Making a snowman & half-snowman

[Peter Martin]

I'm trying to make a snowman (double-ball to you HPC fans) and a half-snowman.

The difficulty in shaping these is the "wedge" area between the two balls. Getting that to look correct has been, well, trying my patience. Most of my picks have now become single-ball picks because they just aren't looking good. Even a knife-edge file can't make the connecting point between the two parts of the body look good.

Can anyone help me with my balls???

[digital_blue]

Have you tried using a template and going at it carefully with a dremel? Seems like it'd be the best bet to me. The template would certainly aide in getting the shape just right.

db

[vector40]

Cut-off wheel on a Dremel would certainly be thin enough, at least.

[Shrub]

If the above doesnt help or work (which it should) then you may find softening the material and then useing needle files to shape it and then rehardening and then tempering it back to strength the way to go.

Dont forget thouht its not looks that is the critical factor, as long as the curves flow into each other and the pick works there shouldnt be an issue.

[Omikron]

I'd vote for using a Dremel for most of the grinding, and using a file or two to finish it off.

[ThE_MasteR]

I'd vote for using a Dremel for most of the grinding, and using a file or two to finish it off.

Ditto.

[Peter Martin]

I'll give the Dremel cut-off wheel a try. While I know the functionality of the pick won't change, even if the two ball curves don't mate well, I do want the picks to look nice.
I'm trying to duplicate the exact look, size and shape of the double-ball,so this time it's all about looks. I'll also try some dykem blue na dmake a template, because that can't hurt either. I just couldn;t think of anything thin enough to cut a wedge-shaped slot.

[digital_blue]

Regardless of what you use to cut with, I really think the template is the money. It's hard to go wrong when you know just where to remove material and where not to.

db

[Shrub]

I have to fully agree, if youve got nothing to work to your always going to come out with a funny shaped object unless your very skillful with a good eye which takes years of metal working to aquire.

[pick_maker]

needle files are what you want- but not at this price.

http://froogle.google.com/froogle_clust ... &scoring=p

specially the triangle file.

[cha0s]

i got a set exactly like that at the $1 store and they work great. check it out

[mouse]

I splashed out and made a huge investment.

Click for Files:
Click for power tool:

I have made over 20 picks and only used up 1 cutting disks & 3 grinding wheels.

[illusion]

I just use needle files for manual cylinder picks....

although the callouses I have on my fingers might be trying to tell me something

[Shrub]

Yes, that youve got pen pusher hands

[illusion]

Yes, that you've got pen pusher hands

hmm... I think the problem is that they have no handles as such - just metal - this after about an hour makes my hands quite sore - I should get a holder for them but I can't be bothered really

I'll stop whinging now

penpusher..... who does he think he is?? - wait that's true really