Proper way to heat treat homemade picks

[krept]

ahhh ok, I get it.

nonmagnetic for the stuff I'm used to is around 1300F.

straw color for blades is used in the tempering cycle, around 400F, in the oven. Sounds like the max temp you are using is about that, then. If that's the case, I think all of us could achieve straw in the oven fairly quickly without risking overheating with a torch.

[Kevo]

Great guide. I just have one question though. Would you use the same process for making tension wrenches, or would you alter the steps a little bit?

[Shrub]

If you are making tension wrenches out of wiper blades then dont do anything other than bend them.

You dont need to harden hacksaw blades either if you make picks properly, the only time you resort to heat treating is if you got the pick too hot to begin with when making it and you would anneal it then reharden then temper it properly.

If making tension wrenches out of blades i wouldnt bother and would instead get some wiper inserts but if you still want to do it then most silicone carb ide hacksaw blades will bend to 90' once and be fine without heating up, you wouldnt need to harden a tension wrench as there is little to no wear on them and you shouldnt be toqueing the lock so much you braeck or twist them.

[illusion]

You shouldn't need to heat wrenches really - the BESt material is to use the metal inserts on car windscreen-wipers - these can bent 'cold' to 90 degrees with no stress fractures - the finished result is very similar to commercial wrenches.

If using sweeper britles they'll snap once you get near 90 degrees, so either put a lockpick next to the bristle, and bend the wrench around it. Barring that heat it, and follow the same procedure as for picks.