Show Me Your Awl Handles

[Steve Friedman]

Rob Young said:

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He died in 2014 and not from "crazy"...

http://raisecancerawarness.weebly.com/my-story.html

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That's sad. I remember seeing hit at The Woodworking Show one year and he was wacky, but definitely entertaining.

Thanks for the info.

Steve

[Steve Friedman]

Bibliophile 13 said:

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My birdcage awl handle is octagonal--shaped without a lathe. It's very simple but comfortable. The facets make it easy to twist around. I'll try to take a couple of pictures later tonight and post them.

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Thanks Steve.

[Steve Friedman]

Stwood_ said:

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Look through here.

http://s8.photobucket.com/user/stwood/li...amp;page=1

Some I made using ShopNotes awls

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Nice. Thanks for that. Interesting shapes that I hadn't seen before. By the way, that scrub oak burl is stunning! I have some interesting pieces of wood from Justin Tyson and was going to use some of that, but the look of the burl is pretty compelling.

Steve

[Bibliophile 13]

Okay, here you go.








As I said above, the handle is octagonal in cross-section, though that's hard to see with the figured wood. Plus, I've relieved the edges, so it's hard to see the facets.

Here's a tip on making handles like this (which I got from The Joiner and Cabinet Maker). You don't have to be able to drill your hole dead-straight. You begin with an oversized block of wood for the handle and drill it as straight as you can by eye. Then you affix the blade in the hole (I used JB Weld), hold the blade in your vise, and shape the handle plumb with the blade using your choice of tools (spokeshave, rasp, file, whatever). It's not as scary as it sounds.

You could easily make a shorter, stubbier handle if you wanted. I just happen to prefer a thinner one that feels more like a chisel.

[Steve Friedman]

Thanks Steve. I like the shape. Like the Pecan as well.

I actually have ferrules that I was going to try to attach, but I can see from yours that they may not be necessary. Just waiting for the temperature to pop up by a few degrees so that I can go out to the garage and give it a shot.

Steve

[ncosman]

I made this from an old triangular file a while back. It was test piece made out of scrap walnut, I was planning on making redoing it in something fancy like coco, but never got around to it. Probably never will. Works just fine.

[captjack]

I dont think that guy is Canadian, didnt hear him once say A in a sentence. such as sunday go to meeting car A

[JustinTyson]

That's a great use for a worn-out file, ncosman!

[Steve Friedman]

JustinTyson said:

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That's a great use for a worn-out file, ncosman!

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Yup, and a nice handle for those with a lathe.

Justin, I was thinking a piece of the hickory you sent me. Still saving the apple for something more worthy.

Steve

[Timberwolf]

I call the lower handle my "Shaker peg"...