Make an electric pick from Black and Decker Power Scissors

[Legion303]

Hilariously, I was at Lowes 2 days ago and saw these things, and wondered if they would make a good pickgun conversion. It looks like the answer is "yes." Nice work.

-steve

[Stray]

Bought and built one yesterday. Took longer to make the pick out of brick strap than it took to modify the cutting head. (Did help that I didn't have cut off wheels for my dremel so I used a pneumatic Die grinder with a 1/8 inch thick cut off wheel to cut the slit in the scissor head instead). Beauty of it is that it is so simple to do that the only thing people will have to go out and get are the actual scissors.

Somebody may have mentioned it before but since the heads are replaceable it means that if you buy a spare head for it you do still keep its functionality as a good pair of scissors since there is no modification required to the rest of the tool.

As for how well it works, got to use it on a Victory lock (6 pin) and a wiser lock, and once I got the technique down they opened in no time at all.

[larrymz3]

I just purchased one, and am gonna try it!

[BarryWells]

hopefully im going to source one of these and make it my weekend project..
thanks

[tacedeous]

what did you guys use to drill the the scissor blade..
i have tried 2 different metal drill bits to no avail... howd u guys do it?

[tacedeous]

anyone?
I've tried all the bits i can get ahold of.. ti, cobalt, bits that said they where made for hard metal... nothing... any ideas?

[What]

Perhaps try the cutting of a slot method as stated in the original work?

[tacedeous]

well after alot of thought and trial i came up with this...
i actually like the design and erogonomics more than the original... but no disrespect to the creator...

pgunpost.gif

[atoybbacs]

Just made me one. Haven't tried it on a lock yet.

[tacedeous]

just like picking there a learning curve... its a cool little tool (sorry for the rhyme) but chews up pins and key ways, my first look i started practicing on with this tool, when i removed the pins they where all filled down, to triangles on the tip, I know its said over and over but, DO NOT TRY TO PRACTICE OR USE THIS ON A LOCK IN USE!

SERIOUSLY!

also i found the power of this thing to be to much, so go easy keep the tool low in keyway, rock blade up and down out and in, using the tip also to lift pins while pulling out the blade... happy trails! good luck...

[atoybbacs]

Thanks, I've always liked locks for some reason and I've a lot of spares to work with. At work I have to cut a lot of locks for people forgetting their keys. I just weld them back together and use them to pratice on.

[bkanios]

Great thread, will be trying to make this unit myself over the weekend. The savings is tremendous, like 150 or better saved with this unit. Best regards,

[Rytanfan93]

I'm not surprised at how well it comes out. Many years ago I bought an EPG from Ilco/Unican. You couldn't easily tell from the illustration in the catalog, but when it arrived, I was surprised too see it was an adapted B and D screwdriver.

[tacedeous]

yea thats what hpc has done also... the key however is the screwdriver units have the adjustable screw so you can tone down or up its vibration, the scissors do not... although i've been toying with the idea of adding sometype of variable capicitor to limit the power flow to the motor... who knows... if I do, you know ill make a tutorial

[ToolyMcgee]

Tacedeous: so you scrapped the blade and fabricated a tip right? I thought about this when I first made mine, but went for the external linking method for easier tip changing. Turns out quick change tips aren't that handy and it looks like it is homemade hillbilly rigged. I loath the unfinished look, although it works well when I have use for it. No offense meant to the OP of course. It's a great idea.

I'm going to use a quality stainless steel stock similar to the original blade thickness and finish it properly now. Thanks for the breakdown of the piece you made tacedeous, and next to a ruler no less. Are you by chance a different SN on another site, and also what did you use for stock on the pick blade?

-Tooly