small problem with wiper blade insert picks

[undeadspacehippie]

I have been using wiper blade inserts to make picks and t-tools. In my experience I have found that not all wiper blade inserts are made with the same quality materials. The best I have come across are Toyoto Echo 2004 wiper blades (from Toyoto, not replacements). The steel in these inserts is excellent. They have wonderful spring and flexibility and more than enough strength to last. My first set of tools made with these are by far the longest lasting I have had. I have a friend who used my tools to get a taste for the sport and he complains about the ones he makes due to the fact that they always break, bend or warp.

As of lately I have been saving the wiper inserts for tension/torque tools and using dewalt bi-metal wood saws-all blades for pick material, I found that they have the same flexibility and endurance of the toyoto steel, but with the additional bonus of being able to craft a handle into the pick design.

[krept]

what does the steel look like at the site of the break... what i'm interested in is basically the grain structure...i.e. does it look relatively coarse, like tiny sand or super smooth like plastic.

if it is crappy steel... like inconsistant alloys, heat treat, etc. then there won't be much you can do with it.

[pinsetter]

The breaks were clean, but I have since discovered that I was making the picks with the shafts too thin. I've made a new set of picks with stronger shafts and they work much better. I'm making a set of double ended picks now and they're turning out sweet! I'll post a pic when I get them all done.
They're a bit longer than most I've seen, but they feel good and work good, so I don't care that they measure 8 1/2 inches long.