Bird Cage Awls

http://toolmakingart.com/images/Awl/Davros%202.JPG

Awls are handy tools, good for marking points and scribing lines. Great for layout and sometimes to start a screw.

I have made quite a few as they are simple enough and rewarding. They make a good gift to the right person.

A very useful tool that has been mostly forgotten and under used is the bird cage awl. Basically a pyramid shape with four sides. Better than a gimlet for starting a screw, and still good for marking and scribing. Once you have used one, you wont be without one. It drills really well and for drilling a small hole, nothing beats it.

http://toolmakingart.com/images/M2%2...king%20Awl.jpg
These are a few awl and mini chisels bits that I put into handles to become tools. The two on the far left are bird cage awls.

Here is a bird cage awl variation that I invented as a quick and dirty tool when my expensive bought tool broke.
http://toolmakingart.com/images/Quic...%20Starter.JPG
This crude screw starter is faster, more precise, less binding and way tougher than any of the purchased versions.

http://toolmakingart.com/images/Bird...bidel%2009.jpg
This is my latest bird cage awl. For more data on it you can visit my blog.

Bob

Hi,
Thank you for that post , I was already convinced of the usefulness of the awls, I also have several in my drawers, but your first one is awsome.
For the diamond shape, I also agree that it is far better for starting screws, I personally often use a simple big old nail with also a pyramidal tip to punch a hole for a screw.

I have a question, why is it called bird's cage ? I don't see the connection (I must be missing something).

By the way I also discover your Website, congratulations , this is exactly what I like, plenty of ideas, lovely pictures, and all hand made, and wooden made, all what I like !
Thanks, I keep the bookmark, it will take some time to discover all of it :)

Please continue sharing here your work !
Christophe

I like the idea of the sharpened hex bit to make an awl.

Why would a pyramidal tip be a better shape to start a screw? Better bite for the threads?

I would say that, yes, I think the threads have meat to bite in while there is a still guidance for the core of the screw.
In a conical hole, the threads would be equally touching the hole all around and there would be more friction, more difficult to turn the crew...
Personal interpretation ...

The pyramid shape offers 4 90 degree scrapers that work in either direction. These scrapers are relatively aggressive while tending to leave a fairly smooth surface. In olden days cricket cages and small bird cages were made by quickly drilling small holes in a few flat sections of wood for the lid and top.

They would make bars by taking split or rived wood and either scrape it to round or feed it through a sharp edged (90 degree) dowling plate to make quick, rough round bars. A chair devil made to scale was an ideal tool for shaping lath.

Being able to drill a quick hole was a must. Having a reliable tool that could do it over and over again was also a must. Do a google search on cricket cages and you will see what I am talking about.

My latest is 3 sided so it is even more aggressive than the classic version. The sharper angle would not have been as tough in the old days, but this one is made from carbide so it can take it.

Bob

Hi Bob,

Just a quick heads-up on photo posting (since your attached images didn't show properly).

If you click the "Insert Image" button indicated in the screencap, you'll be able to upload your photos, either from a hosting service (such as Photobucket) or directly from your computer.

If you're referencing photos hosted on your own site, they naturally won't show when your site is inaccessible. For what it's worth, I haven't been able to access toolmakingart.com - is there perhaps an issue with the site?

Ken

Attachment 2030

I'm seeing those images back in action now after a page refresh :cool: . Looks like they were posted correctly, but yes, the source site seems a bit erratic right now.

Thanks Bob! I've added your Birdcage Awls to, variously, our Metalworking, Woodworking, and/or Measuring and Marking categories, as well as to your builder page: CedarSlayer's Homemade Tools. Your receipt:

<div id="blocks"> <div class="block b1 pngfix"> <div class="bimg"> <div> <a href="/awl-6"><img src="/uploads/98388/awl-6.jpeg" alt="Awl" /></a> </div> </div> <div class="head pngfix"></div> <div class="left pngfix"></div> <div class="right pngfix"></div> <div class="blockover b1 pngfix"> <div class="title"> <a href="/awl-6">Awl</a> <span> by <a href="/builder/CedarSlayer">CedarSlayer</a></span> </div> <div class="tags"> tags: <a href="/tag/hand-tools">hand tools</a>, <a href="/tag/awl">awl</a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="block b1 pngfix"> <div class="bimg"> <div> <a href="/birdcage-awls"><img src="/uploads/98392/birdcage-awls.jpeg" alt="Birdcage Awls" /></a> </div> </div> <div class="head pngfix"></div> <div class="left pngfix"></div> <div class="right pngfix"></div> <div class="blockover b1 pngfix"> <div class="title"> <a href="/birdcage-awls">Birdcage Awls</a> <span> by <a href="/builder/CedarSlayer">CedarSlayer</a></span> </div> <div class="tags"> tags: <a href="/tag/marking">marking</a>, <a href="/tag/grinding">grinding</a>, <a href="/tag/drilling">drilling</a>, <a href="/tag/scribe">scribe</a>, <a href="/tag/awl">awl</a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="block b1 pngfix"> <div class="bimg"> <div> <a href="/birdcage-awl-variation"><img src="/uploads/98396/birdcage-awl-variation.jpeg" alt="Birdcage Awl Variation" /></a> </div> </div> <div class="head pngfix"></div> <div class="left pngfix"></div> <div class="right pngfix"></div> <div class="blockover b1 pngfix"> <div class="title"> <a href="/birdcage-awl-variation">Birdcage Awl Variation</a> <span> by <a href="/builder/CedarSlayer">CedarSlayer</a></span> </div> <div class="tags"> tags: <a href="/tag/awl">awl</a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="block b1 pngfix"> <div class="bimg"> <div> <a href="/birdcage-awls-2"><img src="/uploads/98400/birdcage-awls-2.jpeg" alt="Birdcage Awls" /></a> </div> </div> <div class="head pngfix"></div> <div class="left pngfix"></div> <div class="right pngfix"></div> <div class="blockover b1 pngfix"> <div class="title"> <a href="/birdcage-awls-2">Birdcage Awls</a> <span> by <a href="/builder/CedarSlayer">CedarSlayer</a></span> </div> <div class="tags"> tags: <a href="/tag/hand-tools">hand tools</a>, <a href="/tag/awl">awl</a> </div> </div> </div> </div>

