SLIGHTLY BLEMISHED Help!

[Legion303]

The blemished jackknife set I bought from SO got more scratches from me putting it in my pocket one time than it had when they shipped it. And it cost 60% as much as the "new" versions.

-steve

[SFGOON]

Spring steel, as it's name implies, bends.

This is an awesome attribute to have if you wanted to build a skyscraper that won't get blown over by a windstorm, or any other application where you need your metal to bend.

With picks however, that bending actually dampens the vibrations ever so slightly, and an experienced lock picker will notice. An ultra rigid metal like titanium would be great for pick material - except it's very likely to break.

I guess it's a trade off. Dirty, dirty n00bz0rz will want spring steel so they don't break their picks too often. The seasoned ones will want to use a more ridgid metal for better feedback.

[vitti]

Actually I think you're mistaken SF. Spring steel does not refer to it's ability to bend but rather it's ability to return to it's original shape after bending.

Spring steel is considerably harder than stainless steel and if hardened and tempered (usually it is used in it's annealed state to provide flexibility)it can be just as brittle, and often more brittle, as other high carbon steels.

In reality it is it's rigidity that gives it it's "spring".

[criminalhate]

I know absolutely nothing about which steal is better for what but I did buy a blemished set and after sanding them to a nice shine the work rather well. No where near LN21 standards but they are a good cheap set to start with.

IF you do buy them get some 600 grit or finer sand paper and sit and polish them. it takes some time but they are 100 times better after doing it.