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Thread: Awls
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21st November 2020, 07:09 PM #1Senior Member
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Awls
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More Christmas gifts for yourself from Dave's Woodshed, these are handmade Awls from some beautiful Australian timbers
- A mix of Jarrah and featured Huon Pine in the more traditional Awl shape, (100 mm long)
- A more comfortable shape that allows a greater level of control (at least to my mind), this one is made from Wodjil (a beautiful dark WA Acacia) and a slice of Banksia Nut stabilised in Cactus Juice and cast in resin. (140 mm long)
- This one is a mix of Wodjil and Sandalwood, both timbers are from the arid inland parts of south WA. (150 mm long) SOLD
Price for each of these is $30 with free standard postage within AustraliaLast edited by Dave Reed; 21st November 2020 at 10:01 PM. Reason: Sold
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21st November 2020 07:09 PM # ADSGoogle Adsense Advertisement
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21st November 2020, 09:14 PM #2SENIOR MEMBER
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I'll take #3, it'll match the centre finder nicely.
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22nd November 2020, 06:17 PM #3
Dave, what type of steel are you using for the shafts?
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22nd November 2020, 08:35 PM #4Senior Member
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Awl Steel
Hi Doug
The steel in these Awls is mild steel for a number of reasons, it is able to be re-sharpened easily and even reshaped if a different point profile is required, is more than strong enough for the purpose and is readily and cheaply available.
I have used a very similar Awl for several years without any issues apart from touching up the point occasionally and I tested the prototypes of these before I posted them and found a the point was effective even on the hardest desert hardwoods and stabilised hard wood.
I appreciate that the purists would only accept carbon steel in woodworking tool and if the purpose of these tools is to cut wood cleanly I would agree with them but these tools are meant to scratch the wood fibres (and if a clean cut is required a marking knife is more suitable) or to create a start point for a drill or locate a lathe centre. For this I believe mild steel is an acceptable material
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22nd November 2020, 08:50 PM #5
Thanks Dave.
I appreciate the effort you went to to provide such a comprehensive reply.
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22nd November 2020, 09:40 PM #6.
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Used chainsaw round files make great awl blades.
They can be used as is as provided you realise they may snap if too much side pressure is applied although that is rarely the case for use as an awl.
Being a much harder steel the tip needs to be shaped and formed on a grinder/sander although it is likely to never go blunt although is may chip.
To first form the tip put the file into a battery drill chuck and hold it up against a metal sanding belt or disc.
To reduce their "snapability" and make them easier to form and sharpen they can be par tempered by heating them at around 250ºC for about an hour. Some (but not all - even if they say they can) domestic ovens can get to this temperature.
A purist will also remove the teeth. Again his can be done by holding them in a drill chuck and running the drill and rubbing them back at forth against a moving metal sanding belt.
Dave - if you ever need any I can give you a few.
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23rd November 2020, 05:51 PM #7Senior Member
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Hi Doug
With your experience in forges and heat treating do you have any suggestions or comments on carbon steel v mild steel
Cheers
Dave
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23rd November 2020, 07:05 PM #8
Dave, I have dabbled in heat treating in a small way and am by no means an expert.
But since you asked, I think you did a great job in summing up the advantages of using mild steel in the ones you make.
Even for a marking knife you could get away with mild steel but it would need more upkeep than simple carbon steel. With an awl though, I can see the ease of being able to easily modify the point geometry would be an advantage for many and a viable argument in favour of mild steel. Obviously if you want to change the geometry often, the awl would get to be short very quickly and would be a good reason to own a second awl (or third,fourth,fifth whatever) so that you can have one of each and save a lot of time and effort.
For most things a weekend woodworker would use an awl for mild steel would be fine. The main awl that I use is made of mild steel. I didn't make it myself. A friend made it for me before I got my own forge and learned to heat treat. It got me through my workbench build and is still going strong with minimum maintenance. It's a great tool and will last me forever.
Having said that, if/when I make a new awl for myself, because I can heat treat and have the equipment to grind hardened steel, of course I would make it out of high carbon steel.The steel would cost marginally more but heat treating and tempering would not really take up much time, effort or materials (gas) because I would do the heat treat/tempering in a batch with some knives or something similar that requires the forge to be on anyway.
For small items like awls and marking knives all you would need in the way of extra equipment would be a mapp torch or similar and a small amount of knowledge.But what you are making is just fine for most woodworkers. Like I said I am still using my mild steel awl I have had for years.
Hope that helps.
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23rd November 2020, 08:06 PM #9
Hi Dave.
I'd like to take number 2 please
Cheers
Nathan
Sent from my TA-1012 using Tapatalk
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24th November 2020, 11:58 AM #10Senior Member
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Hi Delbs
Can you send a PM with your address and I'll organise this afternoon
Cheers
Dave
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24th November 2020, 02:05 PM #11
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24th November 2020, 10:04 PM #12Senior Member
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Awls
Awl number 2 is sold
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24th November 2020, 10:06 PM #13Senior Member
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