Whats the best Pick material? I am going to find out

by **LockNewbie21** » 20 Apr 2006 1:57

Ok so i was sitting watching the myth busters and began thinking, what would be the best material for lock picks. This meaning which can be the thinniest but most structurley sound. I am going to sit down and draw up variables suchs as flex with out bending meaning which will bend to the most degree without loosing its perfectly straight shape. I was thinking i have the best people to help me with this, my unlce is a sattelite enginier at NASA and dealls with all the aspects along with his crew as far as structural integrity of the sattelite and also the wiring yadda yadda, but in my case his help will be THE METALS OR ALLOYS USED! so... When we make our yealry visit to see his progress i am going to ask him for some metal samples between the measurements of .25-.75. My original metal that i thought of hoping to get some good scraps is there legendary memory metal- the bendy metal on glasses were you can conpletely deform and it will return to its normal state strurley sound. We will visit at the end of my sisters school year, and i am actually going to use this possibly for a college expierment. So i am asking for all the help of the locksmiths and metal workers and machinists that could give me machines to use to mimic exact demensions of production picks(i will get the measurments, just need to know what machine, as for the people familiar with metal give me some names so i can add more variables.

I am looking for anybodys worthwhile input and hopefully, if i can get a godly lockpinking material, i can give credit to LP101. O yea lol nobody say hacksaw blades i know about them.

So thanks for anyone who helps and hopefully with all our skills and my resources combined can make a godly lock pick.

Also and suggestions on theories on actual pick widths that would be benificial to a certain material is welcome.

So lets get this expierement started i am going to email my uncle to see what he can dig up before we visit so hopefully we can get some new and interesting alloys and materials together.

Andy

by **eric343** » 20 Apr 2006 2:20

You'll either be grinding the picks out by hand (cheap, easy) or having them cut on a wire EDM or laser cutter (expensive, need to use CAD software).

by **LockNewbie21** » 20 Apr 2006 3:59

I thought about that but my buddy has access to the machines needed, i am still trying to plan this out and write up exactly how i am going to do this, but it should work.

Andy

by **digital_blue** » 20 Apr 2006 9:36

See if your uncle can get you some of that funky metal from Roswell.

db

by **scampdog** » 22 Apr 2006 20:16

Get yourself down to your local joiners yard,be nice to the owner and ask him if you can have any broken band saw blades,these make exellent,strong flexible picks,cut them with a dremel,polish them, and they will last you a lifetime(and it's free).

by **scampdog** » 22 Apr 2006 20:19

Dont forget that feeler guages also make great picks.

by **Shrub** » 22 Apr 2006 21:07

Joiners have a tool that is called a surface scraper i think, its a blade rather like a planer blade but a lot thinner, you grind a burr on the edge and then use the blade to draw across a wood surface, this then gives a fine polish on hard woods that sand paper would make undelations on, that is a very thin and strong material which may be quite good.

Are you useing metallic only? how about glass?

by **Gordon Airporte** » 22 Apr 2006 23:07

Shrub wrote:Joiners have a tool that is called a surface scraper

They're called card scrapers, at least here in the States.
http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx ... 10&p=41069

There's a Scandanavian brand who's name escapes me at the moment which has a reputation for being too hard, so they really make your thumbs sore.
It might end up being cheaper to find a supplier of just the metal stock, without it being dressed up like this for a particular use.

by **LockNewbie21** » 25 Apr 2006 0:23

Intersting, well i am starting with metals alloys ect. but any ideas on diffrent kinds of materials. As far as glass is that possible??

by **Mutzy** » 25 Apr 2006 7:19

digital_blue wrote:See if your uncle can get you some of that funky metal from Roswell.

db

that's where raimundo gets his materials from...
Why do you think they're so good? :wink:

by **Shrub** » 25 Apr 2006 7:25

LockNewbie21 wrote:As far as glass is that possible??

Well you tell us, thats your point in the tests isnt it?

As for making them and them withstanding the pressures then yes very possable but depending on knowledge and workshop skills and if you can get the right glass or ceramic.

by **LockNewbie21** » 25 Apr 2006 14:00

This is gonna be some good stuff, shrub if the galss works i will send you a free pick set, You need a name for them, any ideas?

Andy

by **Shrub** » 25 Apr 2006 15:55

Ok ill have a think, no need to spend your money on me though :wink:

A ceramic pick may be fun to try as well as some of those ceramics can be quite hard.

How about a Gick? its a Pick but made from glass lol

by **illusion** » 25 Apr 2006 15:57

How about a Gick? its a Pick but made from glass lol

Hmm.. something tells me my plan of making a pick from diamond might not be a good one. :twisted:

by **LockNewbie21** » 26 Apr 2006 8:31

Haha Gick well it shall be the name!

Lol illusion a diamond pick, according to physics it would be one of the hardest most dense picks hey bud you get me a diamond big enough to make a pick then i will make it

I think that hope diamond of sumthing is big enough.. break out your splinter cell gear and lock picks illusions picking and repeling his way into the museum :twisted:

i must say it ould be a lp101 first

P.s NOBODY TRY MY SUGGESTION!!!!!! incase you didnt already think that and got a nice chuckle

Andy

Whats the best Pick material? I am going to find out

Whats the best Pick material? I am going to find out

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