I've been making moulding planes and doing both the woodworking and metalworking.

 

Sometimes when I make the blades I've been cutting out what I need from old hand plane blades.

I can't bear to throw scrap away because it could be useful. So in the photo you will see a piece I started shaping for making a Birdcage Awl.

 

 

I turned a shank insert and a handle out of torrefied maple. Here's the exploded assembly of the shank, shank insert, and handle.

 

 

This is the fully assembled Birdcage Awl.

 

Do you like it better with (1) or without (2) the brass ferrule?

 

 

 

 

Cheers! 

Thanks for looking! 

MrRick 

Edited December 1, 2025Dec 1 by MrRick

Gorgeous tool. Awesome way to utilize scraps!

Beautiful tool Rick and great use of leftover material. Personally I like the brass bling but I am easily smitten with shiney objects.😆

Seeing this post reminded me @HandyDanmade some beautiful awls with the shanks being made from recycled engine valve stems.

 

 

 

 

 

On 12/1/2025 at 9:06 AM, lew said:

Gorgeous tool. Awesome way to utilize scraps!

 

Thanks lew!

15 minutes ago, Grandpadave52 said:

Beautiful tool Rick and great use of leftover material. Personally I like the brass bling but I am easily smitten with shiney objects.😆

Thanks Grandpadave52! "Bling".. haven't heard that for a very long time ! Lol.

Beautiful awls that @HandyDan made there. Love it.