Making picks for warded locks

[strazzere]

Hey guys,

I was looking around the site (and using the search button) and I had a quick question about making picks for warded locked.

I originally saw them at the lockpickshop, http://www.lockpickshop.com/p-WP-10.html . But those look like they'd be easy to make...

My main question is, do these warp after time? They are made of spring steel, and the amount of pressure needed for some warded locked I've seen is a lot even on just the key (which is much thicker than spring steel often). Are these going to be like padlock shims and just break after a while?

Also, I was pondering making my own. I have quiet a few sets of keys lying around (I'm no professional locksmith just in it for a hobby). I found the templates in another post on this site and was wondering if I could use other warded keys I have, and grind them down to the picks? Would this work or is there a specific reason they make the warded picks so thin?

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance...

[n2oah]

I make warded picks out of old keys. (keys for warded locks, of course) Despite how thick they are, they still will twist and break sometimes. If a pick twists up in a lock, do not flatten the key back out and reuse it, as it will be more brittle and break easier.
Warded picks are very easy to make, no powertools required. I think the pictures are self-explanitory on how to make them.