Welding Rod

[Torque Armada]

I've read about some people using welding rod to make lever wires and wanted to give it a go. Does the stuff B&Q sells in packs do the job (about 30cm long, only a few in the pack, Silver-Copper Phosphorous if I remember correctly)? Or am I way off the mark here (sorry, don't know about welding )

[Kung]

well that is brazing rod. that for big soldering of copper pipes. the stuff you want is steel of stainless and i have used stainless electrode for making picks and and tension tools and they work quite nice... jsut dont burn the steel or it becomes like cheese.

[toomush2drink]

Yes welding rod does make good picks but im not sure of the b&q stuff but do take a look on ebay as you could get a huge pack to make a lifetimes picks for less than £20

[Torque Armada]

Cheers for the tip, what diameter rod is best for this purpose?

[toomush2drink]

2-3mm should do the trick

[paulo]

I just thought i'd hit upon a brainwave of using welding rods when i get round to making my own picks. I am in the Merchant Navy and lockpicking is for when i'm on ship mainly (boozing and womanising is too time consuming when i'm ashore) but i don't wanna take my picks through customs so i'll be down in the engine room workshop at the grinder with a few of the best welding rods i can find.

Paul.

[nhughz]

you can also get welding rod from screwfix direct.
www.screwfix.com

nathan.

[Shrub]

Ive tried every type i can get hold of and non of it is good for picks!

Its all to soft even the stailess stuff,

Its ok for a few picks but if you are making a tool for commercial use i.e you are a lockie, then dont bother and get piano wire or simular,

If you are prototyping or just playing around then yes its fine,

[capt.dunc]

i agree with shrub, it'll do if you're really stuck. i find even bike spokes are better, there's just to much flex in welding rod.

[Shrub]

At least you can harden spokes, ive got loads and loads from spending an hour at the local scrappy with some clippers.

[toomush2drink]

I must say i have to disagree that none of it is any good for making picks, sure its not as strong as piano wire but it does have its uses. I like the fact its easy to bend so if you have to make a button hook to avoid sides wards etc its a lt easy than the piano wire.Its only going to be used on basic locks anyway so it doesnt have to be up to much anyway. From a professional point of view sure i use piano wire a lot but most professionals would be using other tools anyway but it still is a useful addition to any lockies tool box.

[Al]

The stuff to look for is 'Hard Surfacing Rod' for MMA. This may need heating before bending as it is not as malleable as piano wire. It can be tempered afterwards.

[paulo]

I want to go for clarification of what were talking about when we say "welding rod", I am refering to good (as in proper industrial/engineering) ARC welding rods with the flux removed. What I will have access to is gonna be a range of different rods for different steels, I've been looking around for my UNITOR WELDING CONSUMABLES SELECTOR chart, as it shows their range of rods and their properties, I am suggesting using a hard stainless, or just a very hard steel and coating it with something. What have you guys been trying with?

I haven't tried making my own picks before but I have done a bit of general tool making, using welding rods as described above as tool steel was unavailable, and am looking forward to the challenges. I intend to replicate my favourite picks (diamond, small diamond and a couple of rakes) and try a few ideas i've seen on here.

Paul

[toomush2drink]

We were refering to welding rod for lever lock picks, although it may be possible to make cylinder picks with it but then i think it would be too soft for these uses.