ratyoke's picks

[mhole]

Beautiful work Ray' - design & execution, as well as the woodwork and the pick shaping all look top notch. I've made a few picks from hacksaw blades, and I'm also a pretty experienced wood worker, and love the idea of making some sexy wood handled picks with my smaller offcuts.
With that in mind, how are you slotting the wooden handles for the pick tang, and what kind of rivetting setup are you using?

[ratyoke]

They're not actually rivets, it's just 1.6mm silver wire. The pick blade and silver pins are epoxied into the handle, then I file/sand the pins flush. The same way a lot of custom knives are made.

I mill the wood squarish with a small vertical mill, then cut the slot with a slitting saw on the mill.

[mhole]

I missed this reply earlier - thanks for the info Ratyoke.

Hopefully I'll be able to post some of my attempts at wood handled picks soon, ruthlessly stealing your MO

[kick_me]

My goodness these are beautiful!

I hope I can afford a few one day.

Also, seeing as he told us he's a Jeweler.. I wonder who'll be the first with Diamond Studded Picks

[LocksmithArmy]

Just wanted to give props to this artist...

sorry for the quality of the pictures, the picks look much better in person.

thanks ratyoke

[zeke79]

For polishing try semicrome. I cannot remember the brand name for sure but I get it at local auto parts stores in around a 2oz tube. It is pretty expensive for the size of tube you get but a little bit of it goes a very long way. I have never found a better polish whether it be a paste or a liquid. This stuff is great. If you can't find it I can probably pick some up at the local auto parts store if they still carry it and send it your way. I can't remember if the brand name is semicrome, semichrome, or semikrome. If I recall without trying to find my tube of it, the tube is yellow and brownish. Hands down though it is the best polish I have ever used.

[Kaotik]

Those are truly beautiful, I particularly like the Snake wood. It gives it that extra bit appeal and I bet the handle is really comfortable.

I'm putting some of your picks on my Christmas list this year!

[ratyoke]

Here are some picks I have made recently...

These two are for someone on this forum if he is still interested. The wood is zircote.


Ebony:


Red narra:


Zebrawood:


This one isn't finished. I need to re-anodize the handle cause it didn't turn out very well. Most of my picks I have sold, but I plan on keeping this one for myself.


To the people I told during the past month or so that I was no longer taking pick orders cause I was moving out of the country... The job fell through, so I'm not going anywhere for now and will go back to taking orders.

[raimundo]

Wow, that last one looks like ratyoke is going into a whole new level. steampunk picks,

[Brother Paul]

Wow, that last one looks like ratyoke is going into a whole new level. steampunk picks,

i thought the same thing when i seen it

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ratyoke's nice picks man pls pc me with a price

[LockNewbie21]

These picks really are sexy, I must tip my hat to you Sir. We will deffinatly have to trade tools at some point. The woods you use are simply beautiful, I find they bring a rugged industrial and warm wooden/exotic homely feeling to the tools all at the same time. Well done friend.



Locknewbie21

[Mutzy]

Here are some picks I have made recently...

These two are for someone on this forum if he is still interested. The wood is zircote.

And they are awesome. Seriously man, I love them, pictures only give you a glimpse of how beautiful they are. When held in your hand... man. Amazing craftsmanship. I look forward to owning some locks with these beauties. Thanks so much.

[ratyoke]

Thanks. Glad you like them.

[ratyoke]

A video of some of my picks and some that I am currently working on:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0a_raB_iFg

New colors:

[ratyoke]

I finished this one a few days ago.

The wood is bee's wing narra.