Experience: Thermal shrink tube as handles

[MiPo]

Just want to share my experience with an easy and effective method of lockpicking handles. As these thin (.38mm) Sparrows picks don't come with a handle it's not very comfortable to use

Usually I add a normal shrink wrap but it's still bendy and just a bit more comfortable

So I recently bought a thick shrink tube with glue

that shrinks from a diameter of 15 to 4 mm. I used a torch to produce the required heat and it was amazing to see the progress of shrinking. The result is very nice

Finally the material is tightly sourounding the pick and became really hard. I just had to file the part where my finger lays on


So I'm very satisfied with the result and just can recommend this setup. Especially the hardness of the handle is great and it's now very nice to use.

Cheers,
Michael

[OrMeanGene]

Ive been going crazy with shrink tube since recently starting to make my own picks. Another idea on the topic is get that dual wall black tubing on all the handles to make a hefty handle, then throw on colored thin wall (standard) tubing to color code. Seems cheaper then getting everything dual wall. You can buy spools for under 20bux for 50ft-100ft of reg thin stuff. Just google search colored shrink tube.

[Ian_425]

I have used this stuff before. Here in the States it is usually referred to as marine shrink tube since it is normally used in aquatic applications since the glue helps keep water out. I really like this stuff though, with normal shrink tube I normally have to apply several layers to get the desired result. With this stuff, I put one layer on and it is done. Be warned though, make sure this is the handle you want and that you put it on in the right spot, it is a pain to get the tube and glue off, and it isn't the easiest to trim after it has been applied. Regardless, I really like it.

[LocksmithArmy]

A Looong Time ago I bought 500 1 foot tubes off ebay for using as pick handles. I like it personally.
It's fast and easy to use and relatively comfortable.
Mine does not have glue on it though.

Try doubling it up, after one is cooled, put another one on.

I always used a razor knife to cut the excess away because it left a cleaner cut.

[Ralph_Goodman]

I have used this stuff before. Here in the States it is usually referred to as marine shrink tube since it is normally used in aquatic applications since the glue helps keep water out. I really like this stuff though, with normal shrink tube I normally have to apply several layers to get the desired result. With this stuff, I put one layer on and it is done. Be warned though, make sure this is the handle you want and that you put it on in the right spot, it is a pain to get the tube and glue off, and it isn't the easiest to trim after it has been applied. Regardless, I really like it.

Are your handles as thick as the one in the picture by just putting on one layer?

That grip just seems too meaty to me. I can't imagine getting good feedback through all of that material.

I don't have any experience with marine shrink tube, but from the images it does not look hard. And with the softer handles I always lose the feeling of what the tip of of the pick is doing in the keyway.

[mseifert]

I can use the shrink tubing and I also wrap the rubber handle in masking tape because I have a rubber allergy.. As you can tell from my picture.. I also use paracord wraps

[JIMBETHYNAME]

I just dipped mine in Plasti-dip yesterday. I have the sparrows picks also.
Dipped mine twice and must say, I am really diggin it.
Plusb they are Red lol.

[mseifert]

I just dipped mine in Plasti-dip yesterday. I have the sparrows picks also.
Dipped mine twice and must say, I am really diggin it.
Plusb they are Red lol.

[Silverado]

I think I'm going to plasti-dip my Sparrows Bomba-Royale picks. They don't have handle covers and I don't hate them, but some traction on them might be a bit more comfortable.

[JIMBETHYNAME]

I think I'm going to plasti-dip my Sparrows Bomba-Royale picks. They don't have handle covers and I don't hate them, but some traction on them might be a bit more comfortable.

Like night and day difference.

[MiPo]

Just heated it up again and squeezed it in the vice. Now it's perfect. Really good feel - almost like a Peterson



Bye,
Michael

[G-lock]

Just heated it up again and squeezed it in the vice. Now it's perfect. Really good feel - almost like a Peterson



Bye,
Michael

That looks sweet. Do you have a peterson pick to compare it to for size reference?

[MiPo]

Here a Peterson and my pick-handle



I will buy a little smaller tube next time but it's though very comfortable.