My pocket set

[streak]

I have been fiddling with wiper blade inserts and a kitchen knife I bought at the dollar store.

I made
a sort of Bogota with a heat-shrink handle
a tension wrench with a work in progress diamond pick at the opposite end
a top of keyway pry bar out the 0.050" kitchen knife.

What I was actually doing with the kitchen knife is cutting out a piece to make a flat pry bar which I aim the process of making.
While cutting the blade I generated a small piece of steel which I decided to turn into a non flat version top of keyway pry bar.
I bent the end using a vise, filed down to get the step and filed in some serrations.

This all pretty much a work in progress but pleased to report that they all seem to be working on my test locks.

The regular tension wrench and Bogota fit perfectly in the change section of my wallet.

[Sammi1]

Nice work!

[bembel]

I have never seen a combined pick + tension wrench before.
Nice idea.

[streak]

I just added this Bogota to the set.
I use the outer sleeve from some 550 paracord covered with heat-shrink tubing as the handle.

I'm still busy polishing it up but thought I would share in the meantime.

Hopefully by the time I have made a bunch of Bogotas my filing technique will improve.

[femurat]

I have never seen a combined pick + tension wrench before.
Nice idea.

Have you ever seen a raimundo's bogota set? The handle is also a tension wrench. That's the same concept

[KPick]

Nice set! I have a pocket set too, but since I'm decapolar when it comes to lockpicks I keep about ten of them.

[streak]

And here are a few more.

I just acquired a huge number (many hundreds) of sweeper bristles I decided to use some to make some picks.
I will spend some polishing these up but so far they all work.
Some handles are 550 paracord sleeve, some the 550 with one extra piece of bristle and one 550 with 2 pieces of bristle all covered in heatshrink.

What I really need to do now is expand my set of practice locks from the 4 I have from the H4H Restore.
Keeping my eyes on Craigslist to see if anything comes up. A padlock with a security pin or two would be a nice challenge for me.

[nuganics]

I shouldn't be lazy and try a bit of heat shrink on my handles.

[streak]

These handles give you better grip and feedback than the raw pick but not quite as comfortable as the wider handles on my HPC set.
I'll have to keep my eye open for something I can use as better handles.

[billdeserthills]

I have never seen a combined pick + tension wrench before.
Nice idea.

Sparrows picks just sent me one, they make them

[streak]

I have never seen a combined pick + tension wrench before.
Nice idea.

Sparrows picks just sent me one, they make them

, they must have got the idea from me! I should call them for some royalties!

[billdeserthills]

I have never seen a combined pick + tension wrench before.
Nice idea.

Sparrows picks just sent me one, they make them

<censored>, they must have got the idea from me! I should call them for some royalties!

Don't forget to remind them 'patent pending'

[rs4ever]

What tools did you use to shape the picks?
I am assuming grinder or file... but there may be a better way..
I wonder if you can do that with a key duplicator.

[MBI]

What tools did you use to shape the picks?
I am assuming grinder or file... but there may be a better way..
I wonder if you can do that with a key duplicator.

Because of the dimensions of a pick and the material, it doesn't lend itself very well to duplicating on a key machine.

They are long, thin and narrow. Hard to clamp onto enough material to hold it well, and also not have it wobble and chatter.

Regular key duplicator wheels won't cut steel well. You'd need carbide wheels and even then I have my doubts as to how long they'd last. Those carbide wheels are rather pricey. More money than I'd want to spend to try it as an experiment.

I tested the idea on some brass stock once. Maybe someone with machinist experience would have better luck but it didn't work out that well for me.

[streak]

What tools did you use to shape the picks?
I am assuming grinder or file... but there may be a better way..
I wonder if you can do that with a key duplicator.

I cut the 45 degree angle at the end with a pair of pliers.
I do do the rough shaping with a round file and then some stock removal to thin out the pick using a bench grinder.
I then us a flat needle file to get rid of sharp edges followed by some sand paper and finish of a with a little buffing wheel and polishing compound on the dremel.

I'm having fun. Have now made duplicates of my frequently used HPC picks.