Cobbler's tool tips the scales, we hear, every time (6)
I believe the answer is:
always
'every time' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'cobbler's tool tips the scales' is the wordplay.
'cobbler's tool' becomes 'awl' (I've seen this in another clue).
'tips' means to remove the middle letters (just the outer letters of the world).
'the scales' becomes 'ways' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should believe this answer much more).
'awl' with its middle taken out is 'al'.
'al'+'ways'='ALWAYS'
'we hear' acts as a link.
I am not very happy about this link. Some or all of it may be part of another bit of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for always that I've seen before include "For good" , "Constantly" , "Every time" , "On all occasions" , "Perpetually" .)