I use files, sharp new ones are best. they need wine bottle corks on the tang. I can cut out a pretty good set of picks in about twenty minutes, the hard work is the sanding out which can take the rest of an hour. the trick is knowing how to use the files, don't be in a hurry, just be into what you are doing and remember to learn to control the files. of course I use street sweeper bristle to make pics from so there isn't really that much to file away to begin with. If you use bristle, remember to bend and twist first and then inspect for fractures, because you don't want to put work into a broken piece of metal.
If it ain't broke.....pull it down and see how it works anyway!