Any suggestions for picks I should make?

[MBI]

I am about to make a bunch of picks, are there any requests that people would like to see. Im all for trying something new. all i mean is, if someone has an idea that they would like to see put into play. et me know. thanks - Tim

[jedidove]

There was an idea floating around here awhile ago that got completely lost. It was called a volcano pick, I can't remember who made it. Basically it was a half diamond with a v cut in it: ______/v\ to hold each individual pin. Raimundo said he was going to make some to try out and that was the last I heard of them. If you reading this ray, how did they come out? Either way, I'd like to see some of those made.

Also try the same groove idea on a peterson reach and or falle style hook. It seems like such a pick would be a great lifter. You could try some bogota variations too. Like a 3 peak bogota with a slightly lower middle peak or one with slightly lower first and thrid peaks.

[Safety0ff]

I've got no clue how the following would play out in a real situation. I forced myself to come up with something just now, so here goes.

It's kinda like an small offset diamond/small deforest, but the produding tip is to help reduce the movement required to lift the following pin in tight keyways. The front edge is supposed to be concave. It's meant to be fairly small & the shank would be slimline sized.


There's only so many possible variations in pick designs . If you decide to try it and it doesn't work out you could always turn it into a hook or tiny deforest.

[le.nutzman]

I'd like to see a pick that's a combination between a hook (using the upward curve) and a bogata (with a few humps). Not sure what the working principle would be on a pick like this, but I'd like to see it and try it out.

[jedidove]

lol ^^^ I was thinking the same thing when I was coming up with ideas. I couldn't find a purpose either so I just scrapped it You mean a pick like this right ____/___/? I didn't even think of comparing it to a bogota though. Maybe it will invent a new term...double pin picking, or for those really daring...multiple pin picking not to be confused with raking of course but actually SPPing multiple pins at the same time

[Safety0ff]

double pin picking

That's the only use I have for my snake rake right now since I'm very sucessful at raking with it. I actually thought about that term yesterday lol. If you're talking about a bogota pick that has 1 or 2 "humps," they already exist.

I think nutzman meant something more like _____/\___/

[jedidove]

double pin picking

If you're talking about a bogota pick that has 1 or 2 "humps," they already exist.

Was that to me or le.nutzman? I was talking about three humps of different sizes. I have 1 and 2 hump bogotas (both sabana and regular 2 hump). Unfortunately I don't think I "get it" with the 1 hump. I've figure out the 3 hump bogota but my 1 hump pick-fu is lacking. Tried SPP with some moderate success, raking with less, not quite sure what to do. Ray also mentioned a way of setting two pins at once with it (hey DPP lol) but I haven't honed that either Whoa way off topic, sorry there.

[Safety0ff]

You mean a pick like this right ____/___/? I didn't even think of comparing it to a bogota though.

If you're talking about a bogota pick that has 1 or 2 "humps," they already exist.

[bumber]

Are there any "true" snowman? A three double-sided hump that goes from big to small. Think Ive seen them before but not positive...and if so its been awhile.

You could make all kinds of random picks, though tthey may not work so well they will be new/different, like jedidove posted make that a double hook. And one like a fishing hook straightened out \|___(||||||) type of shape, like a hook/lifter....the only thing i see wrong with these "improved" picks is it may be ALOT harder to not overset pins, although they may be the best thing we've never seen

[LockNewbie21]

We spoke in PM but for the sake of the thread.

Take you favorite method, anyone making picks follow this.

Mine was working with hooks, so I tried diffrent things until I created a tool and sig. style and ray has with his bogata's and also Kaotics killer handels, and there finishes to top of the tools.

After you aquire a design(Hook/snake/whatever) try to incorpoate your own style or draw a few designs.

Try adn think how would this opperate in the lock? This is why I make so many cutaways.. what better to see how a tools does that through the walls of a lock.

As for the finer details of finish and such theres much on here.

Can't wait to see the tools mate, be sure to post a picture

Take care,

LN21

[jedidove]

You mean a pick like this right ____/___/? I didn't even think of comparing it to a bogota though.

If you're talking about a bogota pick that has 1 or 2 "humps," they already exist.

Oh I was just talking about a double hook. Yeah like I said, I have a ray-made single and two ray-made doubles (sabana and standard). I'm interested to hear about double pin picking with your snake rake though. Has it been beneficial? Maybe you could tweak the snake design a bit to make it better at such a method and use that for another pick idea. I like bumber's snowman idea. Could add a makeshift top hat too for kicks.

LN21 has a lot of good points. Play around and try some crazy designs out in cutaways or plugs to see what they do. The most effective lifter or rake could still be out there. The style is important though. Even if you can't find any break through design, developing a style can be just as great. A hook can be found in almost any pick set you buy today. But if you take a look at the "If you had 5 picks..." thread you'll notice people specifying "LN21 hooks". He took a common design and made it his. By adding his style he formed a more effective and desirable hook.

Also, if you take a look at the top pick makers here (LN21, Ray, Kaotic, etc.) you'll notice one major thing they all have in common. Everyone calls their picks "works of art" and most are afraid to use them when they first get them. It is true though, a good pick should be a work of art. You should be expressing your creativity in the design and turn them into something that is as enjoyable to admire as they are to work with. That doesn't mean they have to have crazy intricate designs. Let them be simple if you want, but beautifully simple to be more specific.

[Abus]

Just a thought, but I think a lot of pickmakers sort of fall into a material and stick with it, only experimenting with shapes, handles and the like. This isn't a bad thing at all, since people churn out some really classy work that way, but you might want to consider using different materials too.

As example, I personally have some 420 stainless shim material 0.012" that I have had setting around for quite a while since I more or less started out making picks from 1095 carbon steel spring stock, and haven't bothered to try much else. So...I plan on making some stuff with it, mainly because I hope that it will be thin, strong, and take a high polish.

[raimundo]

I may be running out of the good pick making material I have been using lately and if my friend in olathe can't get more, Im gonna start using drain snake. maybe make a bunch of popsicle handle picks.

[Safety0ff]

I may be running out of the good pick making material I have been using lately and if my friend in olathe can't get more, Im gonna start using drain snake. maybe make a bunch of popsicle handle picks.

Sorry to bring this off topic, but have you looked at www.mcmaster.com for material? We had a discussion about sources for material ast night on IRC, there's also feeler gauge stock. I don't know about shipping rates for that site. I only know about it because it came up often when I was researching sources for materials for some other projects.

[Abus]

I order piles and piles of things from mcmaster, and their shipping isn't too horrid if you want a few items.

Example: 25 feet of 1095 0.015" 1/2" spring steel ran about $8 shipping. unfortunately with mcmaster, you don't get to see shipping prices until you order. If they are excessive, technically adding the charges without reviewing it is in violation of their merchant agreement, and you can get your credit card company to fix that for you. I've never been shocked by the shipping though, and only know one person that has ever bothered to fight the price.

If you live near a mcmaster store, you can just go pick up the stuff. Also, if you work at a place that buys stuff from them, you might be able to buy through them, and as I recall commercial accounts get a little cheaper shipping.

A really nice alternative is Small Parts (smallparts.com)...for example, 10 6" strips of 0.020" 1/2 wide 1095 spring steel are $7+$8 shipping.