Original broken pick before modification and a new HPC curved pick.
First I knocked the rivets out with a punch. You can reuse the same rivets if desired when reassembling but you will need one additional rivet. I personally prefer brass pins.
I then cut the tip of the handle end off, close to the rivet hole. This short piece will be replaced at the end of the handle to provide the original spacing. I dented the spring steel with a sharp punch where the new hole will be. After opening the hole up with a Dremel, I drilled it to size.
Regrind your new pick using the handle end of the remaining spring steel. Design your own style. Smooth and finely polish the finished pick.
Because I am using spring steel and not stainless steel, I will treat it with cold gun blue to prevent rust. I have drilled out the holes to.110 using a #34 drill bit. Since this is no longer a true HPC pick, I have turned the handles over so there is no name on the outside. I counter sunk the holes a very small amount to allow the brass rivets a place to spread..
I have reassembled the pick using #11 pins from a Falcon keying pin kit. When hammered down this length does not have to be ground off very far.
After peening the new brass rivets, the handle was sanded to remove sharp edges and to smooth the finish.
And behold, a new pick.
