Bird Cage Awl

The Czeck Edge by Benchcrafted Bird Cage Awls feature large, palm friendly handles with a lower finger perch that allows a tremendous amount of force to be applied comfortably for boring or marking in wood or similar materials. The square cross section of the blade, sharpened edges and pyramid point allow them to sever delicate wood fibers without splitting thin stock.

The square blade follows the traditional design in essence with two sizes offered, 3/16” and 1/4“, the latter excelling for larger, more robust marking and boring tasks. They are made of  tool steel hardened to RC 59 - 60 in an aircraft certified facility and precision ground and polished.

Each blade is precision ground to a high polish and needle point. If you want a more robust point, you can add a secondary bevel at the point by pulling the tool across a whetstone, raising the blade a few degrees on the four faces. Be aware though that if you create too steep a secondary bevel, you'll reduce the cutting capability of the point, and have less precision for placing the point on your workpiece's crosshairs.

Handle Material

All Czeck Edge by Benchcrafted tool handles are CNC turned and hand polished using Liberty Wood™, a material made from compressed layers of 1/16” thick birch veneer, phenolic-resins and dye. Due to the arrangement of the wood layers and dye selections, Liberty Wood™ takes on a look that is nearly identical to many Rosewoods, plus, using dye we can create colors not naturally found in trees, like our Indigo Blue or Charcoal colors. Liberty Wood™ is extremely resistant to movement and abrasion, and takes a beautiful polish. Our handles, amazingly enough, are finely sanded and buffed. No finish is applied, so there is none to wear off. Your handle should keep its shine and luster for many years of normal use. It’s added weight gives a very substantial feel in the hand. Liberty Wood™ has a specific gravity that rivals the world’s densest wood: Lignum Vitae.

Specs:

•  1-7/16" x 4" Liberty Wood™  handle
•  3/16” or ¼” blade, 3” length past the ferrule
•  5/8" diameter X 1/2" long satin finished bronze ferrule. 
• Overall length: 7"
• Tool Steel blade:  Rockwell 59-60