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Hot, Cold or Stainless steel for picks?

When it comes down to it there is nothing better than manual tools for your Lock pick Set, whether they be retail, homebrew, macgyver style. DIY'ers look here.

Hot, Cold or Stainless steel for picks?

Postby hisse » 1 Mar 2013 21:10

I've Tried a couple of materials that I could find for picks and found hacksaw blades not quite my thing, I love the picks my stainless steel steak knives make but they're a bit oversized and the stainless is a pain to work with in some ways and Any street sweeper bristles would be covered in snow for a bit yet it seems

I've been looking into getting some 24 gauge sheet metal however am looking for advice as I'm somewhat unfamiliar with the metals. I've enjoyed working with stainless so far and if I didn't have to remove as much material it shouldn't be too bad. Hot rolled steel from what I understand would be a bit easier to work and would just have to be tempered when finished. And the cold rolled steel seems to be just a pre hardened version?

Do I have this more or less right? If so would I be better off going with hot rolled steel and tempering it, cold rolled or stainless and putting up with the difficulty filing?

I ask this because I could get a sheet big enough for about 150 picks for about 10$ - 20$ depending on material and size. This seems like a decent price and is better than hacksaw blades or steak knives even in price. I could cut it to size with snips and even make various sizes.
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Re: Hot, Cold or Stainless steel for picks?

Postby GWiens2001 » 1 Mar 2013 21:15

I like the stainless steel springs in windshield wiper blades. There are two springs on each wiper blade. They are quite strong, cheap, and rarely covered with snow! :wink:

Gordon
Just when you finally think you have learned it all, that is when you learn that you don't know anything yet.
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Re: Hot, Cold or Stainless steel for picks?

Postby maintenanceguy » 1 Mar 2013 21:44

band saw blades. Available in several thicknesses and depths. Harder, tougher, and more flexible than hacksaw blades. You can buy them as long as you want to make as many picks as you want. The best readily available material in my opinion.
-Ryan
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Re: Hot, Cold or Stainless steel for picks?

Postby Bob Jim Bob » 2 Mar 2013 7:07

I bet the right place would give you their used band saw blades for free.
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Re: Hot, Cold or Stainless steel for picks?

Postby IndigoChild » 2 Mar 2013 16:43

you are completly right about the hot and cold rolled steel. staiinless is very nice but very easy to ruin the temper with too much ggrinding. I personally am going to order some cold rolled sheet when i get a laser cutter. The advantage is cold rolled will be straight. not curved.
"How does it work?"
"Only one way to find out. Open it up!"
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Re: Hot, Cold or Stainless steel for picks?

Postby Bob Jim Bob » 2 Mar 2013 17:15

IndigoChild wrote:... when i get a laser cutter.


Can't get the Goldfinger image out of my head.

Bob, Jim Bob
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Re: Hot, Cold or Stainless steel for picks?

Postby IndigoChild » 2 Mar 2013 23:34

ahhhahahaha thats hilarious dude i couldnt stop laughing
"How does it work?"
"Only one way to find out. Open it up!"
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