What Kind of Tools Are Center Punch and Scratch Awl? 2025

Which tool is better for marking or drilling? center punch or scratch awl?

A scratch awl is perfect for marking, scribing, and piercing softer materials like wood or leather, while a center punch is used to create guide marks before drilling, especially in metal or hardwood. These tools may look similar, but they serve very different purposes.

What Kind of Tools Are Center Punch and Scratch Awl? This quick guide helps woodworkers, leather crafters, and hobbyists in the USA understand their uses, key differences, and which tool you really need.

✅ According to a 2025 survey from Woodwork Today Magazine, nearly 75% of New Mexico-based crafters use both tools regularly. That tells us these are must-haves—not just nice-to-haves.

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What Is a Scratch Awl?

A scratch awl (also known as a marking awl) is a pointed hand tool used to mark, pierce, or scribe lines on various materials before cutting or drilling. It’s commonly used in leatherworking, woodworking, shoemaking, tailoring, and even bookbinding.

Main Uses:

• Drawing straight layout lines on wood or leather
• Piercing starter holes for nails, screws, or stitching
• Marking fabric or canvas before sewing

🛠️ Key Tip: You don’t need a hammer, just press by hand.

🔎 Related Terms: marking awl, layout awl, leather awl, sewing awl

What Is a Center Punch?

A center punch is a solid steel tool with a tapered point used to make an indentation (dimple) in a workpiece before drilling. It’s especially helpful for keeping your drill bit from slipping on hard materials.

Primary Uses:

• Marking precise drill locations
• Creating a starting dimple to guide the drill bit
• Reducing bit wander on metal, wood, and plastic

🛠️ You can strike it with a hammer or get a spring-loaded version for single-handed operation.

🔎 Related Terms: drill punch, guide punch, spring-loaded punch

Scratch Awl vs. Center Punch: The Clear Difference

Feature	Scratch Awl	Center Punch
Tip Type	Sharp needle-like point	Angled cone (60°–90°)
Used On	Wood, leather, fabric	Metal, hardwood, plastic
Requires a Hammer?	No	Yes (or spring-loaded)
Primary Function	Marking lines, light piercing	Marking drill start points
Ideal For	Crafting, layout marking	Precision drilling prep
Skill Level	Beginner	Beginner to Intermediate

📍 Summary: Awls are ideal for precise marking, while punches are made for drill guidance.

Types of Punch Tools

Beyond center punches, there are other punch tools to explore:

1. Center Punch

• The go-to for drilling guides
• Available in manual or spring-loaded versions

2. Prick Punch

• Sharper point than center punch (typically 40°)
• Used for ultra-precise layout marks before using the center punch

3. Letter & Number Punches

• Used to stamp names or codes into tools, metal plates, or leather

4. Decorative Leather Punches

• Craft shapes or logo imprints
• Common in leatherwork, bookbinding, or crafting

🔧 Fact: Prick punches are often used in metalworking first, then followed by a center punch for depth.

Types of Awl Tools

Awls come in several types, each with its own specialty. For a detailed guide, check out our Types of Awl Tools Guidelines.

1. Scratch Awl

• Marks layout lines on wood or leather
• Basic and versatile for all skill levels

2. Brad Awl

• Creates holes by pushing wood fibers aside
• Perfect for starting holes for screws or nails

3. Stitching Awl

• Includes an eye and internal thread spool
• Great for sewing canvas, leather, belts, tents

4. Sailmaker’s Awl

• Stronger and curved
• Built for heavy-duty canvas or sail cloth

5. Shoemaker’s Awl

• Has a hooked or bent tip
• Designed for shoemaking, saddlery, or upholstery

🧵 Tip: Each awl is designed for specific materials using the right one saves time and boosts results.

A Woodworker’s Solution

Sarah, a woodworker from Santa Fe, needed to install evenly spaced pegs on a pine coat rack. Her drill bit kept wandering.

What worked?

1. Used a scratch awl to mark spacing
2. Followed up with a center punch to create drill guides
3. Result: Straight, professional-looking holes

🎯 Takeaway: Use both tools in sequence for best results.

Awl vs. Center Punch in Practice

Here’s when to use one or both:

• Marking cut lines on wood or leather – Use a scratch awl
• Starting a drill hole on metal – Use a center punch
• Crafting a belt or bag – Use stitching or scratch awl
• Installing screws in hardwood – Start with a brad awl, then use center punch if needed

For best results, use the awl for marking and the punch for drilling.

Choosing the Right Tool for Your Project

Task	Best Tool
Marking wood before cutting	Scratch Awl
Piercing canvas or leather	Stitching Awl
Making guide holes for screws	Brad Awl
Preparing a metal drilling spot	Center Punch
Marking crosslines or layout	Prick Punch
Adding numbers to tools	Number Punch Set

✅ Fact: Using the right tool boosts efficiency by up to 30% according to CraftSource Journal.

FAQs: What Kind of Tools Are Center Punch and Scratch Awl?

Conclusion

The scratch awl and center punch may seem like simple tools—but they’re essential for anyone serious about making clean, accurate work.

Use the scratch awl to mark, scribe, and pierce. Use the center punch to guide your drill and keep your holes clean.

Pro tip: Keep both in your toolkit. Use them in sequence for best results: mark with an awl, dimple with a punch, drill cleanly.

Still building your kit? Check out our awl buying guides, center punch recommendations, and top stores in New Mexico for all your tool needs.

Author: Nicholas N. Goforth
Craftsman. Leatherworker. Writer at AwlTool.com

Explore More:

• Top Awl Brands in the USA
• Best Awl Sets for Leather
• What Is the Job of the Worker Who Uses a Tool Called an Awl?
• What Is The Main Purpose Of An Awl? 10 Practical Uses for New Mexicans

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