Yes, my web provider has not been the most stable lately. I suspect they just moved me to a new server, so I hope that things get better.

Bob

While on the subject here are a few more nifty awls. http://toolmakingart.com/images/Awl/...20Side%20b.JPG
It does not drill as well as it looks like it could, but it does deburr a hole really well. I took an old HSS bit and put it in a power drill. This was run against a belt sander to make a nice tip.

This is a simpler one:
http://toolmakingart.com/images/Scra...20Awl%2002.JPG
Made from mesquite, O1 steel, leather and aluminum bronze.

Bob

Thanks for the clarification, CedarSlayer. Learned something new again. Your three-sided version is a nifty idea too.

Hi Bob,
To come back on my comment above, I was more talking of something to be punched, what you describe is more for drilling, I will give it a try.
I have a couple of questions, what's the use of your awl with the oval tip ground at an angle ? (second photo in the first post)
Where do you source the nice rings you used on the first and on the egg handle one from ?

It reminds me some similar shaped tools I have made, but for wood turning, I will post them.
Christophe

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Christophe Mineau

Hi Bob,
To come back on my comment above, I was more talking of something to be punched, what you describe is more for drilling, I will give it a try.
I have a couple of questions, what's the use of your awl with the oval tip ground at an angle ? (second photo in the first post)
Where do you source the nice rings you used on the first and on the egg handle one from ?

It reminds me some similar shaped tools I have made, but for wood turning, I will post them.
Christophe

---

The oval tip is an easy way to make a less aggressive but tougher gouge for carving. Works really well if you are careful with the grain. To make a more aggressive gouge simply, start with a tube.

The best source I know for a wide range of rings for ornamentation, grip and Ferrels.
After you look over the choices you will see how conservative on bling I am.

Investing in a few selections like this can give you spare parts for some interesting effects. Note that a lot of these rings will be way to big for a tip end ferrel. A lot will be large for a ferrel at the back of a chisel.

My wood turning is pretty plain as well.
http://toolmakingart.com/images/Penn...n%20action.JPG
Whenever I can manage it, I just make simple straight tubes.
http://toolmakingart.com/images/Penn...e%20Fipple.JPG
No fancy curves or artistry really.

Bob

Thanks CedarSlayer! I've added your Awls to our Metalworking and Woodworking categories, as well as to your builder page: CedarSlayer's Homemade Tools. Your receipt:

<div id="blocks"> <div class="block b1 pngfix"> <div class="bimg"> <div> <a href="/awl-7"><img src="/uploads/98508/awl-7.jpeg" alt="Awl" /></a> </div> </div> <div class="head pngfix"></div> <div class="left pngfix"></div> <div class="right pngfix"></div> <div class="blockover b1 pngfix"> <div class="title"> <a href="/awl-7">Awl</a> <span> by <a href="/builder/CedarSlayer">CedarSlayer</a></span> </div> <div class="tags"> tags: <a href="/tag/handle">handle</a>, <a href="/tag/drill-bit">drill bit</a>, <a href="/tag/grinding">grinding</a>, <a href="/tag/hand-tools">hand tools</a>, <a href="/tag/awl">awl</a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="block b1 pngfix"> <div class="bimg"> <div> <a href="/awl-8"><img src="/uploads/98512/awl-8.jpeg" alt="Awl" /></a> </div> </div> <div class="head pngfix"></div> <div class="left pngfix"></div> <div class="right pngfix"></div> <div class="blockover b1 pngfix"> <div class="title"> <a href="/awl-8">Awl</a> <span> by <a href="/builder/CedarSlayer">CedarSlayer</a></span> </div> <div class="tags"> tags: <a href="/tag/handle">handle</a>, <a href="/tag/hand-tools">hand tools</a>, <a href="/tag/awl">awl</a> </div> </div> </div> </div>