How Wide Should A Hook Be

[Tygart]

Hi everyone, its been a long time since I have been here, or even played with my picks in a while.

I only have the picks I have made, so I really have nothing to compare them to. My question is, how wide should the tip of a hook pick be? I am thinking mine are too thin, I am going to make a new pick, and I want to get it right.

[cheerIO]

I have hooks in:

0.027
0.025
0.023
0.018
0.015

I would say you probably want to use the widest pick you can to avoid damaging them. I always start out with the widest and work my way down till I find the perfect fit. Usually end up using the ones around 0.025 or 0.023.

The thinner 18's and 15's are absolutely invaluable when you have to bend the pick around some warding or gently "S" curve them to lever off the bottom of the keyway.

For all purpose, if your material can handle it. I would vote for 0.024.

[mseifert]

Do you mean this width or the overall thickness of the pick ...

[Tygart]

Do you mean this width or the overall thickness of the pick ...

Thanks mseifert

Yes the one in the photo. I have been making mine a little small.

Thanks cheerIO

As for the overall thinkness of my pick, I am not too sure, but I am using Flat dran snake.

[cheerIO]

Oh... Gotcha.

The hooks I have are between 0.060 and 0.070 in that dimension.

[mseifert]

You want the pick tip to be the size of the pins you are attacking .. Too big and you may hit 2 pins at the same time .. too small and the pick will slip off rounded pins...

The Southord picks (PXS-14 Sets) I have are .. Medium Hook is 0.06in... the short hook is 0.08in .. ..

The other all thickness is dependent on the key way you are attacking .. Most US locks will use a .023in and Euros will be .018

[Tygart]

Thank you very much. I will need to find my calipers, if they still work. I am going to try and work from a templet also.

[mseifert]

Here are some picks I made after I broke one .. I like to leave mine a little long and wide so I can slowly file then to fit my picking style...

[Tygart]

Thank you for the photo, I need to get to work, mine are really small.

[Squelchtone]

Here are some picks I made after I broke one .. I like to leave mine a little long and wide so I can slowly file then to fit my picking style...

I like the paracord looking handles, what material is that?

Squelchtone

[Tygart]

Here are some picks I made after I broke one .. I like to leave mine a little long and wide so I can slowly file then to fit my picking style...

I like the paracord looking handles, what material is that?

Squelchtone

I was looking at that too, I wonder if using that Plastic Dip rubber coating, (I do not recall the name right now), with the paracord would make a nice handle??

[mseifert]

No, it is just straight para cord wrapped around a handle... Creates a nice cushions handle.. Only things is I will wrap another piece of metal with it next time .. The handles are a little flexible..

Here is pic on how I wrapped it ..

..

Where the diagram shows to cut the ends.. Cut them and I used a lighter to carefully melt the end and smash it back down ... Then used a Sharpie ( permanent marker) that matched the cord to color the melted end.

[Tygart]

No, it is just straight para cord wrapped around a handle... Creates a nice cushions handle.. Only things is I will wrap another piece of metal with it next time .. The handles are a little flexible..

Here is pic on how I wrapped it ..

..

Where the diagram shows to cut the ends.. Cut them and I used a lighter to carefully melt the end and smash it back down ... Then used a Sharpie ( permanent marker) that matched the cord to color the melted end.

But do you think diping the pick with the paracord would make a good handle, I have both, I am not sure how I am going to make my handle(s) yet. I was just going to dip them, but I like the looks of the paracord.

[mseifert]

I would have to say .. Para Cord or Dip .. I don't think both together would work very well..