First Fancy Awl

[scmhogg]

The May-June Shop Notes [Vol 17 Issue 99], had plans for some fancy awls made with common steel rod stock.

This is my prototype. I intend to make several, with different shapes and woods for the handles. The overall length is 10". The handle is Zebrawood with a copper ferule. [Copper because us colorblind can't tell the difference between copper and brass.]



I bought the square rod at HD, and I have no idea about its composition. I heated it with a MAPP torch and twisted it with a handle from a tap & die set. It took a little trial and error. The hard part is getting the square surfaces to line up in between the twists.



I made the point on the belt sander, using a jig to maintain the correct angle.

These are candidates for the future handles.



Steve

[DonHo]

Well it is fancy for sure, you did a great job. Don't know if I'd be able to actually use that as a woodworking tool, maybe use it to fish the fruit outta your drink

DonHo

[JR]

Another fine tool from the Hogg Works, Steve!

Coincidentally, I bought a stick of bubinga today, which looks similar to that chunk in the photo. Boy, is that stuff spendy!

JR

[shoottx]

Very Cool

I didn't see the attached order form

[chopnhack]

Very nice work on that awl. Nice metalworking too. BT3 is going to need to include a metal section if you keep at it.

[Tom Slick]

looks really nice!

The steel is plain low carbon hot rolled "mild steel" that's all any hardware store sells.

[cabinetman]

Well, awl right.

Some fancy tool you conjured up there. Are you sure you didn't get the idea from one of those shank things they had in evidence yanked off of a defendant?
.

[bigstick509]

[scmhogg]

Well it is fancy for sure, you did a great job. Don't know if I'd be able to actually use that as a woodworking tool, maybe use it to fish the fruit outta your drink DonHo

Funny you should say that. LOML thought it was an ice pick. And, I use a beautiful dead blow hammer JR made for me in my kitchen.

Another fine tool from the Hogg Works, Steve!

Coincidentally, I bought a stick of bubinga today, which looks similar to that chunk in the photo. Boy, is that stuff spendy! JR

That Bubinga is heavy too.

Thanks for all your kind comments. I only aspire to the quality of the work of our MIA member Ken [kwgeorge]. He is Bridge City and I am a little better than HF.

Steve

[Bill in Buena Park]

Steve,
I saw that article, and you've done a beautiful job on this. Nice work!

[crokett]

Steve,

Beautiful work indeed. As far as the twists go, a tip I learned working in my dad's forge: If you pull along the long axis of the metal while you are twisting it helps keep the workpiece straight. I like to use vise grips for this. Clamp them on, twist and pull.

[lrogers]

I finally remembered to look at this at home so I could see something other than a little red X. It was worth the wait! Very nice work. I like it when a tool can be fuctional AND beautiful.

[jking]

Well it is fancy for sure, you did a great job. Don't know if I'd be able to actually use that as a woodworking tool, maybe use it to fish the fruit outta your drink

DonHo

I was looking for the world's largest olive...

Did the Shopnotes article cover twisting the square bar, or, was this your touch? Either way, it is very cool.

[SARGE..g-47]

Very.. very nice. You did an excellent job on the metal-working to say the least...

[scmhogg]

Did the Shopnotes article cover twisting the square bar, or, was this your touch? Either way, it is very cool.

The Shopnotes gave instructions regarding the twists. I'm not that imaginative.

Steve