Hi Guys I would be happy to know about your experiences with awls. I use myself a diamond blade awl from Wuta. I have tested a few awls from different companies and I liked them best. So I also recommend my students this awl I do teach leather craft. So now from 20 students I had 5 students were the awl did break. So one fell on the floor ok. But for 4 people it did break while using them. I find this quiet a lot. So I am arguing with the supplier about the quality of this one delivery.
We are working on a curved gusset, what we do is piercing one side with chisel, then glue the gusset in, then pierce through the hole made with chisel, through to the backside that does not have a whole yet. Of course I know about the correct direction by pushing in and pulling out the awl. But I find it hard to believe that my students do it so wrong that 4 awls are breaking ? I can not check exactly as it is an onlinecourse.
this is what supplier says:
The problem of diamond awl, we have found that many customers. Most of them are using incorrect methods. Many customers use it to pierce the leather directly. The correct way is use the chisel or punch to pierce the leather. and then use the awl.
I mean a lot of artisans do even only work with the awl and not with chisels?
What is your opinion about this?
thanks Ilka
So you both agree it is because they are not sharp enough and not because of the blade or construction itself? I never broke my Wuta awl. So I make them one more video how to sharpen them 😉 I hope the stropping is enough I'll test it, as I am a bit afraid beginners ruin the awl on the first attempt on sharpening. I remember I ruined my first edge beveler on sharpening although I followed some video.
Hey Ilka, if your students are buying them themselves and you arent prepping them and know for sure they are ready to go I would guess (as Phil said) it's due to the awls not being sharpened and polished prior to use which is causing your students to use additional force and in turn leading to breakages. I hope u get to the bottom of it 🤞
''Many customers use it to pierce the leather directly. The correct way is use the chisel or punch to pierce the leather. and then use the awl''
Many suppliers don't know what they are talking about as they don't do any leatherwork. The only time I ever stitch 'blindly' without following marks from a pricking iron is when I am stitching a flipped bag inside out with a 6-7mm spacing between each stitch. I have never in my life broken an awl blade.
Piercing the leather directly had no effect on the blade and will not break it.
To break a blade, you will need to change it's direction after it has penetrated the leather (usually thick or stiff leather). This can happen accidentally or when the student is trying to change the angle of the blade during penetration.
I have had 3 Wuta awls. NONE of them have been sharp enough out of the box, all of them needed work.
They may feel sharp, but they require extra force to push through thick or firm leather. This extra force makes it easy to accidentally slip and snap a blade as the students dexterity isn't sufficient. In other words, it takes an expert to use a blunt awl.
How an awl should perform: