Restoring strength/temper in spring steel?

[Isepic]

A while back I decided to pick a lock under the influence of my beloved Guinness. Of course, this was a bad move, and I ended up bending one of my picks. I didn't bend it along the thin side, but ended up bending it along the thick side, as in the hook part of the pick was straight, but the handle angled downward. I was able to bend it back straight, but I'm still a little uneasy using this pick, for fear that it's going to shear off in a lock. Is there any way to get the strength and temper back into it, or am I just better off buying a new one?

[ToyMaker]

You will probably be better off just replacing the pick.
When metal bends it work hardens to some degree depending on its makeup. Hard = brittle = risk of breakage. So when your pick bent is got harder at the bend. When you straightened it, it got harder still at that area.
There is no way to restore the original temper without a lot of knowledge and a serious dose of good luck.
However, you can try this.
1. Heat the whole pick evenly to cherry red.
2. Dunk quickly in water.
3. Sand (400+ grit) the whole pick down to bare metal (remove discoloration).
4. Heat the whole pick evenly until the metal turns a light straw color.
5. Polish
6. Pick your heart out.

robotic regards,

Tom
= = = = =
We are afraid to see clearly and afraid of being seen clearly.
- - Ignatz Sonnenschien

[JackNco]

I have bent southords back plenty of times, I have killed a couple after a while though.

[Eyes_Only]

If its spring steel you can stick the pick in a keyway of a lock and bend it back and it'll work ok as long as the tool wasn't bent too badly. You could do the same with stainless steel I'm sure but maybe not as well with spring steel.

I did this with a spring steel hook pick from Majestic for about two years before it broke and I learned the meaning of "light tension"

[jacknife]

replace it

[zsoutendijk]

i would replace it if it tries to bend again, but i did something like this before and bent it back... i didnt have any further problems with it though.