I'v been busy making picks.

[geardog32]

here are some picks iv made recently. they keep getting better and better. can you guess in which order i made them?

[ToolyMcgee]

Excellent looking picks man. Those clay handles are fantastic! A city rake and spring tensioners too... that's some advanced stuff.

[UtahRootBeer]

Very Well Done. How Does The Clay Do With Feed-Back?

[femurat]

You made a very big set and choose the right picks. I like your handles too

Cheers

[geardog32]

thanks fro the complements. the clay handles are made out of polymer clay, fimo to be specific. the feedback is very good in my opinion, the clay is very firm, although i don't have a commercial set to compare it to.

[Legion303]

Those are very nice. I like your choice of colors as well, nice and bold.

-steve

[geardog32]

Those are very nice. I like your choice of colors as well, nice and bold.

-steve

thank you Legion303, i don't know if you can tell but i got most of my ideas from you and your pick making tutorial. i did make some improvements to the mold making process and experimented with different release agents. i also shaped all my picks before putting handles on them.

[Legion303]

I actually got the clay idea from 2 previous posters who had good results with it.

I'll have to update the tutorial, but so far I've found the best release agent to be simple baby powder (talc) rubbed on the molds. I also shape the picks first these days...looks like you figured that out way faster than I did. :P

-steve

[jruther2]

Those picks and handles look fantastic!
I've recently been trying to make handles with fimo and have had a hard time of it so far. You said you improved upon Legion's mold making process...I would be very interested in hearing about the improvements you made as I have had quite limited success with the whole process to this point.
Again, great looking tools!

[BIGORNEX]

Waouhhhhh! Beautiful work!
They are like picks purchased and by far much better finish than some picks made in China ...
Congratulations.

[nataz]

nice looking picks, what are you using to shape them? Are you working with files or a dremmel, or other?

[raimundo]

the air soft bbs are round and will center the mold halfs very effectively as the mold goes down over the round ball, the shape just guides it into perfect register with the opposite half.

Just thought someone should mention that effect.

[geardog32]

i use the laser printer transfer method onto the wiper insert, then i cut it out with a dremmel, and finish it up with hand files and several grits of sandpaper. Thanks for all the good comments. and thanks for mentioning that raimundo i should have said what the bb's were for.

[Legion303]

I split your tutorial post into its own topic here: viewtopic.php?f=4&t=47446

Nice work!

-steve

[nostromo]

Your work lookl like world class handle material! Very nice!

Do the FIMO handles hold together and wear well with extended use and carrying? Like abrasion resistance and dings?

Do the pick shafts ever tend to enlarge the 'hole' in the handle as they flex from side to side with use?