Back To The Essentials: Best Leather Awls

The process of leatherworking always involves pre-punching holes, which require a particular tool like an awl. The leather awl is one of the tools present in every leather crafting because of its many uses. Aside from being able to pre-punch, you can also use this to mark the leather. Leather awl can be used for piercing, punching, scratching, or even stitching. It is, therefore, a universal tool you do not want to miss in the art of crafting. Choosing the best leather awl for the job is thereby crucial.

Leather awls are very useful in leathercraft. This is one of the tools I bought when I started this hobby. It might be a simple and primary tool but indeed a leathercraft essential. If you want to start your leathercraft journey or just explore other awl options, here are some of the best that you can check. 

The Leather Awl – An Essential In Leathercraft

The leather awl is one of the most used tools in leatherworking. This tool is not only present in the leather crafting area because it plays another vital role in your house, in woodworking, or even on a farm. Here are some essential facts you should know.

What Is A Leather Awl

Leather awl has long been used; in fact, the owner, Francis Stewart, patented it in 1909. A leather awl is a simple, handy tool widely used in different DIY and crafting industries. The leather awl is designed to create & punch holes, mark a piece of leather, transfer designs by just poking, perforated leather furniture, and many more. It is also best used in repairing leather, bags, tents, and other heavy materials.

Ergonomic Design: How It Looks Like

The leather awl haft or the tool handle holds in place the blade and needle. This part should be sturdy, rigid, and perfectly designed to fit in the hands to be used ergonomically comfortably. It always comes with a sharp blade or sometimes a needle and handle. The leather awl shaft is often made of a wooden handle. The blade or needle is usually pointed, making them best for poking. 

A leather handle is generally made of hardwood, but some have plastic and copper. A blade should be razor-sharp so that it can easily pierce and create leather holes. Blades are typically fixed to their handle but can be interchanged depending upon the types of leather awl.  

Using Leather Awl Starter

The leather awl is always used by holding or gripping its handle. Once held with your right or left hand, gently point, poke, and push the needle through a piece of leather. This is for the leather awl with pointed tips. For those leather with rounded ends, hold its handle again and push through the leather to create holes.

As usual, use both of your hands to hold the leather piece and the leather awl, then poke its needle to create small holes. This is applied in leather awls that are built with diamond tips.

The leather awl with a sharp tip is used by gripping its handle then dragging its point to a piece of leather to create markings or transfer a template and designs.

Types of Leather Awls

Collar awl is a type of leather awl used by saddle creators. This awl has an extended tang and cutting edges capable of piercing leather that will create large stilt holes. Next is a scratch awl is a tool used in both leatherworking and woodworking because of its capability to scratch marks or lines on thick or thin surfaces. It can also punch and pierce leather pieces to create holes.

The diamond awl is another type of leather awl that uniquely creates a small “x” cut and inconspicuous-shaped hole due. This is because of its diamond-shaped point of the needle. Lacing awl is a leather awl type used to pull lacing through your leather holes. The curved awl is another type of awl that is used to create holes for stitching curved leather. 

Saddler’s harness awl is designed to pierce thick leather to develop cavities. Leather stitching awl or also known as leather stitching/ speedy stitcher which is used to shoot and stitch leather at the same time. It is a leather sewing awl that promotes a quick and fast stitching process. 

The Beginner Leather Awl: C.S. Osborne #144-43 Stitching Awl

Source: Amazon

Each time you work with leather, sewing/ stitching is no exception because it connects pieces of the leather project. If you’re a newbie leatherworker and want to try out your skills, this one’s for you.

Things To Know

The C.S. Osborne #144-43 is best used in stitching leather for beginners. This tool has a diamond-shaped blade and, of course, very sharp. It is used in leather sewing in the process of passing through the stitching holes before stitching it. It is also used as a hole puncher that is capable of punching nine-ounce vegetable-tanned leather quickly. This tool is the best use in the leather saddles stitching and holsters and sheaths industry because it can make big holes at about 3/32 inches by 1/16 inches.

It is also available for transferring patterns, templates, or designs to your leather. 

The Best It Has To Offer (Pros)

The sharp blade is permanently fixed to its body. Its handle is wooden and has a rigid ferrule.

The four-inch handle is ergonomically designed for the craftsmen/women to be comfortable even for some time. Its wooden handle is perfect for all hand sizes. This tool requires few drags when passing through leather holes. This gives leather holes smoothly.

Its Shortcomings (Cons)

Although best for beginners, it is not highly recommended for very thick leather. The blade of this tool is easily bent when utilized in thick leather. Honing and polishing are needed to make razor-sharp holes for your project.

