Awl

This article is devoted to such a seemingly simple tool as an awl. If anyone does not know this tool is designed to pierce holes of small diameter in dense sheet materials. These are usually materials such as leather, leatherette, plastic, etc. Previously, it was a tool for tailors and shoemakers, as holes were pierced for a needle and thread, with which products were sewn together.

Now, of course, shoes are not sewn like that, but the awl is still popular. True, now professionally they are more used by people associated with office work - they sew things. But in everyday life, this tool is also sometimes very necessary. It is in demand when piercing thick fabric, paper and cardboard, and when repairing it is very convenient for them to apply marks on wood and plastic, as well as on metal.

In everyday life, an awl is in demand not only for making holes in various materials. In everyday life, this tool may be needed and not quite for its intended purpose.

Very often, a sharp, hard, thin tool is needed, for example, to pry something in a hard-to-reach place (like taking a splinter out of your hand with a needle, only larger in size). Press on the part when repairing various equipment, etc.

Structurally, the awl is a thick needle with a cross section of 1.5 - 3 mm, mounted on a thick handle. The handle is made of wood or plastic. The handle on the awl is wide enough and made in such a way as to transfer a lot of force to the tip, since usually dense material is pierced. The steel part of the tool has a special sharpening. The chamfer of the needle is from 15 to 25 mm. Due to this, the needle narrows gradually and enters the material more easily.

It is now very difficult to find a good awl in modern stores, so masters usually make high-quality tools for themselves. But if you do not have such an opportunity and skills, try to find an awl with a wooden handle on sale.

Never buy an awl from a stationery store. They usually sell pitiful imitations with a plastic handle, with which you can only pierce cardboard in your children's labor lessons. You can try to find a good awl in the market, where they sell various tools and parts.

When choosing an awl, you need to carefully examine the tool and make sure that the metal needle is long enough and thick enough. The steel tip must be hardened or the entire needle must be made of high carbon steel.

The metal needle should sit very tightly in the handle or be melted into it, if we are talking about an awl with a plastic handle. For an awl with a wooden handle, it is also worth paying attention to the possible presence of a metal cap that is put on the handle from the side of the needle. Its purpose is to protect the handle from possible cracking during operation.

On a low-quality tool, it is made of thin aluminum and may initially stagger. In the course of work, he will jump off, if not in the first five minutes of work, then in a day for sure. Do not buy such an awl so as not to regret it. Choose a similar tool only with a steel cap.

Other hand tools