bent picks?

by **transitauthority** » 24 Oct 2004 12:35

hi im new here and i just started lockpicking for about a week now. I can pick the couple of masterlcoks and a defiant doorknob, and kiwikset deadbolt i bought to practise. I figured it would probably be a good idea to make my own tools when i start off to get a better feel for things so i made a copuple of picks from old hacksaw blades on the table grinder, they seem sorta flimsy though like the rake i made is almost flat now. so instead i made a couple picks outa allen wrenches and theyve been working out great for me, but has anyone else had problems with hacksaw blades bending? Just wondering cause i've read through a bunch of forums and people are always recommednign hacksaw blades

P.S. im getting better with how mush tension to use which is helping but they hacksaw blade pciks still seem flimsy

by **Hak** » 24 Oct 2004 12:46

hacksaw blades should have a little bit of flex to them (at least that's how i like them), but if your talking about them actually bending badly, then you need to ease up on how much force you apply to the picks. You don't need to press as hard as you can, you just need a light 'glide' over the pins.

by **archiebald** » 25 Oct 2004 3:07

Used ones seem to work better tan cheap new ones.

by **poisoned** » 25 Oct 2004 6:05

Could it be that u grind them too "hard" and without any cooling (water) the picks lost their temper?

by **transitauthority** » 25 Oct 2004 15:10

thanks for the input, i made another set today and i left them thicker than before which seems to be making them more sturdy, but i think im gonna stick with making my future picks outta allen wrenches ( or any other hardened steel i come across) i can grind them thinner without worring about breaking them , and im still kinnda clumsy with the picks so thinner is a big plus for me at this stage

P.S. im not sure but i cant find any thing about any sort of heat treating on the blades i have, all they say is carbon steel, they dont give a grade or any indication wether theyre hot rolled or cold so ill keep an eye out for ones that specifiy in the future

by **oldlock** » 25 Oct 2004 16:21

Carbon Steel on the blade would suggest cheap blades, not a good start, Look for HSS (high speed steel) and a good maker - Sandvik or Eclipse etc.

Paul

by **drv** » 25 Oct 2004 19:03

Mind you that there are (AFAIK) 2 types of hacksaw blades ...

The large and long, sturdy ones, mostly painted in a color like orange or
blue. About 1 inch high.

And the small and short, very flimsy type, unpainted , slightly heat treated / blued. Mostly clamped tight ("springloaded") in the tool to make
somewhat sturdy About 1/3th inch high.

I think the latter type is way to flimsy to make decent picks from.
Maybe you have used these ?

by **Ultimatederrenfan** » 26 Oct 2004 4:43

If you looked through this forum on materials on how to make picks from, you may have come accross wind screen wiper blade inserts?
You can get these at your local scrap dealer or old cars or whatever, i tend not to heat them to make tension wrenches, just clamp them in a vice and lightly tap wih a hammer, to get about 90 degrees, and with picks, i use my double wheeled bench grinder,
Hope i was of some help,
Dan

by **Ultimatederrenfan** » 26 Oct 2004 5:04

I'll see if i can up-load a few pics to show you what i was trying to say, the picture is my new pick set, i have managed to open my old front door, i say that because i am having a new one fitted, so i got to keep the old one, hehehe.
Dan

by **Ultimatederrenfan** » 26 Oct 2004 5:23

As promised, here is my pic of my picks, it is only a small set at the mo, i will expand to cover levers locks, autos and much more, i will save that for the advanced lock forum, anyways, sorry abou the lighting, my digi cam is poorly,
Dan

by **poisoned** » 26 Oct 2004 6:28

Nice

Is that a tension wrench in the top of the pic? It looks huge :shock:

by **Ultimatederrenfan** » 26 Oct 2004 12:40

yeah, it is, it's because i havn'e got the bends in it shown on the picture, but if you want i will post a pic of that, it's a double ended one, im in the mood to pick even more now as i have just picked my first yale!!!
Hope i was of some help
Dan

by **toomush2drink** » 26 Oct 2004 12:43

Congratulations on the yale that is a good stepping stone into the world of spool pins.
Nice tools too keep up the good work :wink:

by **Ultimatederrenfan** » 2 Nov 2004 12:15

Thanks, i was surprised but relieved when the plug just turned, i made a rake with a diamond on the end, individually picked the first pins, but didn't work,
So i raked it fairly fast, the pushed down to set the last pin, eh voila!!!

by **maldotcom2** » 3 Nov 2004 2:14

A nice thing if found out when polishing picks is to use a 'flap disc' on an angle grinder, just give them a whip over with that and you picks will be shimmering in half a sec. :wink:

bent picks?

bent picks?

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