For a blunt awl, I purchased a 4" #2 philips screw driver at Harbor Freight for less than $2, cut off the hardened tip, reshaped the tip with a file and finally polished it with fine wet/dry sandpaper. For less than $2 and an hours work, I had a comfortable and useful stringing tool. Besides straightening strings, I also use it to fan the X's to save my finger tips and to re-shape crushed tie off grommets.