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Polishing homemade 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.

Polishing homemade picks

Postby Peter Martin » 17 Aug 2005 11:54

I no longer enjoy polishing my picks with emory cloth... it takes too long, especially with stainless steel. But since I have to get the grinder marks out somehow, I tried other polishing bobs on my Dremel tool.

I suggest that people experiment with Craytex-type polishing wheels in their Dremel--they really create a beautiful finish without removing too much material. Beware they they do remove some material/steel, so don't overdo it. I made a "snake rake" and over-polished the bumps, wearing them down to the point where I didn't like the results.

Craytex is a brand name, but less expensive rubber-impreganted polishing bobs can be purchased from www.widgetsupply.com I prefer the "bullet" shapes and square wheel shapes, but see what works best for you.

It saves a lot of time rubbing the picks with successive grits of emory cloth!
Peter Martin
 
Posts: 396
Joined: 1 Aug 2004 0:14
Location: SD

Postby Kodiak » 17 Aug 2005 23:38

Does the Craytex wheel require a polishing compound as well?
Kodiak
 
Posts: 42
Joined: 2 Aug 2005 23:09
Location: Ohio

Cratex polishing wheels

Postby Peter Martin » 18 Aug 2005 9:27

No polish req'd for the Craytex (Cratex?) polishing bobs. They're made of hard rubber with tiny bits of abrasive embedded. I discovered them by doing gunsmith work. A beautiful shine with a wonderfully smooth finish.

I believe that similar rubberized polishing bobs are available at Home Dept/Lowe's hardware. Buy a few and you'll quickly get away from hand finishing your picks and tension wrenchs.
Peter Martin
 
Posts: 396
Joined: 1 Aug 2004 0:14
Location: SD


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