Making one vs. Buying one

[Daggers]

I recently (as in today) found some old windshield wipers and took the metal out to start grinding it down into different picks. I was wondering if the quality of the picks using the metal from the windshield wipers will be as good as one that could be bought online. It saves money, but am i sacrificing quality?

[Squelchtone]

I recently (as in today) found some old windshield wipers and took the metal out to start grinding it down into different picks. I was wondering if the quality of the picks using the metal from the windshield wipers will be as good as one that could be bought online. It saves money, but am i sacrificing quality?

As long as you grind or file AND quench with water the quality should be just fine but the handles will be thinner/smaller than manufacturer picks, so you have to make a handle of some kind. If you want another good supply for making picks, try hacksaw blades. Download a template from here, trace it onto a hacksaw blade, grind away the rough shape, then use a dremel or smaller files to get the details done, then some wet sand paper in 200 to 1200 grits to polish them up nicely.

Wipers do make excellent tension wrenches, but some folks make picks out of them and they come out nice and work very well.

Truck wiper inserts are wider, so you may want to check the trash outside AutoZone for wipers people tossed out.

Squelchtone

[Daggers]

ok thanks! i just picked my first lock with them!!! i think the hook doesn't have a sharp enough angle so i just tried to rake the lock and it worked i even did it a 2nd and 3rd time. right now as a beginner, what type of pick should i use?

[scriptguru]

squelchtone, I tried steel brush for polishing (with Dremel), and the result seems to be at least as good as Sparrows picks finish, or even better. IMHO using steel brush is a little better than abrasive paper because brush doesn't whear out so quickly, and it allows to work on small detais (especially important on picks with complicated contour). Unfortunately, I don't have Peterson's or raimundo's picks to compare my results with top quality picks.

[VashTSPD]

ok thanks! i just picked my first lock with them!!! i think the hook doesn't have a sharp enough angle so i just tried to rake the lock and it worked i even did it a 2nd and 3rd time. right now as a beginner, what type of pick should i use?

First off, congratulations! To answer your question: the traditional answer is a short hook & a half diamond. These will get you through many of the beginner locks you can buy. If you have time, copy all of Peterson's just picks. The short hook and the half diamond are on the far left and far right respectively.