which is better, windshield wiper steel or...

[mr_fixerupper]

hey i was wondering, which is better for materials for picks, hacksaw blades or wiper blade steel i have access to both, but i was wondering which would work best, cause i can get the blades from my dads work, because they go through them like paper, and i can get the blades from the work cars when they get replaced. sooo, which would be better to use?

[Shrub]

Its all a matter of opinion, the way i would suggest would be use hacksaw blades for picks and wiper inserts as tension wrenches.

[mr_fixerupper]

cool, thanks, and just out of curiosity, which steel is stronger? which is more flexible? and what type of picks are the most used?

[Shrub]

Hacksaw blades are more flexable and stronger, look around for what picks to make first, hooks and dimonds are your best bet.

[undeadspacehippie]

Its all a matter of opinion, the way i would suggest would be use hacksaw blades for picks and wiper inserts as tension wrenches.

I agree with shrub here, I have a couple of great picks from wiper inserts, but my best are hacksaw blades. Most often the inserts don't need to be worked on too much in order to make good tension tools out of them.

[Octillion]

Some hacksaw blades don’t work very well, you’ll have to experiment with different brands to see which use good metal for picks. Some hacksaw blade metal will bend too easily, resulting in picks that will bend unless you are a very light picker.

Wiper blade inserts are the perfect material for making torque tools.

[undeadspacehippie]

Octillion has got it right, some blades are better than the other. Stay aware from $, Dollar, Buck stores - they almost exclusively sell crap. Try a reputed name brand (Dewalt, Nicholson, Lenox "Hackmaster"), bimetal blade (my opinion - some people may like non bimetal blades, i find they are too brittle and not as durable to both use and heat - either from fabrication or heat from friction during use). Pay more than a buck for a blade, i feel its worth it - you can get at least a couple of picks out of a blade.

Sorry about all the parenthesis, hyphens and perhaps repetition in my posts.

[mr_fixerupper]

no problem, and thanks for the info. i'm also thinking of buying a dremel, and using that to make picks, and to make money, i was thinking of selling picks, is that a good idea, and how much should i sell for?

[devildog]

Buy some Petersons and HPCs and make sure what you're making is better than that, and then you can figure that out

[Shrub]

either from fabrication or heat from friction during use).

What what what, you the fastest picker in the west then

Oh and heat during making shouldnt be a problem if made right, i can make a pick from any grade steel and have it not only last but work well its all down to skills used when making them.

[mr_fixerupper]

so it would be worth it buying a dremel, and making my own picks? cause my uncle is a retired locksmith, so i have seen his set.

[Octillion]

I think it would be wiser to learn how to pick locks reasonably well first, so that you know what is important in a good pick, and what pick shapes would be more useful than others.

[Octillion]

The above post was referring to making and selling picks... A Dremel tool is a good investment, in general, just for doing random repairs, etc. not necessarily just for lock picking. To learn picking, I would buy a few commercial picks, browse the forum to see what picks are useful. Then you can try duplicating those picks, while they are in your possession.

[mr_fixerupper]

i have become resonably skilled at picking locks, ive picked our 6 pin dead-bolt and house lock, garrage door lock, and all our masterlock #3's, i can pick the masterlocks in under a minute, both raking and picking. plus, i would have the dremel for all my other do it yourself projects.

[Octillion]

I say, buy the Dremel and get to it!