The Price For Its Use: How Much It Costs

Since this tool can be included in your starter pack for leathercrafting, its price starts at as low as $7to $11, which is not bad for a beginner. You can order it online. Just make sure also to consider the delivery fee that comes with it.

The Awl Set: Cosmos Pack Scratch Awl

Source: Amazon

Cosmos Pack Scratch Awl is a handy leather tool that comes in pairs, so it is considered the best budget leather awl set. Yet, there’s more to it than just being affordable.

Things To Know 

It is best used in creating pinholes like in leather furniture. An awl set is a great tool used in leather sewing and threading. It is also best applied in removing your stitches on leather, especially if you have made an error during sewing. 

It is very much available for tracing your patterns on leather. Leather markings are achieved with this tool smoothly.  Its uses are done with  4-¼ inches leather awl, which is a very small and handy awl.

The Best It Has To Offer (Pros)

A small and lightweight tool  which means a super handy awl when using in leatherworking

It is perfect if you are working with small leather projects because it can create holes closest to the edge of your ongoing project. It is a great leather awl used for threading fine threads. And, of course, it is a very durable and sharp leather awl. Its handle is gourd-shaped that allows good grip by the user. 

Its Shortcomings (Cons)

The handle is so small and usually not made of hardwood. If you are working on larger projects, this might be small, which means that you might need to purchase a new one for more comprehensive leather. Since it is small, it is not suitable for leather workers with big hands sizes. The downside of its affordable price is a tip that might break easily when worn out because of the material used. 

The Price For Its Use: How Much It Costs

This very handy leather awl is easy to use and maneuver. For $4.99 to $8, you can already own this set of tools. It may be small but undoubtedly a strong leather awl. You can buy this from online shops, which are way convenient or in physical stores.

The Leather Blade Set: OWDEN Professional Leather Awl

Source: Amazon

It is reviewed as the “best interchangeable leather awl” because it comes in a set of blades where you interchange it for different applications and designs on leather. If you want to buy awls in one set and maximize your budget, this is perfect for you.

Things To Know

It has four different blades so that you can change it upon your preferences. The four blades are alloy steel to ensure rigidity and durability, and two of these blades are regular-sized. 

Another is a lacing fade blade, whereas the last one is a scratch awl blade. These awls can create stitching holes to both thick and leather. 

A good feature of this awl set is its interchangeable blade allowing you to create different hole sizes on your leather before stitching. You can even make corrections for leather holes that are too small by changing their blade—also used as a tool to transfer templates and designs to your leather project.

The Best It Has To Offer (Pros)

All of its blades are made of alloy steel, making it highly durable. The leather awl handle is made from a durable ebony material, thereby sturdy and durable. The blades are firmly fixed to its handle of the brass ferrule, which is for durability purposes and looks more aesthetic. 

All the leather awl blades get easily sharpened. It is handy and comfortable to use, and importantly, you can create uniform holes on your leather and absorb pressure from the hand nicely. 

Its Shortcomings (Cons)

Changing the blades is a massive hassle, for it requires a lot of effort to keep it tight to its handle, but as compensation for this, it includes another tool for you. To fix the blade in position securely blade that is not tightly fixed in the haft may get in your way as you use the leather awl, 

The Price For Its Use: How Much It Costs

This four-set awl’s price ranges from $19 to $27 in both online and physical stores. It is one of the highly bought awl sets because of its changeable blades and alloy steel, making bang for the buck.

The Leather Sewing Awl: Leather Speedy Stitcher Sewing Awl

Source: Amazon

This leather speedy stitcher sewing awl is capable of sewing and heavy-duty stitch items like canvas, camping gear, tarps, etc. Apart from these, it is a handy tool you want to have in your house for it serves a wide variety of uses. 

Things To Know

As the name implies, the tool is “one of the fastest awls for hand stitching leather.” It uses hand stitch leather items and can also stitch sails, canvas, and vinyl.  It is also the best option for repairing any items like bags, tents, straps, backpacks, upholstery, sleeping bags, harnesses, and many more. 

The Best It Has To Offer (Pros)

The leather sewing awl products come with four needles consisting of two straight and two curves, a 180-yard tube of coarse thread, and 14 yards waxed coarse thread.  Beginners will not be having hard times stitching with this leather speedy stitcher sewing awl. It is capable of creating a uniform and beautiful stitches like a sewing machine. 

This brand is made in the USA that comes from a great band, ensuring the best quality. It is equipped with a guide and instructional materials that are very helpful for starting leatherworkers. It can sew tight hard, and of course, it is convenient and comfortable.  Its needles and adjacent are created with anti-rust material that is also highly durable. 

