Veritas just came out with two new Japanese-style scratch awls. The two awls, in small and large sizes, feature removable (and replaceable) hardened A2 steel points, stainless steel bolsters, and high temperature-treated maple wood handles.
Pricing: $19.50 for small, $22.50 for large.
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First Impression
Awls are typically used for marking and starting holes for drill bits in wood, and scratching layout lines in wood, plastic, or metal.
You can buy an awl for $5-10 via Amazon, so why spend so much more on one of these? In my mind, the hardened steel points make them worthwhile. Awl points are easy to damage and can be difficult to sharpen. Plus, a lot of awls have thin tips and shafts, whereas these Veritas awls look exceptionally robust.
If you’re unsure as to whether you’ll see benefits from this style of awl, stick with an inexpensive basic model until you make up your mind. This is really more of an upgrade-to tool, rather than a first.
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Stan
Harry J Epstein sells an American made Wilde brand awl for roughly $5 as well and has lived up to every project I used this for. Granted, I haven’t used my dead blow on this tool, I don’t think most awls were designed for that anyway.
However $20 for an awl, even one with a replaceable tip does seem a bit high, but then again, I suppose a replaceable tip is worthwhile in some cases. However, I’ve had issues with some tools with replaceable tips, as sometimes the tool would loosen at the worst time and or I never really felt I could use this tool as much as I wanted to.
If you have the money and are willing to experiment, this tool does look solidly built. But if you don’t use an awl on a frequent basis and want a 100% American made awl, Epstein’s sells the Wilde version as well.
Allen
Over the years I have found that workmanship quality increases as the quality of tools increase. While a good craftsmen can produce excellent results with something less than the highest quality tools, I find that higher quality tools prompt me to do better work.
I found found this to be true from sockets, wrenches, screwdrivers, chisels, hammers and mallets and hand tools in general. Myself I don’t experience the effect so much when dealing with power tools.
I feel the quality tool has the effect of slowing me down in my work, now that may seem conterintuitive but I find myself thinking – If this doesn’t go right, it’s not the fault of the tool. I take more time positioning the work and concentrating on what needs to be done.
Now I am both a recreational tool user and I work with them in my job. Tools I enjoy useing elicit a respect for the work and doing things right.
Or I could just be terribly shallow.
Hang Fire
Being sensitive to your environment is not a mark of shallowness. Students perform better in clean, well maintained, well decorated schools. Workers perform better in well-lit workplaces. The list goes on.
Being able to rise above one’s environment and do good work despite poor tools and conditions is a mark of maturity and self-awareness. This level of self-conciousness requires effort… it also requires effort (earning money) and maturity to patiently save to acquire better tools while doing without lesser tools.
I constantly struggle with the issue of tool expense. Right now I am acquiring various size torque wrenches, and it seems some major brands have just switched to foreign manufacture, and I am suspicious of other brands that look just like the foreign made tools. On the one hand I can justify tool purchases by comparing the cost of a professional repair to that of my parts + new tools. On the other hand I still have a limited amount of free time and money.
If I had more free time and much more money I’d spring for one of these scratch awls… or if I made my money making furniture. For me the simply plastic handled steel scratch awl I have is more than sufficient, if I ever wear the tip out it will be a miracle of industrious hobby effort. But I certainly can’t blame anyone for owning a tool like this. One might argue that the smaller hand tools are the ones that we can still afford to gives ourselves as a treat.
fred
At one time Sturtevant-Richmont was a high quality torque wrench producer – with a factory just outside Chicago. Not sure where their product line is made now – but you might want to take a look at them.
Hang Fire
Thanks Fred! Looks interesting!
Hang Fire
I just looked at the price… lol… I guess at $30 most anyone could afford to treat themselves to these! However I don’t see the replacement tips available (yet).
John S
If money grew on trees – no brainer. Top quality no doubt most likely. But it would definitely be an upgrade tool for me. If I find myself using my awl enough to justify the cost, I could definitely see the value and will gladly bite the bullet.
fred
The fixed-tip variety sell for less than half the price:
http://www.highlandwoodworking.com/garnishawlsmall.aspx
and for a made in USA variety – you might look at the C.S. Osborne brand.