Alluminum cans, license plates, and alluminum cans.

by **Jeremiah767** » 9 Nov 2007 13:18

I spend alot of my time walking, and whenever I come across something that is made of metal I usually pick it up if I think it is in any way reusable. These are a few of the things I have found in the past few weeks and I am wondering if I could make good picks from them and if so how much better would they be then paper clips. I recently picked my first lock, and today I realized I need a better torque wrench for doors because they require more torque to turn then desk locks. Does anyone have any advice for someone in my possition looking to make locks from basic scrap metal?

by **mitch.capper** » 9 Nov 2007 13:22

I think its fairly suggested things to use windshield wiper blades and if you search (use google and site:lp101) you will find a lot of threads on doing it. I wouldn't try with cans or plates as i dont think either would work well.

by **Jeremiah767** » 9 Nov 2007 13:32

can you make picks from windsheild wipers as well?, also, I don't have a grinder at my disposal at the moment, I have a friend(mind you I'm only 17 so some of this stuff is harder to acess) who has a grinder but it is in his grandma's basement and I'm not certain she would permit us acess to it if she knew what it was being used for.

by **mitch.capper** » 9 Nov 2007 13:34

Well again search as there are a lot of threads about making picks, but if you have a dremel (or maybe even a set of files) you could technically do it. The other option is to just buy a start set it can be as cheap as $10. Search is your friend though.

by **Jeremiah767** » 9 Nov 2007 13:45

how many files would you need to shape soemthing like that, I imagine that would be alot of work, but I will would be willing to do it if I thought what I was making would last. Also where can you buy these things, I would not expect them to be sold by retailers, is the only way to buy them online?

by **Servalite6354** » 9 Nov 2007 15:00

Jeremiah767 wrote:how many files would you need to shape soemthing like that, I imagine that would be alot of work, but I will would be willing to do it if I thought what I was making would last. Also where can you buy these things, I would not expect them to be sold by retailers, is the only way to buy them online?

You wouldn't need more than one or two files. Not knowing your location, it's hard to tell you where to go. If you're in the US, I'd recommend Harbor Freight or even Big Lots as a source of cheap tools. It will take some time, but it's not impossible.

When you say "where can you buy these things", I'm assuming you mean lockpicks, not tools, right? A good starter set or picks can be found that are made by the Southern Ordinance , or South Ord company. They are relatively inexpensive and decent quality. You can probably find them for less than $40 US.

By the way, paper clips should not be used to pick with. You can really mess up a lock with them. On a related note, you should never pick a lock that's in service, meaning a lock that you or someone else relies on. Picking locks can be damaging to them, even with the proper tools.

by **Jaakko** » 10 Nov 2007 3:04

Jeremiah767 wrote:I recently picked my first lock, and today I realized I need a better torque wrench for doors because they require more torque to turn then desk locks.

Why do you pick doors? Do not pick locks that are not yours or locks that are in use, this is the credo of locksport.

I suggest the windshield wiper inserts also. Look closely and you'll see that there is two steel strips inside the wiper blade to stiffen it. These can be also made into picks.

by **bcholo21** » 10 Nov 2007 11:46

if you ask me the best place to buy picks is lockpicktools.com

by **Emrys** » 10 Nov 2007 11:57

if you ask me the best place to buy picks is lockpicktools.com

2nd that. I have their folding pocket pickset and a set of laminated handle picks. I love both of them. My buddy's got the plain handled picks and is jealous of mine. He really likes the laminated handles. I never hade any experience with the rippled handles though.

The only thing I wouldn't recommend from SouthOrd is the Slide Six pick tool. The same friend had that one and it started coming apart on him in a few months. It's already broken by now, but this is from picking like 3-4 hours a day while we were out at sea. Not to mention, it is a bit bulky.

-Rob

by **Emrys** » 10 Nov 2007 12:06

oops, I meant Southern Specialties, not SouthOrd.

-Rob

by **therealmuffinman** » 10 Nov 2007 15:37

Jeremiah767 wrote:how many files would you need to shape soemthing like that, I imagine that would be alot of work, but I will would be willing to do it if I thought what I was making would last. Also where can you buy these things, I would not expect them to be sold by retailers, is the only way to buy them online?

just having the same conversation with raimundo (the maker of the legendary bogotas

) and this is what he said

raimundo wrote:uarter inch chain saw file approximately 6 bucks, 8 inch flat bast ard file, about 8 bucks, set of good needle files for fine work, or a couple of key needle files like the round one, not too much, and a new tri corner file, ( this file often is used for its edges, and the edges get torn up on old used ones, teeth break out and they become hard to control.

The good news is that you only need the flat file and the 1/4inch chain saw sharpening file to get started. you can get the others after you are into making picks seriously. If you buy the files, it will give you a lot to work on making picks and you will learn to be self sufficient when you need one.

i was asking him about the files that he uses and prices.

Alluminum cans, license plates, and alluminum cans.

Alluminum cans, license plates, and alluminum cans.

Re: Alluminum cans, license plates, and alluminum cans.

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