I also made my own bradawls, punches, and a pair of compasses, out of wire and old files.
Using brute force can result in the bradawl slipping or the wood snapping and the bradawl being thrust in the wrong direction.
Improper use of a bradawl can easily result in injury.
This also pulls the gimlet farther into the hole as it is turned; unlike a bradawl, pressure is not required once the tip has been drawn in.
