Homemade jackknife pickset

by **Murph** » 21 Sep 2004 16:41

I combined two hobbies, woodcarving and pick making. Yeah, it's a toy and novelty, but it does work. It was fun to make. The wood is African satine a type of fruitwood. I riveted it together with brass nails. You'll see how the tension tool fits into the side and doubles as a clip. Took me maybe a total of two hours total to design, fabricate, finish, and final assembly. I'm not used to it because on my regular picks, I don't have handles, plus my usual tension tool is longer, so my hands feel sort of cramped. But again, just a little fun project. By the way, I did not use any templates or patterns, just designed as I went along.
Back view:

Top view:

Side view showing tension tool stored:

Opened up showing picks and tension tool:

Small hook ready for use:

by **Mad Mick** » 21 Sep 2004 17:05

Lovely...can you make me a toilet seat? With extra rivets? :lol:

Joking aside, very nice work indeed.

by **BOBO** » 21 Sep 2004 18:11

Wow, that is really nice - good job! I've worked with wood, as a machinist, and even some composites - and I love when someone can MacGyver something like this!!!

~B

by **Murph** » 21 Sep 2004 18:27

Mad Mick wrote:Lovely...can you make me a toilet seat? With extra rivets?

Joking aside, very nice work indeed.

Sure, send me the meaurements! :lol:

Round or oval? :lol:

Thanks dude!

by **Murph** » 21 Sep 2004 18:29

BOBO wrote:Wow, that is really nice - good job! I've worked with wood, as a machinist, and even some composites - and I love when someone can MacGyver something like this!!!

~B

Thanks man! I've seen some awesome work machinists do with wood; better than some woodworkers.

by **S3rratedSp00L** » 21 Sep 2004 19:02

Gotta love it! Looks like an old-school pocketknife. I think it would arouse less suspicion than the commercial jacknife set, and you could even throw a knife blade in there if you wanted to!

Great idea!

Is there a way to lock the picks in open or closed position? You could probably put some bent strips of spring steel in there or something like a pocket knife might have if not.

Good stuff!

I like the rivets for that custom look!

by **Murph** » 21 Sep 2004 19:36

S3rratedSp00l
Thank you for your compliments, it was a fun little project.
You mentioned about something locking the pick when using, when you fold out a pick, there is a piece inside the handle the pick presses against when you pick. But unfortunately it does not have a lock-unlock mechanism like a knife. However, I am keeping options open with this project for future mechanical modifications. I have a cheap old knife that I'm going to take apart to see how it's constructed.

by **Murph** » 21 Sep 2004 19:40

S3,
P.S. The rivets hold it all together. I had to use brass nails and I mashed them down with a small ball-peen. Glad you liked them.

by **pick_maker** » 21 Sep 2004 19:43

Nice work Murph. What did you use for the back spring?

by **Murph** » 21 Sep 2004 19:50

pick_maker wrote:Nice work Murph. What did you use for the back spring?

Thanks.
There isn't one, however, there is a piece of hardwood on the back the pick rests against when using. Look at the first picture and you'll see a lighter strip of wood. Eventually I'll modify this, or make a new one with a back spring and locking mechanism like a regular knife. I told S3rratedS00l that I'm going to take a knife apart and check out it's mechanism and adapt it on a new jackpick.

by **DeadlyHunter** » 23 Sep 2004 0:06

Very Nice!!! I like the idea of putting a knife blade in it, then if the police found it on you; you could just make up functions for the picks lol

yes officer, that one is my fish gutter, oh and that one is my bait grabber...lol

by **Jerbz** » 30 Sep 2004 1:42

Woah its nice to see people making tools like that. Im new to lockpicking so after i buy some material i will start making my own set. I was giving up on the idea of making your own picks as i dont have the equipment but as Mad Mick had gave me some idea on some other alternatives, I began to get excited. People that make their own tools are some what inspirational and your jackpick , along with other peoples tools helped me get ideas on what i need, and how to make things.

Once i get better at pick making im gonna try my hand out at the cool as jackpick

Your design, i love it! The lighter piece of wood actually improves the look giving it more colour. It looks very professional. The only thing i have a problem with is the tension wrench and how it looks when its in as it looks kinda flimsy and ready to fall out. But as long as it works, thats all that really matters. Good job!

by **Murph** » 30 Sep 2004 7:09

JerbZ,
Glad you liked it, Thanks!
Figuring out how to store the tension wrench was a bit of a challenge. The tension wrench is made of the windshield wiper spine material and it does have a bit of springness to it, so when I put it into its hole on the side of the jackknife, it sort of locks itself in. I plan on making another one with improvements.

by **Jerbz** » 30 Sep 2004 9:11

Heh, Im thinking of making one with a similar design. But seeing as i havent made even 1 pick b4, it will be a while. But when / if i do make on, ill be sure to post it

. I already got everything drawn up, however i have run into a few problems u may be able to solve.

1. Are the picks actually loose to fall out? as in, by holding it upside down, will the picks just fall out? or should i have some sort of rubber stopper between each pick.

2. If you have found out yet, could you explain how the locking system will work?

3.are pop rivets the thing that your picks are swinging on? or have you got something else there because i was thinking that it may be a bit to thin, and yeh the looseness will be a problem. Tho it isnt a big one, just curious.

Are there any alternatives for the picks to swing on?

by **good_guy** » 30 Sep 2004 9:52

nice work man. i like that wood handle, gives it that classical look. you definantly have skills.

Homemade jackknife pickset

Homemade jackknife pickset

Who is online