How BrianP makes picks (warning: lots of pictures)

[brianp]

I haven't had a problem but I haven't bent them out of shape either. You are changing the thickness and I am sure the heat is affecting them so it isn't inconceivable that they would bend easier if you put too much stress on them.

BrianP

[rekonstrukted]

oh no no, i haven't shaped the blade i was referring to. i bought a pack of 2 and made picks out of one of them. the other one i just ran across ~2 weeks ago and it holds shape now if i bend it (the entire blade).

[brianp]

hmmmm....

[pick kidd 101]

i go from dremel deburing wheel, to hand 600 grit sanding, and jewlers rouge on a bench grinder(the red compound)...which compounds do you use and what kinds of wheels do you use(grinding wheels too?)? also im having trouble with the templates, i use super glue, but when im grinding, then quench, the paper comes off, am i getting the blade to hot? what should i do?

one more question, how thick are your blades .050 .060 .070 or .080?

[raimundo]

red jewelers rouge is made of iron oxide, (rust) and rubbing a compound like this on stainless steel will start it rusting. The compound is finely ground, so it will fill gaps in the surface of the metal with iron oxide, and this will cause other iron atoms to oxidize.

This is the reason why stainless equipment is handled with stainless tools, so that it does not start a rust problem.

[Jaakko]

red jewelers rouge is made of iron oxide, (rust) and rubbing a compound like this on stainless steel will start it rusting. The compound is finely ground, so it will fill gaps in the surface of the metal with iron oxide, and this will cause other iron atoms to oxidize.

Now that is absolutely not true. It doesn't start any rusting, as the iron oxide doesn't give up its oxygen molecule without a fight.

[raimundo]

actually, rust is aided by various environmental catalysts, such as water or salt. When carbon steel is rubbed on stainless steel, the iron molecules will print on the surface like lead from a pencil, and it will iniciate rust. I have done the test with a stainless steel cats water bowl.

A friend who works in water purification, (reverse osmosis) works with large pumps and stainless pipes and they don't even lift machinery with the usual forklift blades, without wood buffers. the tools all have to be stainless. for this reason, it starts rust. once started, rust never sleeps.