derekcohen
New Shoots
If you ask most woodworkers what a scratch awl is used for, they will likely say, "scribing lines along wood grain and creating starter indentations to keep drill bits from wandering".
There is a third and, in my opinion, the most important reason to own and use a scratch awl. If you value precision work, you will use a scratch awl for marking out.
Consider using a knife to mark a point on a tape or ruler ...
The problem is that it often has a slated line ... and then where was the marker?
You could instead use a sharp pencil or an awl. It turns out that the pencil is not that sharp or clear ...
Having a specific, exact mark to work to enables one to exactly position a square or cutting gauge ...
That's why they say "pin point"
Regards from Perth
Derek
There is a third and, in my opinion, the most important reason to own and use a scratch awl. If you value precision work, you will use a scratch awl for marking out.
Consider using a knife to mark a point on a tape or ruler ...
The problem is that it often has a slated line ... and then where was the marker?
You could instead use a sharp pencil or an awl. It turns out that the pencil is not that sharp or clear ...
Having a specific, exact mark to work to enables one to exactly position a square or cutting gauge ...
That's why they say "pin point"
Regards from Perth
Derek