentus said, the inline awl may not work as well for drilling through boards. It has kind of a big, chunky rounded part that wraps around the scale a little, and I think this would slow things down quite a lot. The inline awl is certainly better for scraping and prying though.

I second that assumption. The 91 mm knives have an awl, and that is intended for drilling wood and similar materials. The 93 mm knives have a reamer, and that is originally designed for making holes in leather. Not the same application.

[Styerman]

Both are great for screwstarting , very handy implements .

Chris

[Gareth]

I'd also add my praise to the one on the Spirit.  Found myself needing to make a hold in a board over an inch thick (that's the same length as the awl itself) and I had absolutely no way of getting a drill.   Took some time to get all the way through but it did manage.

[Lynn LeFey]

Nice. I think the Spirit X is in my crosshairs.

[gustophersmob]

I've drilled several holes in wood with the 93mm awl, and haven't had a problem.  Although, it wasn't as hard as oak.

Lynn you should try the 93mm awl, it is very nice.  Also works well as a kind of second beater blade.  I use it quite often to cut plastic zip ties.