I need a lathe for the workshop. If you'd like to help here's my Patreon account:   / thesmallworkshop  

This project was inspired by an awl I've seen a while ago on JDCD Design's channel:    / jamesdcd92  

A birdcage awl is different from the regular scratch awl in the way the tip is sharpened: it has four sides, like a nail. This helps it tear the wood fibers a little when marking, creating a clearer mark and also a better start for drill bits.

I've used an old 1/4 (6mm) SDS bit for this, they are made from decent steel and I have plenty of used ones around. The brass ferrule is simply a water plug from the plumbing section of my local DIY store. The wood is from a dead apple tree that my father used to have in his yard.

Like I've mentioned before, I had to sell my old lathe, so I don't have a lathe in the shop at the moment so I've turned this handle using a drill, and it was sketchy at best. I don't feel comfortable using that again and would not recommend this method to anyone.