Its Shortcomings (Cons)

There is almost no question about its durability, but it takes time to get used to the learning curves it has when in use. The outputs it produces also are said to be “Not as aesthetic as the double needle stitch.”

The Price For Its Use: How Much It Costs

Its price starts at $21 to $27, which is pretty decent for its specifications. It’s not only for leather sewing but can also be used for other purposes like fishing repair. The pros of buying this tool definitely outweigh its cons, making it worth your penny. 

The Leather Scratch Awl: General Tools Scratch Awl

Source: Lowes

The best leather scratch awl is the general tools scratch awl you want to have as a leather crafter. This tool is widely used because of its multi-purpose and affordable body.

Things To Know 

Its blade is supported by plated steel ferrule, solid cap, and a hardwood handle. It is a great tool used in leather perforation and to create punches in leather. They are also used to align or realign leather holes and scribble leather in a smooth process.

The Best It Has To Offer (Pros)  

It has a simple overall design yet a classic style. It is easily used because it is super handy and solidly built, making it resist pressure and heavy-duty works. You can use a hammer or mallet to push through its leather holes and create a clean result. The handle can be gripped easily since it’s hardwood and is easy to carry. 

Its Shortcomings (Cons)   

This awls is easy to carry because of its size but is slightly heavy. Regular sharpening is necessary to ensure its blade works the way it should as it did from the start. It’s not thin, which is why it needs an ample amount of force when in use. 

The Price For Its Use: How Much It Costs

General Tools Scratch Awl is one of the most decent options for functionality and price in the market. You can get it at a price range of $4 to $7 in both online and physical leather shops. For a scratch awl that is multi-purpose, its price is reasonable.

Hand Stitcher Kit: BIGTEDDY Sewing Awl Hand Stitcher Kit

Source: Amazon

The unique feature of the BIGTEDDY sewing awl is the sleek gold-finished copper handled drill. Like the other leather awl, it is also used widely in the art of leather sewing and stitching. 

Things To Know

It is used in making leather markings and poking leather holes before stitching. Also best used in stitching, as the name implies – a sewing awl. Not only for sewing leather but can sew backpacks, tents, sleeping bags, harnesses, saddles, upholstery, and many more. 

The Best It Has To Offer (Pros) 

When you buy this awl, it comes with a branded clear plastic box for storage purposes. This storage convenience box makes it easily transportable. It has four interchangeable needles with two hook needles and two straight needles. The changing and replacement of needles is quickly done by turning its handle’s top. You can perfectly do a lockstitch like any sewing machine will do, which requires little practice. 

Its Shortcomings (Cons)

Some users of this product say that these are cheaply made and not good quality at all. Despite its interchangeable needles, there might be a drawback in ensuring its fit when changing and its needle quality that may break in the long run.

The Price For Its Use: How Much It Costs

It has a price range of $8 to $9. You can buy this from an online or physical store. If shipped online, some stores offer free returns for emergency cases. You may purchase this awl and use it in simple leather projects.

Handy Plastic Cover Tool: Clover Straight Tailors Awl

Source: Amazon

Generally, leather awl handles are made from hardwood, but this tool comes with a plastic cover. Like the other leather awl tools, the straight clover tailors awl is created to make holes and other delicate & detailed tasks. 

Things To Know

It is best used in shaping the edges of your project. It is also used in leather markings as well creating leather holes. It is the best for creating piercing small holes for detailed purposes and can penetrate heavy materials smoothly. 

The Best It Has To Offer (Pros) 

This tool is super lightweight due to the plastic handle cover. It is easily used and very comfortable. It also comes with a handy plastic cover for its blade to be free from dust and keep it sharp as always. 

It is built with a super sharp and pointed needle. The needle plastic cap also serves as protection of your art from any form of damage. On top of these, it is manufactured with an anti-slippery handle so that you can have complete control of the tool when used, and, of course, the straight clover awl is designed ergonomically.

Its Shortcomings (Cons) 

It is only suitable for poking leather holes alone, and it cannot create big leather holes. Since it has a thin needle, it is not ideal for making bigger punches on leather. 

The Price For Its Use: How Much It Costs

You can get this awl at a starting price of $7 to $11, depending on where you will get it. It is available in online or physical stores. It is a fair price for a tool that works around and great in curved sewing edges.

Conclusion

Leather awls are one of the “a-must-tool” in leatherworking because they have different uses, which would aid in unlocking your leather crafting creativity. These are the best tools to help you pre-punch and mark holes on the leather without breaking your pocket. These leather awls are the best available leather market that will help your leather crafting with ease.

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