Pick handles

[clockwork orange]

I have read loads about making icks and it is all great but what I really need to know now is how to make some really good handles for picks as I am at the stage where I can make a lot of lock picks but want to add a unique finie. Anyone got any ideas?

[LockNewbie21]

Look at mine get some ideas and do your things.

Its trial and error, i like my tang thin really thin, then put it in hotglue between shaped or regular hadels.. i can feel more.

Then to add grip.. put on heat shrink. There not peterson and all pretty.. but work.

Just expierement, mine might be crap to you as far as how good they work.. but i find them great.

As people love falle's.. i can't work without handles.. well i can but not as good, its prefernce bro

[clockwork orange]

thanks Ill have a think about that I was wondering about using electrician tape.

[LockNewbie21]

No use heat shrink.. i mean its fine, its jsut it will peal eventually.

What ever you like though buddy, best of luck bro

[kodierer]

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-9094641035220699727&q=lock+picking&hl=en
Thats pyro's video just in case you want to view it.
If your making picks like his where the handle if real thin I would suggest a few layers of electrical tape around the handle.

[Gordon Airporte]

Here's a step-by-step of how I do it:

viewtopic.php?t=14478&highlight=fancy+pick+handles

[Romstar]

I have read loads about making icks and it is all great but what I really need to know now is how to make some really good handles for picks as I am at the stage where I can make a lot of lock picks but want to add a unique finie. Anyone got any ideas?

Well, unless you plan on drilling and hammering rivets your best new friend will be glue of all sort. Epoxy and contact cement are probably two of the best. Most people eventually discover that Krazy Glue can't stand torsional stress. IE: You can't twist it.

So, once you have this part you can pick a handle material.

You first and most obvious choice is to cut some metal handles and glue them on. For that you would use epoxy of course.

Take a good look all around you, and a lot of ideas will come to mind.

Many of my picks use self adhesive foam rubber sheet. This is a great material, its easy to cut and you can wrap it around the pick so your seam isn't along the top or bottom edge.

After foam, you can look at Tool Dip and this stuff can make some great handles.

Wood and cork can be glued to your picks, and they are easily shapable. They make a great handle and the cork is very similar to a firm rubber. Again, several of my picks carry this handle material. I use a sealant when they are finished.

I have had some success so far using magnet sheet, and that can be very useful if you are picking a steel door. Just stick the pick to the door if you need another one.

After that, you are looking pretty much at casting materials such as plastic and rubber, or welding or riveting metal to your picks.

I was going to post some pictures here tonight, but the wife took off with the kids and the camera so I didn't get any done. Stay tuned and I will see what I can do.

Romstar

[REparsed]

I use heat shrink tubing for my SouthOrd plain picks. There are several types of heat shrink. The two types I’ve seen are the shinny plastic looking stuff and a heavier rubbery kind with a matte finish.

I get the heavier stuff in different colors so I can color code my picks.

[PolishSumgai]

I also use the heat shrink tubing - using red and yelow to make finding them easier. The electrical tape gets " gooey and sticky " if they are in the truck during the summer heat.

I was going to try some of that "stuff in a can " that they show a picture of dipping plier handles into, but never got around to it.

[ldnlksmth]

I've personally had great success with that 'plastic dip' stuff, with the plier handles on the can. A few layers I've found is best. I would recommend making sure A) that the pick is very clean first, and B) that you lightly sand/file the faces to rough them up a bit, make the plastic stick better. Tape off the neck/head of the pick in case you drop it. From experience, it doesn't come off that easily. Also, wear gloves in case you touch it.

[Bud Wiser]

I've got the Peterson rubber textured handles, and they are absolutely the finest most comfortable handles out there for sure.

I've tried the plastic dip and was not pleased with *my* results.

Currently my favorite handles are polished aluminum with no coating whatsoever. Light weight, feels good, and IMHO produces the greatest pick feel, or has the least amount of dead feel. Perfect balance of pick feel and comfort.

I reserve the right to change my mind in the future

[ldnlksmth]

I wasn't happy with my first try at plastic dip too... but I think I was doing it wrong. I tried a few more times (expensive mistakes, that stuff is not cheap) and eventually found something that was comfortable for me. Granted, I'm a wuss and can't handle the bare spring steel, and my hands get raw after using metal handles for any length of time. I didn't like foam grips myself, not enough control for my liking.

[Romstar]

One of the things I discovered about Plasti-Dip is that it always seems to need stiring. This is a bit of a pain because you get the dip on whatever you are stiring it with. The solution I discovered was to put a stir stick through a rubber wipe. After you stir the dip, you draw the stick through the wipe and most of it falls back into the can.

Sometimes after you use it, the stuff can evaporate a bit, and thats a pain in the rear. Plain old lighter fluid is perfectly fine for thinning the dip, and you may find it doesn't bubble as much when it is a tad thinner.

In any case, it can make some great handles.

Romstar

[Gordon Airporte]

Regarding Plasti-Dip: someone on here had a great way to keep it fresh - put aluminum foil under the cap to seal it, and store the can upsidedown.
I let my picks dry with the the handle facing straight up, so I don't get a blob at the end where it came out of the dip.