Mutterings from a mouse

by **vector40** » 20 Nov 2005 1:45

You know, when I heard about using hacksaw blades for picks, I always assumed that you somehow removed the teeth before using 'em -- I mean, who would voluntarily hold a BLADE?

Do any of you grind or file the teeth away, or do you just cover it with a handle, if you do anything at all?

by **digital_blue** » 20 Nov 2005 1:47

I always take the teeth off. I actually don't often put any sort of handle covering on though, and I want my picks to be silky smooth and shiny, so the teeth must come off.

db

by **digital_blue** » 20 Nov 2005 1:48

I just went back and looked at mouse's pick. It appears he takes off the teeth too. Have a close look at step 7.

db

by **chopitup** » 20 Nov 2005 3:37

Some people leave them on for grip, or for a portable saw. Hacksaw blades aren't really bad enough to cut you unless you put a lot of pressure on and draw it across your flesh. As with all of our picks, it's personal preference. Whatever pops your lock :wink:

by **Chrispy** » 20 Nov 2005 4:07

I always take the teeth off mine.

by **mouse** » 20 Nov 2005 11:16

I always remove the teeth. (step 5)

I use heat shrink as a handle to make it easier to grip (softer on my little paws

) and to keep my fingers off the metal. It is cheap and easy to do.

I have noticed small spots of rust where my sweaty fingers have been resting on the shiny section of the pick.
The next picks I create will be coated with clear lacquer before adding the heat shrink.
Hopefully this will protect the metal from my sweaty hands. The section which goes into the lock will get the coating scratched off, so I will have to spray it with WD40 every now and then.

I guess the pick will break or wear out before rust becomes a real problem.

You could even give the pick a coating of rust killer before lacquering.

by **NKT** » 20 Nov 2005 12:06

Nice sigs! I liked

the best, for shear cuteness.

Anyway, I have no idea why you are making your picks rust. I've got a little tarnishing on a few of my plain steel picks, but nothing at all on any of the others, and certainly no red rust showing on anything.

Are you gripping the picks too tight? Or are you picking under pressure?

by **mouse** » 11 Dec 2005 6:16

MY next picks are going to be ball & snowman.

Keeping them all in a harmonica case at the moment.

by **bonez** » 11 Dec 2005 7:41

thats a good looking pick set
nice work.

by **illusion** » 11 Dec 2005 8:01

Hey man, I like your style you use on your picks

you've got a nice selection of icks rakes an wrenches, and the handles look great.

Well done

by **quicklocks** » 11 Dec 2005 8:52

nice picks whats the deal with the nicks on the handle are they there to stop the cover slipping off or just a style thing?

by **mouse** » 11 Dec 2005 9:40

quicklocks wrote:nice picks whats the deal with the nicks on the handle are they there to stop the cover slipping off or just a style thing?

I noticed on my half diamond (most used) that the heat shrink handle had started to stretch and slip.
After adding the notches to the handle, nothing has moved since.

As a noob picker/pick maker my designs are constantly being modified.

I have an idea about a "covert" set. :idea:

Small double ended picks which can be hidden inside a working pen.
Probably made with wiper inserts.
Not quite sure how I'm going to make them yet.

by **digital_blue** » 11 Dec 2005 9:51

Those are truly well thought out and nicely made picks. Great work!

db

by **The Wanderer** » 11 Dec 2005 11:47

Just goes to show that one doesn't need a room full of tools to produce a quality product. Putting the whole "kit" in a Hohner Special 20 case made me sort of chuckle to myself when I saw it. Very innovative Mouse.

"The jobs a good'un". :wink:

by **quicklocks** » 11 Dec 2005 12:02

mm heard that somewhere :wink:

Mutterings from a mouse

Nice Picks!

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