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

[LockNewbie21]

Sorrry for the double post, but wouldnt a lab created diamond be just as strong but much much cheaper and easy to obtain? ugg i am giving this way to much thought DARN YOU ILLUSION!!!


Andy

[Krypos]

i think you should look into like...polyeurothane (spelling=BAD) then you could just like, make a mold of your favorite pick and then make a million of them. lol...would that even work? hmmm....i would really like to see a swiss army pick set. like the jack knives that already exist, but smaller and cooler, and all like...cool. (no offense to anyone who made their own)

[LockNewbie21]

Ok my update, i consulted with a few people, including my uncle, he also talked to a few chums at NASA, My dads friends whos a metal fabricator, and so on, and for the price and duribility and everything else memory metal is indeed the metal of choice.

Long with this it will be a standard pick design, the tang and pick head thickness to be best will be in between .39-.45.

Now comes the scientific part... The variables
To name a few

1. memory metal will need to be cut using computer directed machines, one machine that was suggested is a machine that will be programed and the pick will be cut with a pressurized stream of water. The key element that is with memory metal is that making it with a grinder or any other tools that will generate heat will destroy the structure of the metal's anotomical structure rendering it brittle and useless becuase the memory metal will be far more delicate then a standard hacksaw blade as far as the temper precision and such. So little to zero heat to make the cut is nessesary. I am currently searching for a machine that will cut the pick.


2. The second variable here is my ability to aquire a fair amount of memory metal to shape the pick, i am also currently searching for it. My idea of asking for scaps from my uncle was useless, as anyhting in making a satelite is goverment property, even the smallest nuts and bolts. Illegal distrubution of the parts will be a big serious federal offense...darnn...

3. I will have to cut 10 picks, to cover the varieing thickness's and to see which reponds best to test ( not yet established).


So this little expierement is moving along slowly, theres a ton of varibales and twists and turns i never expected ( this would be a bunch easier if i was a millionare)


Andy

[Shrub]

Memory metal is very expensive i think you will find or at least the good stuff is.

I believe some spectacles are now bein gmade with some form of it though so maybe start at your local places that supply those (phew got away without having to try and spell opticions )

[LockNewbie21]

lol yea that was where i first seen memory metal shub of them glasses my buddy wore, thought wow that cool... this was in 8th grade or so lonnnnggg before picking came along lol. Yea my uncle said it wouldnt be cheap, but compared to some other alloys that will reatin shape under immence stress he said its your best but, so i guess its off to saving my pennies


andy

[Shrub]

Well we live in totally differant parts of the world but i will recollect to you somthing John Falle said to me a few months ago,

Memry metal is great, its got so many uses in locksmith tools but at present its more expensive pound for pound than gold is and the price goes up or down depending o how much the factories can make of it,

Now we were talking of a particular memory metal which i wont go into here but i sort of get the impression that to make picks out of it would be rather like putting precious stones on finger nails, they may look pretty but boy when they break youve just lot a whole load of money.

Personally even before you started your quest i believe stainless steel is one of the best materials for picks but i await your findings with interest.

Ps they are also very hard hence needing to be cut by cnc laser machines.

[LockNewbie21]

Hmm intersting shrub, i tend to agree with you very very highly, as i have yet to find anyone willing to sell memory metal. Well i'm not rich lol so i ruducing to the pick to one, just to see what it can do. Lol like i said if i was a millioniare it would be so much easier:O( , shrub, by the way when you talked to john about the memory metal uses what tools did he have in mind? It would be nice if they would lower the price, i never actually had a look at a price, any body out there got some spare memory metal laying around the garage for us to expierement on?


Andy

[eric343]

Waterjet is nice, but it will leave your picks with rough edges. You'll likely want to polish them after.

[LockNewbie21]

Eric any idea on where i would be able to have this done not specifics but just general?.. that is if i can find let alone afford some memory metal as shrub said


Andy

[eric343]

I have access to a waterjet if you need some help.

[LockNewbie21]

Excellent, if i can get ahold of some will ship the dimensions and material to you, just for helping keep a pick or two. I am still hunting for a place that even sells the metal, we have a major metal manufacturer called carpenter steels, there right around here, funny thing is there was an artical in the news paper stating they made the metals using on nuclear war heads, some retierie announced it plas has been booming with buiness since, i have a few chums who work in there i will have to talk to them see what i can dig up. thanks for the offer, that settles one problem


Andy

[Shrub]

Well the tool we were speaking about is already in productio n and is for safes, it uses a tiny bit of memory metal and isnt the main part of the tool by any means, i cant as im sure you understand say anymore about it on here.

Eric,
Im well jealous mate, i wish i had access to a waterjet its probably one of the only tools i havent played with myself and if the pumps werent so expensive i would make one myself.