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Car Shade Steel for Picks?

When it comes down to it there is nothing better than manual tools for your Lock pick Set, whether they be retail, homebrew, macgyver style. DIY'ers look here.

Car Shade Steel for Picks?

Postby Sonodora » 18 Jun 2005 16:24

I was just disposing of some old car windshield shades/reflectors - the cloth-covered kind that twist up into about a third of their open diameter for storage. They had a rather springy ring inside the edge of the cloth - maybe 4mm wide, 1mm thick. The ring (inside the shades I had, at least) looked to be some sort of galvanized steel. I was wondering if anyone had ever used this material for making picks/wrenches? Looks like it might work. They work great for popping yourself in the nose while untwisting them, I've found... :lol:
Sonodora
 
Posts: 25
Joined: 16 Jun 2005 9:14
Location: Oklahoma

Postby cracksman » 18 Jun 2005 19:30

The dimensions you stated are quite good. I'll give you a few examples (using "Frankford Arsenal": digital calipers):

Picks

Peterson slim gem: 3.9 mm (taking into account full hook with diamond)
.37 mm width

Southord (hook-standard) 3.08 mm (hook included)
.50 width

Peterson hook with diamond: 3.85
.62 width

Navigator by "Dino" small hook (great for locks like Schlage deadbolts): 1.99 mm
.57 mm width

(Please note that the shafts are considerably smaller than the overall heights)
It seems like you have enough material. A few problems to consider:

1. You probably want a handle
2. The steel sounds flexible, but, watch your bends for tension wrenches, sometimes it snaps, i.e. 45 degrees plus
3. Most picks will be at least half the width of your material; you will need to thin it evenly and consistently.
4. With a dremmel you could make a pick in a couple minutes, by hand, figure on awhile longer-although to me that is half the fun :)

*all of this assumes that your steel is o.k. for picks and wrenches. The best way to find out is to make some, search, you'll find plenty of templates.

Post us a pick when you’re done

:)
Image
cracksman
 
Posts: 614
Joined: 8 May 2005 19:37
Location: Massachusetts, USA

Postby stick » 18 Jun 2005 20:42

Those are some strange numbers cracksman. You sure you got your units right?
stick
 
Posts: 617
Joined: 31 Mar 2004 23:55

Postby stick » 18 Jun 2005 20:44

:oops: Dunno what I was thinkin...
stick
 
Posts: 617
Joined: 31 Mar 2004 23:55

Postby Sonodora » 18 Jun 2005 21:18

cracksman wrote:It seems like you have enough material. A few problems to consider:

1. You probably want a handle....

*all of this assumes that your steel is o.k. for picks and wrenches. The best way to find out is to make some, search, you'll find plenty of templates.

Post us a pick when you’re done

:)


About that handle - just a thought - I wonder if I could use that epoxy glue that comes in a stick (the semi-solid kind you just mix with your fingers) to make a nice form-fitting handle. I've used it to make various items before (in addition to using it as a cement, of course), and it forms nicely, and is of course pretty strong.


I'm thinking I'm going to use Raimundo's picks for templates - I have a set of his world-famous picks on order.

I'll post a few pictures once I get something done that's not too embarrassing... :) I haven't so far noticed a way to post pictures directly to the forum - looks like you have to link to pics somewhere on another web site with the img tag. Is that true, or is that just newbie ignorance?
Sonodora
 
Posts: 25
Joined: 16 Jun 2005 9:14
Location: Oklahoma

Postby cracksman » 19 Jun 2005 7:13

Yeah, gotta link the pics-look forward to seeing your work :)
Image
cracksman
 
Posts: 614
Joined: 8 May 2005 19:37
Location: Massachusetts, USA

metal

Postby raimundo » 19 Jun 2005 9:46

I have seen this metal in the rim of photographers reflectors, and even a cloth kite. there are different thicknesses and widths of it depending on which application you found it in. the metal has a good springyness, tempered to spring rather than set a bend. this is good. I have not made any picks of it, but it looks like really good material to make them of. also it seems to be a type of stainless steel. I think it would make very good pick material. 8)
raimundo
 
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Joined: 21 Apr 2004 9:02
Location: Minnneapolis

Postby Sonodora » 19 Jun 2005 17:29

I have seen this metal in the rim of photographers reflectors, and even a cloth kite. there are different thicknesses and widths of it depending on which application you found it in. the metal has a good springyness, tempered to spring rather than set a bend. this is good. I have not made any picks of it, but it looks like really good material to make them of. also it seems to be a type of stainless steel. I think it would make very good pick material.


The windshield shade/reflector rings I have look to be galvanized steel, but I have seen some that seemed like stainless steel. Unfortunately, at the time I saw them, I wasn't thinking about pick material. The galvanized rings may not work too well once I grind the zinc off - rust! But it's worth a try to to get some practice on building picks. The rings are very springy, and retain spring to a pretty small radius.
Sonodora
 
Posts: 25
Joined: 16 Jun 2005 9:14
Location: Oklahoma


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