Memory Metal Lockpicks?

[PickerOrange]

I searched and found nothing, so here goes.

Has anyone ever thought about making picks out of memory metal? Google memory metal if you want to see some cool pics. I have no idea how expensive the stuff is but I think it would be cool.

Memory metal is basically just metal that reforms to it's original shape when heated. I mean picks eventually get beat up and bent a little bit, and this could cure that problem very easily. I guess you could just make new pics but this could save a ton of time I guess.

I just thought I'd throw it out there. I don't even know if these metals would be good material for a pick.

[patrick181]

It could work but they would be expensive, though one set could last a lifetime

[Safety0ff]

I don't think they'd work well. The metal would be too soft, always bending. There's also the cost considerations, but that's aside my point.

[MacGyver101]

John Falle has at least one safe-opening tool made from memory metal: it works very well in the application he's using it for.

[Safety0ff]

A reusable impressioning tool would be cool!

[patrick181]

A reusable impressioning tool would be cool!

Might be on to something

[Afisch]

Only metal smart material I know of is the wire which shortens when electricity is passed along it. Presumably these work similarly to the acrylics that do the same thing.

As enything is moved around its liable to heat up slightly, such as when put under stress, novel idea but I'd prefer my picks not to return to sheet metal while in use.

The smart metal wires I refered to prehaps could be used to electronicly lowered from a 0 cut downwards in all combinations if a tool was made to place one under each pin then vary the voltage/(current?).

I don't see any use for them but maybe someone will.

[LockNewbie21]

Me and Shrub had a talk about this before he left the site.

Falle as stated has a tool made from the memory metal.

However, I looked into it.. and to be honest would be better off just making solid gold picks pound for pound.

Would be sweet though at 90 years old still using the same tools

ln21

[PickerOrange]

I figured they'd be a little too soft to actually be used, but it would be cool. I'd have too much fun with them though, I'd bend them in half on purpose just to see them reform when heated I guess a set of properly made and used picks would almost last just as long. I'd love to see a youtube vid of someone's memory metal lockpick.

[bumber]

well, I dont know how hard the get when heated compared to steel but the one I would use has titanium and nickel in it...If the nickel doesnt make it to soft you could run some leads with alligator clips on it to the pick and have a battery pack on your hip...

now this sounds like a lot of work but if it makes a pick that you can bend into a bowtie then add some electricty and you can use it as a pry bar...then the price of the pick could make up for buying new picks...

This may only be good for a locksmith company or something that has lots of people using the same picks alot, this would kinda make it worth the cost.

[bumber]

and also i forgot to mention that you would probly have to make your picks a little over sized and VERY precise because when you aplly electricty it makes them contract...and any imperfections would greatly show when it is contracted, making anyhthing from unwanted bends to curves and twists...so it may be the cost really comes in from the production

[freakparade3]

A reusable impressioning tool would be cool!

So is this metal like the bad guy from terminator? Like when you heat it all the pieces you file off magically reattach to the main piece? If not it would not work.

[Safety0ff]

So is this metal like the bad guy from terminator? Like when you heat it all the pieces you file off magically reattach to the main piece? If not it would not work.

I was thinking more in the style of foil impressioning.

[paulvalente]

When I was at college we used to use an alloy called "Woods Metal" as a more accurate alternative to wax for "lost wax" casting. I reckon this stuff could be of use to the locksmith.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wood's_metal

It has a very high surface tension so won't flow through very smal holes, I reckon if you picked a lock and left the plug turned, then poured woods metal into the keyway you'd get a key. What do you guys reckon?

Also quite funny to make teaspoons out of and give to your friends for a joke.

Paul

[raimundo]

the video I have seen on memory metal and such things showed the metal reforming with heat, just a dip in some warm water. I did not know about the thing Afish mentions about shortening when current is applied.

Afish also came up with a concept that was passing through my head as I read the thread, of course with his electric current in place of the heat.

consider a long middle pin with a shory behind it. a memory metal hook, can be straightend out and then pass under the long set pin, and turn back into a hook.

I was wondering if a hook could be made to curl up into a steeper hook and actually push a pin up. when heated.
consider the possiblity of making a pick that would with precise heating move to various different heights, perhaps you could make it move an exact increment with an exact amount of energy applied.

In the case of metal that shortens with a current, this could be used like a muscle to move parts of an articulated pick, and current could be measured for effect