Pick handle styles

[Romstar]

Got another question, this time for everyone.

What sort of pick handle styles interest you?

So far I have had suggestions for: gold, silver, brass, and of course stainless steel handles.

Also, I have had suggestions for wood, plastic sheet, dipped rubber, plastic and cast rubber (which I am trying to figure out, but haven't gotten yet) cork, plastic magnet, (think flat fridge magnet) and some other interesting materials.

If any of these styles interest you, or if you have a suggestion, I would love to hear it.

Thanks,
Romstar

[WhiteHat]

a couple of probably too expencive to produce but cool looking:

titanium handles with some artistic groove that have been annodized.

steel tang with the type of artistic staining that they do to the leading edge of authentic samurai swords. (uh.. see here "the hammon" http://www.quanonline.com/military/mili ... atomy.html Not the best picture, but it give you an idea - looks pretty funky)

I guess you can annodize aliminium too?

titanium picks have been discussed previously, and it has been agreed that they may not be the best material to make picks out of (still havn't got my head arround why) but Ti handles would be nice...

[mbell]

How about Platinum or carbon fibre?

[SolidAnchor]

I think Organic materials would make for interesting handles. Like stained wood or even bone.

[lockpicker_pro]

Hi!

No new suggestion (you already mentioned wood) but a nice picture. Don't ask what's the knob for. Maybe a screw to fix the changeable blade.

http://www.didgeman.jff-lan.com/Holzpick02.jpg
http://www.didgeman.jff-lan.com/Holzpick01.jpg

Greez lpp

[Romstar]

a couple of probably too expencive to produce but cool looking:

titanium handles with some artistic groove that have been annodized.

steel tang with the type of artistic staining that they do to the leading edge of authentic samurai swords. (uh.. see here "the hammon" http://www.quanonline.com/military/mili ... atomy.html Not the best picture, but it give you an idea - looks pretty funky)

I guess you can annodize aliminium too?

titanium picks have been discussed previously, and it has been agreed that they may not be the best material to make picks out of (still havn't got my head arround why) but Ti handles would be nice...

I don't know if I could make a hammon on such a small blade. I can certainly try however.

Titanium is an ongoing project here, and I believe they make excellent pick blades. I was going to try titanium handles as well, but I never thought to anodize them really. If I get the nickel plating going, I may as well look into anodizing the titanium as well.

I'll see what I can do about grooves. That could get interesting, but we shall see what happens.

Romstar

[Romstar]

I think Organic materials would make for interesting handles. Like stained wood or even bone.

Stained and then varnished wood has been bandied about so many times, I finally decided to go ahead and do it.

I have this incredible adhesive that just plain doesn't let go. Unless you really pry at it. So, I am wondering if I should just leave it "glued" to the picks, or if I should rivet those as well.

Basically, the wood is stained before application, and then the handle is dipped in a varnish. Sort of seals everything water tight, and protects the wood.

Teak, Oak, Cedar, Rosewood, Ebony. Pine and spruce are being used right now, because I have a load of the stuff, but basically, if I can get it in veneer, I can use it for handles. If I used knife handle blanks, the waste is terrible.

Also looking into the bone, and mother of pearl thing.

Basically we wanted to be able to offer something completely unique, but the other problem is that I am having a terrible time finding a local supplier of rubber or plastic casting resins. It's a pain.

Romstar

[CaptHook]

High polished stainless....like hpcs............
To kinda duplicate the hammon on the handles, engine turning would create a similar swirl. Try it with a 1/2" wooden dowel in a drill press, with an abrasive polish. Makes for a nice finish.
Heres a thought for a handle (wont work for bone colored handles etc), but fiberglass resin from the auto parts store. If you make a form for the 2 flat sides so they are finished smooth(dont forget the releasing agent) Could make for a nice handle.
Chuck

[Exodus5000]

I prefer function over form.
Make handles out of whatever transfers the most feel. Someone should do some research and find out what attributes in a handle do this (ex. stiffness, density...etc.) and then experiment with various materials.

[Romstar]

High polished stainless....like hpcs............
To kinda duplicate the hammon on the handles, engine turning would create a similar swirl. Try it with a 1/2" wooden dowel in a drill press, with an abrasive polish. Makes for a nice finish.
Heres a thought for a handle (wont work for bone colored handles etc), but fiberglass resin from the auto parts store. If you make a form for the 2 flat sides so they are finished smooth(dont forget the releasing agent) Could make for a nice handle.
Chuck

You know, you would think that stainless handles would be easy to make right? Wrong, they aren't as easy as they look. At any rate, as soon as I get the rivets I will be making those as well.

I don't think I would want a hamon on the handles. It just wouldn't look right in my eyes. Of course, if that's what someone wants...

I had thought of getting out the fiberglass, but I haven't tried it yet. Might as well go for broke I suppose.

Romstar

[mcm757207]

Hi!

No new suggestion (you already mentioned wood) but a nice picture. Don't ask what's the knob for. Maybe a screw to fix the changeable blade.

http://www.didgeman.jff-lan.com/Holzpick02.jpg
http://www.didgeman.jff-lan.com/Holzpick01.jpg

Greez lpp

...what is the knob for?

[logosys]

I like the idea of Stainless Steel. If you want it really shiny, but an 8 RMS Finish on it. That should run to price up to around $500 per pick...

[maldotcom2]

Expensive, but cool, would be ivory handles.

[SolidAnchor]

I thought of another interesting handle material. No doubt it has already been mentioned one time or another but marble handles would look fancy.

[WhiteHat]

hey, what about that clear resin stuff that you can get with a dead insect inside? y'know the paper weights.....

or even the same thing with an etched 3D picture inside (saw a paper weight like this - pricy but nice)