Tools for drilling holes in the wild, awls, reemers, and the like?

peripatew

peripatew

Joined
Jul 31, 2007
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I recently watch some of Ron Hoods videos, and he seems to really like the Awl on his SAK. I don't have a SAK w/ an Awl, and I've been thinking about trying on out, a SAK all together, not just for the awl.

I noticed a lot of SAK have reemers instead of Awls. Do the reemers work just as good for drilling clean holes in wood?

In poking around the 'net looking for awls, I've found some cheap ones, that I thought about buy and modifying. Maybe chopping off the handle, and making some method for making and handle in the wild (like people make handles for sharpened saw blades). But I wasn't sure if normal awls have a semi-sharp end designed for drilling?

Any other thoughts for drilling some holes in the wild that would be super small yet effective in a pinch?

L
 
i have thought about starting to carry a small gimlet, it could be handy for making buttons and other things. traps and general repairs would be easier and cleaner with this too...

you could also check out square blade awls or triangle awls, they can be used to drill holes in wood if the edges are sharp. also good for poking holes in leather and canvas for repairs.

there used to be a couple of good articles on outdoors-magazine dealing with awls and really complete repair kits (sorta mountain man style), but sadly no more...
 
All great points by everyone. The gimlet idea is a good one.
In boyscouts we did work with the awl on a few of our projects.

The one with the sewing eye on the SAK, yes, yes, certainly would be great for "wilderness" or survival sewing.

Also, on the primitive skills side, don't forget, we can make a bow and drill, split the drill "work" tip and lash/fasten a sharp stone to the end.

Then you have truly made it a drill. As you work the bow back and forth the harder stone material will drill into the wood. Keep going and you have a hole.

be careful with the awl trying to make a hole in a piece of wood. The wood can split and awl goes right through, hopefully not into your palm of the hand that is supporting the piece. Done that, got the scar.
 
i am a big fan of the awl. i think it is a bit underappreciated. i got an ice-pick from a local coffee store (dont know exactly why they had them) and it came with a wooden sheath. i carved the handle and the sheath and then gave them a linseed soak and it is now a good looking out doors tool.

i also have a set of 4 hand drills my brother got for me. they are small, the largest only being mabe 1/4''. i made wooden cases for all four, and those turned out well. i use them more for primitive woodworking than survival work, as i like the awl/icepick for that.
 
There's an awl set you can get from tandy, or better yet from a BF member over at USA knifemaker supply. It has a screw on handle like an xacto knife, and 4 blades. The scratch awl blade is a good general purpose poker, the smaller diamond point is excellent for leather sewing, the larger diamond blade can be used as is or modified for drilling, and the lacing "awl" can be taken to a file or stone and ground to shape. The handle can easily be attached to the needle from a sewing awl if you really want to go through that (I don't recommend sewing that way) - a gimlet could be added though a simple t handle gimlet is easy to carry. If you are on the cheap a modified gimlet cold be made ouf of a drill bit and carried along.

I love my Outrider, but the sak awl is not really great for sewing, I don't think. I've used the needle eye for pulling small stuff (cordage) through complicated knit points, though.

edit- forgot, drill a 1/4 inch hole in the awl handle, epoxy in a bit of 1/4 inch brass lanyard tube. then carry a 4 or 5 inch length of 3/16 music wire in your kit with it and you have a T handle
 
naked said:
I recently watch some of Ron Hoods videos, and he seems to really like the Awl on his SAK. I don't have a SAK w/ an Awl, and I've been thinking about trying on out, a SAK all together, not just for the awl.

I noticed a lot of SAK have reemers instead of Awls. Do the reemers work just as good for drilling clean holes in wood?

In poking around the 'net looking for awls, I've found some cheap ones, that I thought about buy and modifying. Maybe chopping off the handle, and making some method for making and handle in the wild (like people make handles for sharpened saw blades). But I wasn't sure if normal awls have a semi-sharp end designed for drilling?

Any other thoughts for drilling some holes in the wild that would be super small yet effective in a pinch?

L
Click to expand...

Naked, what's the difference between an awl and a reamer, as it applies to SAK's?

Doc
 
there's the kind with the sewing eye, like on my outrider or cybertool. And then the one like on the electrician, which is end mounted and L shaped
 
get a vic swiss camper.
Victorinox-Camper-Lg.jpg

the awl is handy and the saw works great. or an OHT. one hand trekker.
 
i really like the awl on my OHT and farmer.. they are a good addition to a kit..

here is my scibeer modded SAK.. this thing is cool..

IMG_2837.jpg
 
koyote said:
there's the kind with the sewing eye, like on my outrider or cybertool. And then the one like on the electrician, which is end mounted and L shaped
Click to expand...

So the one with the sewing eye is the awl, and the one with the 'L' shape is the reamer, then what's the one with no sewing eye, not 'L' shaped and has a hook, like the Vic Spirit Multitool?

As far as recommendations go, mine is, for a small-medium size SAK, the Vic Ranger; for a large one, the Vic Swiss Champ. I have these 2 and the Vic Camper, which has tons of sentimental value to me and is an excellent SAK for the size, although I guess I should add, since I bought a Vic Spirit, I haven't carried any SAK's.

Doc
 
the package carrrying hook? Hook it on a bail or string tie and you have a T handle to carry things.

Took me YEARS to figure out what that was for.


I carry a LM crunch and a vic Outrider. I think the extra saw length is worth it. And I always always want a model with a corkscrew.

I've been thinking though, since I got Ms. Koyote her compact, of switching. I have a lot of blades on me most times, and the things I most often really use a SAK for are covered by the compact.
 
DOC-CANADA said:
Naked, what's the difference between an awl and a reamer, as it applies to SAK's?

Doc
Click to expand...

Victorinox says that this is a reamer:
vm_54874_sol_a09.jpg


And they actually don't call this an Awl, but a Reamer w/ a sowing hole:
vm_53601_sol_a03.jpg


They look to be the same, just one w/ a hole. The first close up appears to show a slight bevel on just the reamer.

I only own one SAK, it doesn't have either, but I'm really considering the OHT.
 
I would say,taht any awl of a SAK works,but the ones on the 93 mm ALOX scale series is the best.IMHO
 
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