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Scratch Awl

Project by GaryK posted 96 days ago 457 views 0 times favorited 27 comments Add to Favorites
Scratch Awl Scratch Awl No-picture-s Click the pictures to enlarge them

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

4587 posts in 756 days


posted 96 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

193 posts in 131 days


posted 96 days ago

Very nice.

-- Michael A. Brailsford

View Tony's profile

Tony

624 posts in 567 days


posted 96 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

244 posts in 202 days


posted 96 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

8558 posts in 526 days


posted 96 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

89 posts in 651 days


posted 96 days ago

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

-- Zipsss

View Bob #2's profile

Bob #2

2081 posts in 559 days


posted 96 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

605 posts in 291 days


posted 96 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

1753 posts in 254 days


posted 96 days ago

very nice

-- jeanmarc manosque france

View Dick, & Barb Cain's profile

Dick, & Barb Cain

5395 posts in 837 days


posted 96 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

8558 posts in 526 days


posted 95 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

2081 posts in 559 days


posted 95 days ago

Gotcha.

Bob

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

View BeechPilotBarry's profile

BeechPilotBarry

411 posts in 240 days


posted 95 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>

-- - Real men read directions

View SCOTSMAN's profile

SCOTSMAN

539 posts in 122 days


posted 95 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

1684 posts in 240 days


posted 95 days ago

Great job!

Thanks for the post

Callum

-- Look great, get your TTK merchandise now! http://www.printfection.com/thetimberkid/ Check out my site http://thetimberkid.blogspot.com/

View Grumpy's profile

Grumpy

6717 posts in 388 days


posted 95 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 (online now)

Karson

13607 posts in 938 days


posted 95 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.

-- Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com

View brianinpa's profile

brianinpa

941 posts in 260 days


posted 95 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

1050 posts in 201 days


posted 95 days ago

Very nice

-- Glenn, New Mexico

View ChicoWoodnut's profile

ChicoWoodnut

749 posts in 353 days


posted 95 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

203 posts in 171 days


posted 95 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, Measure 10 times cut once. Set in the foothills of the Smokey's

View PaBull's profile

PaBull

244 posts in 202 days


posted 95 days ago

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

Photobucket

-- http://www.twinoaksgrowers.com

View USCJeff's profile

USCJeff

815 posts in 605 days


posted 95 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

244 posts in 202 days


posted 94 days ago

Gary, I was kidding…lol

-- http://www.twinoaksgrowers.com

View GaryK's profile

GaryK

8558 posts in 526 days


posted 94 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

140 posts in 370 days


posted 94 days ago

PaBull, Wow I have one just like that.

-- Days in the shop don't count toward the total.

View PaBull's profile

PaBull

244 posts in 202 days


posted 93 days ago

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

-- http://www.twinoaksgrowers.com

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