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Best brand of hacksaw blades for homemade picks?

Having read the FAQ's you are still unfulfilled and seek more enlightenment, so post your general lock picking questions here.
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Best brand of hacksaw blades for homemade picks?

Postby Legion303 » 3 Jun 2006 20:42

I got some Stanley high speed steel blades from Wal Mart, and they don't snap cleanly. Then I got some carbon steel blades from Ace Hardware and they don't snap cleanly either, although they're a lot more flexible than the Stanleys. Can anyone recommend a brand with a little less carbon but still flexible that would make good picks? Thanks.

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Postby Shrub » 3 Jun 2006 20:49

Theres threads about this already but ill give you some pointers here,

Im not sure why your after flexable material but the best type of blades is silicone carbide ones, if you are careful you can pretty much bend any blade until it touches tip to tip but for picks stick with those.

I dont know what you can get but the silica carbide or bimetal blades of any make should be what you should search out, if it doesnt state what they are on the blade or packageing then they are not of either type.
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Postby SFGOON » 3 Jun 2006 21:01

Don't fudge with hacksaw blades, those require too much grinding. The very best thing is to use the metal found in windshield wipers. It is very flexible and about the right size to make any sort of pick you want from.
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Postby devildog » 3 Jun 2006 21:33

I always liked the idea of hacksaw blades because they're tool steel. I imagine if you want the toughest stuff that would be the high-end cobalt alloy ones, but I hope you've got a bench grinder and not just a dremel if you're using those as they're probably a lot harder to machine.
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Postby zeke79 » 3 Jun 2006 21:37

Flat spring steel plumbing snake is the best material I have used. The snakes you want are the smaller ones made to pass through s traps on sinks etc. The material is 1/4" wide so you have the perfect sized handle with the least amount of grinding. The best compromise between hacksaw blades and windshield wiper inserts.
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Postby devildog » 3 Jun 2006 21:37

Oh yeah! If you really want the best stuff then I'd recommend using the stuff that the pros use to make some of the best picks out there: HPC spring steel, which HPC sells as just flat and round pieces of steel for people who make their own, although do keep in mind that it usually runs around $50 for the kit they sell: http://www.hpcworld.com/Tools/t_frs4.htm

Considering the price, I'd make sure that I really knew what I was doing on some hacksaw blades and wiper inserts first before getting the good stuff.
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Postby digital_blue » 4 Jun 2006 13:16

Well.. I may be one of the very few who things this, but I personally LOVE hacksaw blades for homemade picks. The width of them makes for very nice, very comfortable handles.

I prefer to use cheaper hacksaw blades. I find the more I spend on blades, the less I like the results. The only exception I've found is dollar store hacksaw blades. They are crap.

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Postby devildog » 4 Jun 2006 14:20

I've heard about that plumber snake before and have meant to try it, I'll have to give it a shot. I like the idea of it because it's spring/tool steel and you don't have to grind the blade off of it like with the hacksaw blades.
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Postby undeadspacehippie » 4 Jun 2006 15:54

I'm using Dewalt bimetal reciprocating saw blades, Nicholson (believe they are bimetal) hacksaw blades, Dewalt jigsaw blades and windsheild wiper inserts. I like the inserts for ease of fabrication, but i find the bimetal blades are much more durable (I had a pick snap when it was dropped - it was made of carbon steel).

DB I agree with you on the width of a hacksaw blade for a handle, i find they are really comfortable - even without any outer coating or sheath put on them. BUT the teeth are a bit of a pain to grind off. You have to go just past the teeth when griding other wise you get that wave of metal. This wave as well as the teeth I have thought of leaving on as something for a synthetic handle (epoxy or polymorph) to set into. Not sure if i would like the added weight though on the handles - my set is pretty lightweight (5 picks, 3 tension tools) and fits inside of an eyeglass clamshell along with 4 cores I have set up for training.
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Postby LockNewbie21 » 4 Jun 2006 17:45

Geez man using dewalt blades? inless there the metal ones there way to thick and expensize, we use that brand at work.


Andy
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Postby undeadspacehippie » 4 Jun 2006 22:03

LockNewbie21 wrote:Geez man using dewalt blades? inless there the metal ones there way to thick and expensize, we use that brand at work.


Andy


yeah, Dewalt blades rule, I thin them out - gives me a bit of work ( I think they are about 7 for $20), - I usually get the ones that have been used at the place I work and from relatives. The jigsaw blades are usually new and I get a few from the guys at work every now and again.

If i didn't enjoy making picks I would just shell out the money to buy a set.
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Postby Legion303 » 5 Jun 2006 0:33

Thanks for all the great suggestions. I do have a bench grinder, and I have made mini picks out of wiper blade inserts but I can't find any wide ones anywhere. I'm basically using hacksaw blades because they're cheap. When I perfect my technique and want to invest a little more cash, I'll check out some of these other options (HPC spring steel and drain auger both look very promising).

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