Awl

An awl is a woodworking tool used to mark a piece of wood. It is made up of a wooden handle with a pointed, needle-shaped piece of steel protruding from it. The handle is typically round or cylindrical and fits in the palm of the users hand. The needle-shaped steel point varies from a few millimeters to a centimeter thick at its base and tapers to a point sharp enough to scratch the surface of a piece of wood. The length of the needle varies from around 7 cm to 15 cm.

An awl is used to mark a piece of wood either by scratching the surface of it or by making a pock marked hole in the surface. It is often used in conjunction with a straightedge or a try square to mark straight lines on wood in preparation for tasks such as sawing.