Medieval Leatherwork - How to make a fine awl - DIY

This video shows you how to make a medieval leatherworking awl, suitable for small projects. The only difference making an awl for larger projects is using a thicker and longer awl blade.
Extant Awl Blades - Online Resources:
Museum of London Online Collection:
collections.museumoflondon.or...
collections.museumoflondon.or...
Hall, R. A., ed. (2003). Craft, industry and everyday life. York Archaeological Trust
Awls from Medieval contexts: Fig.1575 p.3238
Awls from Ango-Scandinavian contexts: Fig.1574 p.3237
archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/...

[@grahamcrawford4897]

I am so lucky to own awl ... it works like a dream! Thanks Hugh

[@CompanyoftheStaple]

Great to hear it's working well for you! - now it's a famous tool with a reputation of it's own! ;-)

[@PopulaUrbanum]

Wonderful directions, very simple to follow and cheap to make. Thank you

[@CompanyoftheStaple]

Glad you enjoyed it, and you're most welcome!

[@seemoore]

Very useful thanks.

[@oonaghsown]

Nice

[@michael3573]

Fantastic video. Thank you!

[@urchincreature]

Very handy! Thanks

[@user-jl9cg2im5q]

Serbian word for awl is шило/šilo (read as scheeloh ) and the word for sewing is шити/šiti (read scheetee). In the word used for the tool is the use of the tool... today in industrial manufacture of leather goods in Serbia, people do not know how to use this tool, and so many of workers just don't know how to hand stitch at all... we lost so many good things.

[@bluesideup007]

Thanks. Proof of sharpness is the Bandaid.

[@RosequartzDivination]

If i dont have that machine to drill a hole what do i do? Btw how deep of a hole it has to be?

[@CompanyoftheStaple]

Hi Rosequartz, If you don't have an electric drill or know someone who has one you can borrow, the cheapest solution would be to buy a jewelers twist drill (approx. $10-20 purchased online), or a hand cranked woodworking drill (often called an 'eggbeater' drill) as these are available cheaply online in most countries.
As for depth of hole, for a 1mm straw needle like the one I used in the video, a hole of about 20-25mm deep works well. To work out exact depth, measure the length of the needle once you've cut off the eye. If for example it is 45mm, then you could make a 20mm deep hole and then have a 25mm blade, or drill a 25mm deep hole and have a 20mm blade, or anything in between. I wouldn't recommend having a blade length shorter than 20mm, or longer than 25mm when using a 1mm needle as the awl blade. I hope that helps!

[@RosequartzDivination]

@@CompanyoftheStaple thank you. yes it helps a lot. i will look those things up. but maybe ill just ask someone to borrow me the drill. anyways, good video.