SouthOrd picks... made from downloaded templates?? :-O

[ericm115]

I was looking through the SouthOrd slimline picks because they have a pretty decent selection of hooks in slimline and not in regular (I'm a hook junkie).

I noticed something funny. Their picks aren't consistent. The handles aren't the same on each slimline and there seems to be little rhyme or reason for some of their picks. Here's an example.

http://www.southord.com/images/fullsize/SLS-07.jpg
http://www.southord.com/images/fullsize/SLS-09.jpg

I didn't directly link the pictures since they aren't mine, but open them both up and flip back and forth between the two. The difference is very subtle for SO to have designed them both and thought that they both needed to be produced. If they had done that, I don't know why they wouldn't have added at least one more hook into their regular (non-slimline) set (there's only a short and a long right now).

OK, so that example wasn't so great. Here is a better example.
http://www.southord.com/images/fullsize/SLS-08.jpg
http://www.southord.com/images/fullsize/SLS-06.jpg

Flip back and forth between the two. Does anyone else think it's weird that its almost the same pick except for slight variations in shank width and handle size. It's almost like they...gasp .... grabbed some templates online and fed them into their waterjet cutter or whatever they use to make their picks.

One more:
<mini Rytan Deforest>
http://www.southord.com/images/fullsize/SLS-10.jpg
http://lockandsupply.com/catalog/ryt_ml ... 531416.htm

<normal Rytan Deforest>
http://www.southord.com/images/fullsize/SLS-11.jpg
http://lockandsupply.com/catalog/ryt_rl ... 355322.htm

Maybe I'm just crazy

Anyways, the evidence isn't very strong, but it occured to me that this could be happening. What do y'all think?


em

[unbreakable]

Wow, however did you catch that?

I see what you mean, I wonder if it is simply due to inconsistencies in the manufacturing process?

I wonder.....How do you think they're cut?

[Cherokee]

As my trade is mass produced sheet metal components, I can safely say all the Soutord slimlines are stamped out.

Cannot say about thr regulars as I don't have any, but I expect they are stamped.

The quality of the tooling they are using is excellent, as the burring produced during stamping is minimumal considering it is a stainless steel that is being stamped (higher tensile strength).


Regards to all,
Brian

[MacGyver101]

. . . Does anyone else think it's weird that its almost the same pick except for slight variations in shank width and handle size.

The shadowing is, unfortunately, making it difficult to see the variations in tip designs. I own the Southord ones, and I've found the variation is enough to make a difference in certain situations. The SLS-08, for example, is much squarer: the top of the hook is flat, and I find it less prone to slipping off of pins while I'm lifting them. That type of hook (with a square, flat top) can be a pain, however, in tighter keyways or locks with smaller pins -- and I find the SLS-06 to be easier to manipulate in those cases. (But this is just my $0.02...)

[ausbump]

I can vouch for the quality, although i have noticed some of mine are a little inconsistant... wonder if they're just done in different batches by different plants?

[Krypos]

well also, some of the handles are rounded on both sides, and others are round on one side and flat on the other, i dont think SO just copies templates, but i think some of the differences are simply user input. (if you look at the SO key extractor and any other regular pick (almost any) then you will see the difference in the handles)

for instance, maybe one person emails the prez of SO (larry newberry or something like that) and says "hey larry, i wish you guys made a short hook pick in slimline, but with a 10' upward slant to compensate for the narrow keyways and the room available to maneuver the pick, can ya do that for me?" and larry responds "hey! yeah, that sounds great, i bet a lot of people would love to have a slimline short hook with a 10' upwards slant, that would allow you to get a great range of angle while picking, even if you cant move the pick much, lets mass produce it and add it to the list of picks"

so, they cant replace the regular slimline short hook, so it gets added into the list, and there is now two of the same pick, but with minor modifications.

i bet thats it.

[LockNewbie21]

Larrys a cheat, I wont buy his tools sincehe tried to snag mine. I gave up on sellind ideas and just have fun.

I hera peterson steal blows the wind out of SO's steal anyway

[n2oah]

but with a 10' upward slant to compensate for the narrow keyways and the room available to maneuver the pick

Is that a 10 foot slant?!?
Most people think the ' is for feet and " is for inches...

[n2oah]

It sounded like I meant I meant it was a 10 inch slant, which is still crazy. I meant to ask if you were saying that it was 10 degrees.