Best Awl Tool In 2025: From Leather to Wood, Tailoring, Crafting & Bookbinding
I’ve tested countless awl tools to find the best awl tools in the USA for your projects. Whether you’re stitching leather, marking wood, or binding books, this guide highlights top-rated awls available in the USA.
General Tools Scratch Awl with Hardwood Handle, Scribe & Piercing Wood
Brand: General Tools
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General Tools Scratch Awl Tool with Hardwood Handle – Scribe
Brand: General Tools
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Osborne #144-43 Stitching Awl with 1-1/4″ Diamond Shape Blade
Brand: C.S. Osborne
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WILLBOND 12 Pieces Leather Sewing Awl Hand Stitcher with Craft Accessories Set
Brand: WILLBOND
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Wooden Handle Scratch Awl Tool, 2 PCS for Leather Hole Punch, Sewing
Brand: Pengxiaomei
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Our Most Popular Guides & Reviews
Handpicked articles from Nicholas’s workshop, designed to help you master your craft and choose the right tools for any project in the USA.
The Best Leatherworking Awl of 2025
Our top picks for diamond and stitching awls that create flawless stitch lines in any leather project.
Read Full Guide →The Best Woodworking Awl for Precision
Discover the best scratch awls for marking accurate lines and creating perfect pilot holes in your woodworking.
Read Full Guide →The Best Tailoring Awl for Heavy Fabrics
From denim to canvas, find the ideal sewing awl for clean holes and effortless stitching in tailoring.
Read Full Guide →The Best All-Purpose Crafting Awl
Your guide to the most versatile awls for general crafting, from paper projects to polymer clay.
Read Full Guide →The Best Bookbinding Awl for Crafters
Achieve perfect signatures with our recommended awls for clean, precise holes in your bookbinding projects.
Read Full Guide →Top Awl Tool Sets: A New Mexico Guide
Discover the best awl tool sets for leatherworking, tested by Nicholas N. Goforth in his Albuquerque workshop.
Read Full Guide →10 Practical Uses for an Awl
Learn how awls are used for punching holes, marking lines, and more, tailored for New Mexico’s vibrant crafters.
Read Full Guide →How to Make an Awl in 4 Simple Steps
Craft your own awl with this DIY guide, inspired by Nicholas’ resourceful approach in his Albuquerque workshop.
Read Full Guide →Find the Right Awl for Your Craft
Discover top awl tools for 2025, handpicked by Nicholas N. Goforth for USA crafters, inspired by New Mexico’s crafting heritage.
Beginners
Easy-to-use awl kits like Speedy Stitcher for new crafters.
Woodworking
Scratch awls like Narex for precise marking on wood.
Leatherworking
Diamond awls from C.S. Osborne for stitching leather.
Bookbinding
Fine-tipped awls for precise holes in paper crafts.
Tailoring
Clover awls for piercing fabrics like denim.
Crafting
Versatile WUTA awls for canvas and leather projects.
Unique Applications
Specialized awls for carpet, plastic, and bone.
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About Me
Hi, I’m Nicholas N. Goforth, a New Mexico crafter with 20 years of experience in leatherworking, woodworking, and bookbinding.
Inspired by a Santa Fe market, I turned my passion into AwlTool.com, launched in 2025, to share tutorials and handcrafted goods.
My work reflects New Mexico’s desert beauty, using tools like PB SWISS and C.S. Osborne awls, connecting artisans globally.
Join our crafting community at and share your projects with #AwlToolCraft.
Awl Types
Discover the various types of awls used in different crafts, from leatherworking to bookbinding.
General Purpose Awls
Scratch Awl (or Scribe Awl)
Used for marking or scratching lines on wood, metal, or plastic. Features a sharp, pointed tip for precise scribing.
Bradawl
Features a chisel-like tip designed to create a starting hole for screws and nails without splitting the wood.
Leatherworking Awls
Stitching Awl
A fundamental tool for hand-sewing leather, used to create holes for thread to pass through.
Diamond-Shaped Awl
Creates a diamond-shaped hole, which allows for a tighter and more decorative saddle stitch.
