General Tools Scratch Awl Tool with Hardwood Handle - Scribe, Layout Work, & Piercing Wood - Alloy Steel Blade

I picked up this scratch awl and I’m honestly impressed for the price. The hardwood handle feels solid and fits nicely in my hand, which makes it comfortable to use for longer stretches. It feels like a simple tool done right. I’ve been using it for woodworking—mostly for scribing lines and marking holes before drilling—and it does exactly what I need it to do. The tip is sharp and gets clean, precise marks. I’m not sure how hard the steel is yet, so I can’t say how long the tip will hold up, but even if it dulls over time, that’s an easy fix. Overall, the quality is way better than I expected for what I paid. Definitely a good buy.

Great price, ease of use, nice quality

I seem to misplace these frequently, but this is handedly one of the most useful and high quality tools in existence. I probably have used these several times a week for 25 - 30 years now and the original one I started with is still totally functional after having beat the heck out of it more times than I can count. The steel is extremely high quality, I can put holes in vehicle body panels for fabrication work without bending it, that's compared to having destroyed probably a few dozen from big box stores with far less abuse in a few uses if not the first try. Marking drill spots, using one to drill a hole in drywall for an anchor, actually using for scratching, I can't even begin to list how many things I use these for on a near daily basis and how often people have never owned nor used and sometimes even heard of one of these. I would put this in the running for best tool of all time based on the price, quality, and versatility.

This General Tools Scratch Awl is an excellent tool for woodworking. I always had a spring-loaded punch, but now this is the only tool when I need start a hole for drilling or to guide a screw into place. It’s a little smaller than scissors, comfortable in the hand, and feels really solid when applying pressure. I’ve never needed to use a hammer with it, but the metal strike cap feels sturdy enough to handle a solid hit if necessary. For the price, this is a great value. One tip: keep the rubber safety cover on the sharp point. Especially if you’re carrying it in your pocket.

It's a solid enough tool and arrived safely with a plastic cap covering the tip and works very well. I do like the fact that it's wood rather than the plastic handle of the hand-me-down I was replacing. However, water or something must have gotten into it the cap because the area under the cap was rusted. I used some sandpaper and steel wool to clean it up then oiled it, but it seems better care should have been taken in the preparation. Overall a decent tool for the price, other than the rust.

Very well made!

Perfect for my woodworking needs. Awls are available in quite a variety of sizes, shapes, materials and prices. For me, this awl is a very good combination of: handle material, size and shape; length of shaft and overall tool size; geometry of tool tip (the pointed end). And at a reasonable price. Very satisfied, would buy again, gladly recommend to others.

I use awls most for making a hole to install anchors and screws in drywall and to make starter holes for all wood screws. I have had a similar awl for twenty years. It finally broke - the rod came through the handle. It is still usable, but I decided it was time for a new one. I got one that looked very sturdy and was all metal, but to my surprise the tip broke after a few uses. The steel was not strong. This one is very similar to the one that I mentioned earlier, and it is working very well so far. In my opinion, this is such a simple device that its main value is durability. Whether it will last for decades, I don't know. If it breaks soon, I will amend my review and go to fewer stars, but until then I give it 5 stars.

Does what it should. Feels sturdy. And the wooden handle looks great.

Bom produto com bom acabamento, cumpre o propósito.

Heavy duty, I help operate a trade school and we ordered multiples of these and they hold up extremely well! 100s of apprentices go through the program and these get well used and abused and have stayed true so far

Not great. It isn't sharp enough to pierce through the leather. I bought it alongside a cheap beginner leather work kit as i was expecting this to be of high quality. Turns out the Awl from the cheap kit was 10 times better and actually pierced the leather. Don't waste your money!

It looks and feels like a good quality conical awl for carpentry. Comfortable hard wood handle and full tang so it can be used with a mallet (if needed) without fear of splitting the handle. It has a reducing shaft terminating in a 5mm long ground conical point. More suited to centre marking holes in wood than piercing or scribing.