Homebrew Hall of Fame!

[Lukekjackson]

Undeadspacehippie

Like I said it’s the best thing ever, have a look at
http://www.maplin.co.uk/Search.aspx?cri ... rce=15#faq for some general info.

Basically it comes in granules, which you melt in hot / boiling water. When its melted it has the consistence of bluetac, and can be shaped with your hands. When it sets it goes really quite hard and is very durable. The only thing I can say against it is its not that easy to “finish” when its set, I find the best way is to cut any excess off with a sharp blade (as opposed to sanding, which it says you can do).

Best thing about it – If you don’t like the finished product you can just heat it up and start again.

I doubt you have maplin over there, but I think I’ve seen it on ebay.

[undeadspacehippie]

Thanks LukeJackson - There are tons of things not available in Canada that are fun - environmental and health safety laws!!

[skold]

Hmmm, i might make some new picks today.

Thanks for the inspiration people, and keep up the good work.

[cL4y]

JUST about to go out to get some wiper blades,i hope there cheap....i got $25AUD would that be enough to make a decent amount or picks and wrenches?. Im looking at some auto joints,like super cheap auto and what not to try and find some.Any advice about them?[/b]

[Jason13]

buy them hahahahha


go to a junk yard and get them of cars for FREE!!!!

They may charge you for car locks but.

[skold]

JUST about to go out to get some wiper blades,i hope there cheap....i got $25AUD would that be enough to make a decent amount or picks and wrenches?. Im looking at some auto joints,like super cheap auto and what not to try and find some.Any advice about them?[/b]

Go with what jason is saying, ask the guys at local car wreckers for free blades.

[raimundo]

I found this type of bicycle spoke in the dump behind a high end bike store, its sort of flattened, so that it has two sides that are wide with a curvature, whatever, ask the guy at your local bike store about these, they are about as wide one way as a streetsweeper bristle, and thicker in middle by about twice or more than a sweeperbristle, I sanded and rounded the cut end and rolled it into a finger loop for an ergonomic type pick, twisted it, then I had to file and sand it thinner on the pickshaft end, although its not as thin as a sweeperbristle, but when I got done it was a stainless steel work of art. It took twice as long as usual to make it, but the stainless material shines beautifully and I almost got all the tool marks out of it. It does pick locks but maybe I should just have it made into a wall plaque to look at. Really, You guys should ask at the bike store about these flattened stainless spokes, I think there are a lot of interesting uses for them, like tensors, and special purpose picks, being wider than usual pick material, perhaps they would apply to anyones medeco type pick ideas, and I could probably see one used down the shaft of an abloy classic, after the center has been cut away and sanded round. This material looks like it could inspire quite a few new and interesting picks.

[digital_blue]

I wish you had a digital cam, Ray. That would be interesting to see. Then again, I always appreciate the look of your "works of art".

db

[p1ckf1sh]

Just for the non-cyclists, when shopping for spokes the term "flattened" might confuse your dealer and result in you buying the wrong stuff. There are three main types, round, oval and bladed. Flattened might be confused both with oval and bladed. This goes for regular spokes (for 32/36 spoke wheels).

Also, there are some more custom wheel designs which only consist of 16-20 spokes per wheel, those spokes are considerable thicker but almot always bladed. Locating these might be problematic, though, you'd need to find an enthusiast store and most likely they will not stock single spokes but rather have somplete wheelsets for sale and individual spokes on special order. Those would be rather expensive, I'd think. If anyone needs more info on that I can try and research manufacturers/suppliers. I am not memorizing the catalogs anymore since I bought my last mtb 10 years ago and never had to replace anything except for normally wearing stuff like brake pads...

[p1ckf1sh]

Just testing my photobucket account, here's two pics of my "always-with-me" DIY mini pocket pickset (hook, bogota, two tension tools)

[illusion]

Hey!

I think that's the first successful pick ground from a swiss army knife, I've seen so far.

i guess you could polish the picks up a bit, but for shear 'haven't-seen-that-before' value, it's pretty darn good.

Well done!

[p1ckf1sh]

i guess you could polish the picks up a bit, but for shear 'haven't-seen-that-before' value, it's pretty darn good.

Actualy, the bogota is polished to no good, it's just a tad bit dirty. Didn't take a shower prior to the photo session. The hook, well the tool marks in the front part are a problem, it is where the dremel slipped. Now, sanding this kind of metal is very hard to, I don't see a way to get those marks away without removing even more substance and stability. But this is markI, I have another one of those I will have a go on soon. Hopefully it will turn out even better. I love these things, the windshield wiper inserts fit into the space on the side perfectly.

It's scary how many things pop open with this thing.

[raimundo]

and you can still do your nails on the root of that bogota

[illusion]

Seing how yours looks, I may have a go at copying it myself p1ckf1sh.

[digital_blue]

I just received this little beauty in the mail from raimundo. This is a pick that he made from an oval bicycle spoke (mentioned earlier in this thread).

This is truly worth note in any Homebrew Hall of Fame. The level of sanding and polishing is, as always, stellar. The material makes for a mirror finish, and it glides through a lock like a fat man through a drive through.

Take special note of the roundedness on the actual pick tip. This is SO well done.




Thanks again Ray! It's a wonderful piece of work!

db