The official show off your picks thread!

[mike-z]

That's cool! And if you're ever attacked by a roving pack of ninjas you'll be set!

db

grand
anyway quickpicks thats some cool looking pick you got

[Chrispy]

But, does it work? And does it work comfortably? On a six pin?

[Greyflex]

In case anyone wants to know, my "ninja star" pick is very comfortable for the way I pick. I don't have any problem using it... in fact I like it better than my other similar and larger tools that i didn't reverse, "caddy-corner" style. I DO have trouble using a wiper insert pick with no handle, though... I guess everyone has their own style.
I am definitely an admirer of form=function. I have to admit that I made this pick to fit a certain aesthetic style. But also, there is no wasted material on this pick.

I don't have any six pin locks...

[Chrispy]

Fair enough. I just can't see it having enough leverage to be comfortable for me. Or, it reaching to the sixth or seventh pin in a lock. But hey, whatever floats your boat. You should make a whole set of them.

[Dimmy Locks]

Personally, I prefer holding my picks a little further away from the lock than that tool would permit, but if you have a close quarters style, and it works for you, then it's a well thought out, practical design for your application.

I'd also like to commend you on your tool making skills. The craftsmanship of the stems and hook ends have really rather proffessional finishings. Congrats.

[mouse]

Decided to try to learn how to lock pick.
Over the weekend I managed to make my first set of picks.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v54/t ... -picks.gif

Tryed to find some suitable wiper wire from the scrap-yard but the strips were too thin. (Top Image)

I don't have access to a grinder, so I have to make do with a dremel.(Cheep copy)

Finally decided to use junior hacksaw blades.

Cut, cut, cut, grind, grind, grind, file, file, file

[SFGOON]

Not bad, but 100 INCHES LONG?! That's too big!








You better know I'm kidding.

[illusion]

very nice mouse, good selection of shapes, and the handles look quite cool.
what did you use for the handles just out of interest?

[mouse]

very nice mouse, good selection of shapes, and the handles look quite cool.
what did you use for the handles just out of interest?

Just trusty old "Heat Shrink"

I will have to experiment with the shapes because the half diamond is the only one I can use easily in my practise lock.

I would like to make them as small as possible but I have to learn how to make them first.

[devildog]

The hooks at the bottom look really good, and the middle rake bares a very close resemblance to bogotas--nice.

[Greyflex]

I decided to make an Exacto-style pick handle, but I didn't want to buy one. Where's the fun in that?

It is hard to see in the top picture, but the pen actually breaks into two pieces towards the bottom fifth. The small bottom part contains the wrench. Removing the cap reveals the hook. To avoid confusion: In the bottom picture, I had removed the cap and put it on the back of the pen, then separated the two pieces of the pen.

Collette:
I took out the pen collar piece, then, using a razor blade, cut the outer dimensions down to a tube shape, on the outside, so that I could install the collar backwards. Then I cut the collar in half, lengthwise, and filled in the halves with JB Weld. Then I sanded it down a bit, till it fit tight. I had done all of this, intending to epoxy a short ring of white pen body around the exposed end of the collette, so that it would be easy to remove and install by hand, and so it would stay in one piece when removed. No such luck. I tried epoxy, super glue, and a glue gun. It won't hold. So now it is only semi-interchangeable... You need pliers to do it, easily

The wrench part does not have a removable collette. It is just a backwards pen collar, again the outer dimensions cut down flat, via razorblade. Then I filled it in with JB Weld, permanently holding the wrench in place. The wrench is made from narrow wiper insert, narrowed just a tad at the business end. It wrenches from the top of the keyway.

[digital_blue]

Well, that is very cool! Very James Bond. Me likes.

db

[DaemonLee]

Not bad, but 100 INCHES LONG?! That's too big!








You better know I'm kidding.

Haha. I was JUST about to correct you too...You almost got me...

[Chrispy]

Nice pen pick.

[Greyflex]

in case anyone wants to make one of these:
I finally got the collette to stick. I cleaned off the pieces with acetone, first, before epoxying. I think some superglue residue (and impatience) was the reason why it didn't stick, before. It seems to hold well, now. I also narrowed the collete just a tad so that it would be just finger-tight when inserted. Now, no pliers needed! Now I can interchange any type of pick head I want.. I guess I'll make another hook, and maybe another... hook. And maybe a couple more hooks.

Well, I have to go to work, now. I will post a pic of the finished collette soon.