homebrew help

[xboxteen01]

i just picked up a 10 pack of Bi-Metal hack saw blades from my local store http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=p ... lpage=none
and i dont have a bench grinder. i do have a dremel. my question is: is there any method for making picks with these things.i know that hack saw blades are common material,but is it possible to make them with a dremel tool?and if so could you give me any tips for this? thanks in advance for any help provided.

[nekret]

Most people here use dremels for finishing their picks after doing most of the cutting on the bench grinder. You could probably do it purely with the dremel but it would take quite a bit longer. If possible, look for a cheapo bench grinder to buy. Sometimes you can find these on the cheap in the classifieds, surplus stores or garage sales.

[Eyes_Only]

I think it was Shrub or someone at his level that advised against using bi-metal hacksaw blades because they become too brittle when heated up or something like that. Most everyone seems to prefer some sort of carbon metal blades instead.

[xboxteen01]

thanks for the quick reply and good info

[bumber]

I use my dremel to do whole picks most of the time. I dont like hacksaw blades at all,Also i think u paid to much for them any how. Anyway to use ur dremel cut with a cut-off wheel at first to cut out a rough outline of ur pick, let it slide back and forth(dont just cut it strate through,too hot). Then (if you can) use a barrel sander, now when you do this dont really press hard b/c you will leave a little divot. Actually i use my cutter wheel to do the whole thing! Take it slow and have fun. Maby post some pics too

[Shrub]

I use silicon carbide blades but any will more or less do, ive used bi-metal in the past but you have to be very careful when making them so i always advise against them,

[Marco321]

i just picked up a 10 pack of Bi-Metal hack saw blades from my local store http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=p ... lpage=none
and i dont have a bench grinder. i do have a dremel. my question is: is there any method for making picks with these things.i know that hack saw blades are common material,but is it possible to make them with a dremel tool?and if so could you give me any tips for this? thanks in advance for any help provided.

Yeah, i use a dremmel to make them out of hacksaw blades. go for carbon steel or high speed steel blades, the cheap ones normally are best.

The only advice i can give is to constantly keep the blade cool with water and to use the cutting tool on your dremmel, then use the sanding tool and cutting tool to finish it off, also be sure to wear saftey glasses because it makes alot of sparks and the cutting wheels slowly brakes apart or shatters.
But be patient when you are cutting the blades because it does take time, just lightly go over the same area are untill you are through, and always dip the blade in water to mantain the quality of the blade.

bumber uses a similar method to me

[bobsaget]

isn't it more work than its worth to custom make picks rather than just buy them?

[Jaakko]

isn't it more work than its worth to custom make picks rather than just buy them?

More work: Yes. Worth the effort: Yes. Buy them: If you need to.

Longer answer: It depends on what you want. If you just want some picks, buy them. If you need something special, make it yourself Homemades are of course cheaper if you don't count your working hours. Also when making picks yourself, you can have the best suitable material for the pick.

My point is that if you are a craftsman or like to tweak things or want to get on cheaply, make them yourself. That way you also learn something about working with power tools (hopely) and metal working skills (little) If you have the money and no time or interest to sand until your hand is numb, go for the ready picks. Because either way you go, you still have good tools, happy mind (well not at the moment when your hand is numb) and lots of fun with the picks

[dmux]

dremels work very well to do everything.

at lowes, they have "cut kits" for the dremel that consists of a lot of cutting wheels both the proffesional and regular "thin" wheels and its like 10 bucks, and it would last cutting a lot of picks.

i think i used about 1 thin cutting disk for two picks but i like the dremels but your hand kinda cramps up after a while of use, thats why you need a good dremel too

[Marco321]

isn't it more work than its worth to custom make picks rather than just buy them?

For me personally i didn't have an option because i can't buy lockpicks without a license in Australia and i don't wont them to get siezed in customs.
Also, im one of those people who would rather spend the day making a pick than spending money buying one.

[Shrub]

You will find a lot of experimental picks on this site which simply can not be bought but may work better than commercial ones,

Ray's bogotas are a good example, until recently only ray sold his tools and before that only ray made them but because he made his own he got a result that is world famous,

There are templates knocking around of other picks like the king and queen picks that are either very hard to find for sale or not available at all,

Then theres things like the dragon wrench recently posted up, these arent commercial products and made all over the world beause of it,

[taracor]

I don't have a bench grinder either, just a cheap dremel knockoff, and I managed to make picks. The cut off wheel idea is a good one, and I figured that out after about an hour of grinding away metal to make my shaft thinner. When I decided to use the cut off wheel, it was much faster. I used the cutoff wheel to make the basic shape, and then ground down the finer details with an aluminum oxide grinding wheel. Wear protective material though, I even suggest a hat or something if you don't have incredibly thick hair. The reason for this is that I had a cut off wheel shatter and pieces hit me in the head. Luckily, I have my 3 inch think hair to protect my scalp, but it scared the crap out of me. After that I put on a surgeon's mask to protect my face and a hat so it wouldn't happen again.



Oh..yeah..On a side note, don't forget to breathe while grinding. It sounds stupid but I kinda stopped breathing for a while because every time I exhaled, my glasses fogged up (the mask made by breathe escape over the glasses). After I finished some grinding I stood up, stumbled in my house started seeing stars, and almost passed out. Yeah, be careful.

[bumber]

I always wear a hat anyway but when i grind i turn it backwards, as the flyin debris hit the bill and go behind the glasses. Also i found a cheap(quaility was alright) set of dremel bits (1/8in.collet) from bells its like a clothing discount place, for 4.99USD it has 166pc metal engravers, grinding wheels/blades sanding discs w/sander. works great so far.
Also about making your own picks you can make em longer/shorter than comm. and you can make nicer handles than what are available.

[taracor]

Yeah I was wearing mine backwards too, metal in the eye doesn't sound...fun. Also, my dremel knockoff tool came with a set kind of like what you are talking about. So far the bits work pretty well. I want a 1/8 inch ceramic tile bit like pyro suggests in the "cheap DIY lock picks" thread. (I don't remember what it's really called).