Awl
A sharpened spike for piercing the sewing stations through a folded section.
| Shaft diameter | 1.5–3.0 mm |
| Profile | Round, flat or diamond section |
| Length | 90–140 mm overall |
| Handle | Hardwood, 60–80 mm, sometimes with a ferrule |
| Tip | Polished, tapered to a fine point |
| Piercing depth | Through a section up to 12 mm thick |
| Sharpening | Fine stone, then strop |
| Storage | Cork or a sheath; never loose in a drawer |
| Shaft diameter | 1.5–3.0 mm |
| Section thickness | Up to about 12 mm |
| Profile | Round for single sheets, flat for sections |
| Suitable stock | Any paper the section is made from |
| Processes | Piercing sewing stations, marking, opening a hole |
| Compatible materials | Paper, board, leather at the joint |
| Stations | Typically 5 to 7 per section for an octavo |
| Hole spacing | Evenly from the head and tail, never at the very ends |
Before a section can be sewn it needs holes. The awl makes them — through the fold, from the inside, at the stations marked on a sewing template. A clean pierced hole closes back around the thread as it is pulled through; a torn hole stays open and the section sags on the thread.
Binding awls come in two forms. A round awl makes a round hole and is used on thin sections and single sheets. A flat or diamond-section awl spreads the fibres rather than cutting them, which is better for thick sections and for paper that tears easily.
Safety
Using it well
- Pierce from the inside of the fold outwards. The hole then closes around the thread as it is pulled through, rather than opening up.
- Use a sewing template to mark the stations. Freehand piercing produces sections that will not align when they are sewn together.
- For a thick section, pierce from both sides and meet in the middle. A single deep pierce wanders and comes out somewhere you did not intend.
What it works with
Papers and substrates
- All papers and thin board
Type and fonts
- Not applicable
Processes
- Piercing
- Marking stations
- Opening a hole for a tacket
Tools that go with the awl
Needle & Thread
A blunt-tipped needle and waxed linen thread: the joint that holds a book together.
Sewing Frame
An upright frame that holds the sewing cords under tension while the sections go on.
Bone Folder
A polished, tapered bone used to crease, burnish and rub down a fold or a pasted sheet.