Blunt Awl (or Creasing Awl)
Used for making decorative creases or marking stitching lines on leather without piercing it.
Curved Awl
The curved needle is ideal for reaching awkward angles and repairing items like shoes or bags.
Collar Awl
A heavy-duty awl with a long, curved blade for working on thick materials like horse collars and harnesses.
Lacing Awl / Stitching Fid
Features a flattened, rounded tip designed to open holes for lacing without cutting leather fibers.
Bookbinding Awls
Tapered Awl
Creates tapered holes in paper signatures, allowing them to be sewn together tightly for bookbinding.
Straight Needle Awl
Essentially a sturdy needle set in a handle, used for piercing holes through stacks of paper or card.
Bookbinder’s Awl
A general term for awls specifically designed for the delicate task of piercing paper for sewing.
Other Awl Variations
Automatic Awl
A spring-loaded tool that creates a hole when pressure is applied, requiring no hammer.
Awl Haft
The handle of an awl, often sold separately, allowing for interchangeable blades and needles.
Speedy Stitcher Sewing Awl
A patented device that holds a bobbin of thread in the handle, creating lock stitches like a sewing machine.
Alternatives to Awl Tools
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How to Maintain Your Awl Tool
Maintaining your awl tool properly ensures its longevity and effectiveness, especially in leatherwork where a sharp and smooth blade is crucial for clean punctures and stitching.
1. Keep it sharp
- Regular sharpening: Sharpen your awl regularly, even if it’s just a quick pass over a sharpening stone before each use.
- Sharpening technique: Use a fine-grit whetstone or sharpening plate at a consistent 20-30 degree angle. For diamond-shaped awls, be sure to sharpen all four faces evenly.
- Remove burrs: After sharpening, check for and remove any burrs by drawing the awl back along a piece of leather or rubbing it on the sharpening stone.
- Polish: A highly polished blade will glide more easily through leather. You can achieve this by using a strop with a fine polishing compound.
2. Keep it clean
- Wipe it down: After each use, clean the awl’s blade and handle with a soft, dry cloth to remove dirt, debris, or adhesive residue.
- Isopropyl alcohol: For stubborn residue, use a cloth dampened with isopropyl alcohol.
- Never submerge: Avoid submerging the awl in water, especially if it has a wooden handle, as this can weaken the handle and encourage rust.
3. Prevent rust
- Keep it dry: Store your awl in a dry environment to prevent rust.
- Oil or wax coating: Apply a thin layer of machine oil or beeswax to the blade to create a protective barrier against moisture.
- Silica gel packs: Place silica gel packs in your toolbox or storage area to absorb excess moisture.
4. Proper storage
- Protective sheath or case: Store your awl in a protective sheath or case to protect the blade and prevent accidents.
- Cool, dry place: Store awls, especially those with wooden handles, in a cool, dry place to prevent cracking or warping.
- Dedicated storage: Have a designated place for your awl so it’s protected and easily accessible when you need it.
5. Handle with care
- Avoid overexertion: Use the proper technique to avoid bending or damaging the awl’s tip.
- Be mindful of placement: When setting the awl down, place it on a soft surface like a piece of wool to protect the tip.
The History of the Awl Tool
The awl is a tool that transcends history, with origins stretching back 77,000 years to the Paleolithic age. From bone and flint to copper and modern steel, its design has evolved, yet its purpose remains timeless: to pierce, mark, and empower creators. Discover the diverse world of awls – past and present – and unlock their potential for your next project.
When was the awl tool invented?
- Archaeological evidence points to the use of early awls dating back to the Paleolithic age, roughly 77,000 years ago, where they were fashioned from materials like bone and flint.
- Later, with the advent of metalworking during the Bronze Age, awls were made from materials like copper and bronze.
- A copper awl discovered in Tel Tsaf, Israel, dating back to 5100-4600 BCE, is currently the oldest metal object found in the Middle East.
Who invented the awl tool?
The inventor of the original awl tool is unknown, as the awl is an ancient tool whose origins predate recorded history. While the exact inventor is lost to time, the fundamental design of the awl has remained consistent throughout history.