by Olcaytug » 20 Jan 2006 12:58
Buy some "bench grinder". You can find it any hardware store.
The cheapest ones are about 25USD, while you can find quality bench grinders up to 60-70 USD. But the cheapest ones would do very well.
But never forget to quench the tip after each stroke and keep it wet as much as possible!
Personally I would suggest you to use some hand-held grinding tool with some tiny tip for the details. You can fix the tool on a vice or even under your feet and shape the pick using your both hands.
These hand grinding tools are of a similiar price range, but if you want to buy a tool of the brand "dremel" (which usually have user defined variable speed which is unnecessary), you should give at least 70USD.
I would suggest the tips used for chainsaw sharpening for the details. Since they grind slower, They give you more control.
But if you can buy only one of these tools, go with a bench grinder. Hand-held grinding devices would cost too much for shaping the bulk of the pick since the tips do not last long.
And I would suggest never to try shaping picks using files. If you quench the pick after each second of grinding, grinders give better results. Furthermore you can make a complete set with a grinder in the same time you make a single pick using files.
