General Tools 818 Scratch Awl with Sturdy Hardwood Handle and Durable Steel Tip Review

Came without a cap, looks used. The packaging was slightly damaged as if someone had opened it. In any case, the cap is not needed as the tip is rather blunt. I bought this to poke precise pilot holes for small nails and the tip is flat and about 2mm wide as another reviewer said so definitely not good for my purpose without sharpening first.

Good quality, fast shipping. What I didn't notice was that the spike tip didn't go very long down the shaft, only the tip. The point at the top is long enough to make a stepped hole about 1/8 inch. So my husband put it on a whetstone and was able to file down the tip of the shank to make it longer which is better for a screw hole in wood etc.

I received this awl with the intention of using it for bookbinding, although I was a little concerned that it was too big for its intended purpose would be . However, I figured I could always give it to my dad if it was too big for him to use on other projects. To my surprise, when I received the awl, it was completely blunt. No sharp point, shaped almost like the pointed end of a metal tent pole. It's not worth buying an awl in Menarden or home storage.

This awl is not slim and thin with a gentle taper as shown. The tip is not sharp for marking. A check showed it to be 3/16" in diameter, but this could be due to the shorter and thinner part at the end. The mainshaft measures 0.237 inches at its widest point. I was hoping to use it to replace my current one to slowly open small holes for larger ones, but it's just too thick to start with. On the plus side, it feels very durable and holds up well. When the tip is sharpened it can be suitable for