What is a bradawl?
A bradawl is a hand tool consisting of a sharp steel point set in a handle, used to press a small hole into timber, leather or soft board. In woodworking it is used mainly to start a hole for a screw or nail: the hole gives the point purchase, so the fixing lands exactly on the marked spot instead of wandering off. In Dutch the tool is called a priem, in German an Ahle.
Types
| Type | Point | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Round awl | Round, tapered point | General starting holes in timber and board |
| Bradawl with a chisel edge | Flat, chisel-shaped tip | Cuts the wood fibre rather than forcing it apart; less risk of splitting |
| Saddler’s awl | Fine, sometimes curved point | Leather, canvas, textile |
| Scriber / marking awl | Very fine point | Marking an exact point, more precise than a pencil line |
Application
Starting a screw
Place the point on the mark, press and twist back and forth. With a chisel-edged bradawl, set the edge across the grain so the fibres are severed — that reduces splitting, especially close to an edge or end.
The limits of the tool
- For hardwoods, screws over about 4 mm diameter and work close to an end grain, a bradawl is not enough: drill a proper pilot hole (core diameter roughly 60–70% of the screw diameter)
- In chipboard and MDF pilot drilling is always necessary; a pierced hole only compresses the material
- Never use a bradawl as a chisel or a lever — the point is hardened and will snap
Safety
The point is sharp and the force runs straight back into the user’s hand. Always push away from your body, hold the workpiece with a clamp rather than with your hand, and cap the point with a plastic cover or a cork when the tool is in the box.
Related terms
- Hand tool
- Timber joint
- Pilot hole
- Nail
- Contour gauge
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