Carbide scribe/awl prototypes

[Isaac S]

A little background first...A few years ago, a millwright friend gave me a 2 mm carbide rod that he had sharpened to a point. I stuck it in a leadholder, and have been using it for the past 3 or 4 years. I use it to mark centers for drilling and scribing lines on wood, aluminum, and steel. I've even used it to score spring steel, then snap it. It has held up amazingly well - I have never sharpened it, and it feels as sharp as the day I got it.

The only thing I wished for was a nicer holder with better ergonomics. I came up with two prototypes.

The first has a stubby handle (apple) with a stainless steel ferrule. The overall length is just under four inches.

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=244871&d=1352089737&thumb=1 (http://www.sawmillcreek.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=244871&d=1352089737) http://www.sawmillcreek.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=244872&d=1352089745&thumb=1 (http://www.sawmillcreek.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=244872&d=1352089745)






The second and third are much slimmer, and would be used for lighter, finer work. The first of these is walnut with a stainless steel ferrule; the second is cherry with a bronze ferrule. The overall length is about 5 1/2".

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=244873&d=1352089761&thumb=1 (http://www.sawmillcreek.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=244873&d=1352089761) http://www.sawmillcreek.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=244874&d=1352089772&thumb=1 (http://www.sawmillcreek.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=244874&d=1352089772) http://www.sawmillcreek.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=244875&d=1352089783&thumb=1 (http://www.sawmillcreek.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=244875&d=1352089783)


http://www.sawmillcreek.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=244868&d=1352089700&thumb=1 http://www.sawmillcreek.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=244869&d=1352089707&thumb=1 http://www.sawmillcreek.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=244870&d=1352089718&thumb=1


Of the two, I much prefer the slimmer design, as it just feels so good in my hand. I'm not sure if I would find many uses for the stubby one in my workshop.

I'm considering one that has a longer rod, but have some concerns about the brittleness of carbide. To be honest, I've never really felt the need for a long blade in my work - has anyone else found the extra length to be indispensable?

Thanks for looking, and for any feedback you may have.