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Scratch Awl

Project by GaryK posted 450 days ago 935 views 0 times favorited 27 comments Add to Favorites Watch

Here is a little project I did yesterday.

It was inspired by this project: http://lumberjocks.com/projects/8934

Once I knew where to get the kit I ordered one. Now I see that Rockler carries them also.

It’s made from European Beech with Gabon Ebony. It didn’t turn out as good as I wanted it to.

The reason for the six sides was to keep it from rolling around on the table. After truning it I found that it barely left any flats. Oh, well.

Making this confirmed that I hate the lathe, and turning wood. Too much like work!

-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.


27 comments so far

View CharlieM1958's profile

CharlieM1958

7599 posts in 1110 days


posted 450 days ago

It looks great!

I don’t know anything about turning would, but I imagine it would be very difficult to stick something on a lathe and turn it into a hexagon. <g>

-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"

View Michael Brailsford's profile

Michael Brailsford

212 posts in 485 days


posted 450 days ago

Very nice.

-- Michael A. Brailsford

View Tony's profile

Tony

812 posts in 922 days


posted 450 days ago

Nice little project – I really like to use the hand made tools and usually reach for them first.

I love the lathe, I find it therapeutic and relaxing, but the lathe does not love me too much, by the poor standard of work it produces!

-- Tony - All things are possible, just some things are more difficult than others! - SKYPE: Heron2005 (http://www.poydatjatuolit.fi)

View PaBull's profile

PaBull

292 posts in 557 days


posted 450 days ago

Oh I like that, home made tools, but I do not like the lathe either…but I am new at it, and need to learn.

Gary, here is your next project: http://www.pennstateind.com/store/PKSDK4.html

-- http://www.twinoaksgrowers.com

View GaryK's profile

GaryK

9521 posts in 880 days


posted 450 days ago

PaBull – I got one of those kits when I got the awl kit. I think I will stay away from the lathe on it though.

I also got a small keychain screwdriver kit while I was at it.

Thanks

-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.

View Zipsss's profile

Zipsss

112 posts in 1005 days


posted 450 days ago

Niceeee Gary. What a pleasure is to use your own made tools.

-- Zipsss

View Bob #2's profile

Bob #2

3033 posts in 913 days


posted 450 days ago

If you get the notion again Gary, and if your lathe head is indexed you can lock it out at 30,60,90 etc and flatten the sides with a router on a gantry or just use a sander with a jig to hold it’s height.

Nice looking too anyway even if you now have to keep it on the floor. <gd&r)

Bob

-- A mind, like a home, is furnished by its owner

View sIKE's profile

sIKE

1094 posts in 646 days


posted 450 days ago

I a getting the itch to make e one of these….

-- //FC - Round Rock, TX - "Experience is what you get just after you need it"

View jeanmarc's profile

jeanmarc

1750 posts in 608 days


posted 450 days ago

very nice

-- jeanmarc manosque france

View Dick, & Barb Cain's profile

Dick, & Barb Cain

7034 posts in 1191 days


posted 450 days ago

Very nice Gary, I was going to suggest what Bob #2 said.

-- -** You are never to old to set another goal or to dream a new dream ****************** Dick, & Barb Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1

View GaryK's profile

GaryK

9521 posts in 880 days


posted 450 days ago

Bob, Dick – The problem was not the method. I started with six sides flattened and them applied the ebony
veneers. I wanted to expose the beach on the “corners”, But with such a small diameter I turned most of the flats away doing it. There are flats there just not as much as I hoped for.

I will probably endup making it over again.

-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.

View Bob #2's profile

Bob #2

3033 posts in 913 days


posted 450 days ago

Gotcha.

Bob

-- A mind, like a home, is furnished by its owner

View CessnaPilotBarry's profile

CessnaPilotBarry

1262 posts in 594 days


posted 450 days ago

Nice awl!

I really hate turning, too. I went as far as taking a 40+ hour class to realize it. Once I tried it, and tried to learn to do it right, I came away with a healthy respect for those who are good at it.

