welding rods as pick material

[wil]

i was wondering if anyone has ever used a welding rod to make picks before. the other day i thought that i needed to try to make picks out of something on hand, so i would know something to use in case of an emergency. (ya never know)
this is how i went about making my picks:
1. i used bolt cutters to cut the welding rod into fours. (small picks)
2. i hammered the flux off of the rods.
3. i hammered the rods to an unspecified flatness, leaving the soon-to-be handle somewhat thicker that the business end of the pick. (for more durablility)
4. i used a file (i know it's lame, but i'm financially challenged) to shape the ugly flattened piece of metal into a pick.

this took multiple days using the file, even so, they're still pretty unprofessional looking because they're my first set other than paperclips, hair pins, and other makeshift items...

just wanting to know everyone's opinions on the idea.

thanks.

[Shrub]

I think someone like MadMich used to do that a while ago, cant rmember for sure but yes its been done and they seem ok,

Just to clarify to anyone who doesnt know these are arc welding sticks and not the normal welding wire,

[zeke79]

I was under the impression these were sticks and not "welding wire". Atleast in the past. Too soft in my opinion. Too brittle even after hardening and annealing in my mind.

[Shrub]

Well i did mean to add that only certain rods will be ok for this, the electrode can be quite differant but as i say i cant remember what the outcome was lasttime it was mentioned.

I will have a look and see if i can find an electrode chart and see if i can see which would be better than others if any at all,

[cL4y]

hum.
Ive never heard using it for pick material,i thought for a second you meant using it to MAKE picks out of otehr things

[wil]

now that would be interesting...but yeah, they are kind of soft. they work for the meantime though...thanks for the input. if anyone's got any stories or methods of shaping/using these, then keep posting.

[greyman]

I would think the material is too malleable to make a lock pick with. You're better off with windscreen wiper spring steel or street sweeper bristles. Feeler guages are good too, as are certain metal paint stripping blades. I have used both 18 and 30 thou thickness for picks.

[SEVEN]

I have tried welding rod's as cylinder pick's with no sucess .But have been successful with mild steel gas rod's on lever locks I have been cheating opening the lockcase and making the pick's to fit the lock .Dont need to cheat on most anymore [3 lever] but have not managed B.S. yet.

[unbreakable]

I think I have some of these kicking around, and I plan on making a tension wrench out of em'.

I made a tension wrench out of a sparkler stick the other day, and I quite like it, so I figure I'll make another, and I might as well use welding rod.

The one made out of sparkler rod is nice, I like the round handle. Anyone else use tension wrenches with round handles?