Fortunately, in my area there are plenty of very good turners who like micro brew and swapping turning time for “flat work”. The beer is for after the lathe is shut off. <g>

A pal of mine’s father is world reknowned for segmented turnings. He’s a Brit living in South Africa, his work is in several US museums… I should talk him into posting some of it here!

BTW… Sike: Put the awl down before you scratch, PLEASE! <g>

-- - Please help keep Lumberjocks an enjoyable escape by refusing to participate in political discussions. Simply spit out the bait and ignore the thread...

View SCOTSMAN's profile

SCOTSMAN

2238 posts in 477 days


posted 450 days ago

Very nice! a lot of work but the results are worth every bit of effort spent doing it .A particularly nice tool to have and leave to your children then grandchildren.kindest regards.Alistair

-- excuse my typing as I have a form of parkinsons disease

View thetimberkid's profile

thetimberkid

1944 posts in 595 days


posted 450 days ago

Great job!

Thanks for the post

Callum

-- For wood working podcasts with a twist check out http://thetimberkid.com/

View Grumpy's profile

Grumpy

14914 posts in 743 days


posted 450 days ago

Not a bad bit of turning for someone who hates the lathe.

-- Grumpy - "Always look on the bright side of life"- Monty Python

View Karson's profile

Karson

25794 posts in 1292 days


posted 450 days ago

Gary, A great lathe project. Handmade awls are quite easy to make. Start out with a drill bit and drill a hole into a block of wood and then sharpen the tip with the drill end in a drill and grind it away on a spinning bench grinder.

Geting long shank drill would be a good idea. I picked up a bunch on ebay. They were aircraft drill bits, about 6” long with only an inch or so of drill bit and the rest shank.

No kit really needed.

-- What happens in the workshop stays in the workshop. No wait that doesn't sound right. Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †

View brianinpa's profile

brianinpa

1365 posts in 615 days


posted 450 days ago

Gary,
Very nice awl. This has been on my to do list for quite a while, along with the screwdriver. I really like the addition of the ebony.

-- Brian, Lebanon PA, If you aren’t having fun doing it, find something else to do.

View Bigbuck's profile

Bigbuck

1366 posts in 555 days


posted 450 days ago

Very nice

-- Glenn, New Mexico

View ChicoWoodnut's profile

ChicoWoodnut

895 posts in 707 days


posted 450 days ago

Great work Gary. How do you polish the ebony? I have been experimenting with pegs for my project. I have it up to p2000 automotive paper but I am still not satisfied with the outcome and that is a lot of work. I am thinking of buffing it with some jewlers rouge next but I need to buy a wheel and some rouge.

-- Scott - Chico California http://chicowoodnut.home.comcast.net

View Sac's profile

Sac

236 posts in 525 days


posted 449 days ago

Very nice Gary. I look forward to learning the lathe. I just can’t get use to the beginning of turning yet. Where did you get your parts for this tool? Love that ebony.

-- Jerry, Set in the foothills of the Smokey's

View PaBull's profile

PaBull

292 posts in 557 days


posted 449 days ago

Very nice Gary, but I think I got you beat!

Photobucket

-- http://www.twinoaksgrowers.com

View USCJeff's profile

USCJeff

899 posts in 960 days


posted 449 days ago

Very nice as usual. I’m working on a marking knife now. Got a cheesy store bought awl. I still think I’ll like the Xacto knife the best, but they are fun to make never the less. Thanks.

-- Jeff, South Carolina

View PaBull's profile

PaBull

292 posts in 557 days


posted 449 days ago

Gary, I was kidding…lol

-- http://www.twinoaksgrowers.com

View GaryK's profile

GaryK

9521 posts in 880 days


posted 449 days ago

PaBull – Thanks, I think I will enter it. I don’t think I can compete against yours though!

-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.

View Rob Drown's profile

Rob Drown

324 posts in 725 days


posted 448 days ago

PaBull, Wow I have one just like that.

-- Sharp tools and thin whispy shavings make woodworking a joy.

View PaBull's profile

PaBull

292 posts in 557 days


posted 448 days ago

Mr Drown, I am missing mine, where did you put it? (Lots Of Lumber)

-- http://www.twinoaksgrowers.com

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