Improvised picks?

[FallenCloud]

Hello, i just recently started checking out lockpicking and LP101. So far its a great site and im learning alot so far.... just 1 problem... no money and no picks =(. Anyone have any ideas on something about the house that could be usable(ive used a safety pin and a screwdriver =) =(.) My parents run a lawnmower business and they really dont care if i were to ask them to make picks =)(meaning we have a grinder or 2 and aircompressor with emory wheels), but its just alot more work that way eh? Just wondering if theres anything that i could use thats around the house....?

[unbreakable]

Dude, one word. "search"

You can make picks out of hackwsaw blades, windshield wiper inserts, or street sweeper bristles.

All can be shaped using a grinder. See pyro's vid- http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid ... king&hl=en

You can make them just based on sight, or you can make them using a template.

Take a peek around, you'll find tons if info. If you still have questions after having read for a while, ask away

Welcome to the site!

[FallenCloud]

heh ive seen his video and i really COULD do this, just kinda seeing if theres anything easier to start out with until i can get the money for hacksaw blades .... lol yes hacksaw blades would be hard for me to get atm or i would try that out. im still searching around and so far my trusty safety pin( REALLY HARD to pick with) is still the best i can dig up =). ive searched about for tension wrench material as well and ive seen windshield wiper inserts are the best.... yet their rather hard to find around here any help on that material would be AWESOME as using a screwdriver for 1 makes it extremely hard lol

[unbreakable]

where are you man?

Other than the materials that I listed, you could try looking for some shim stock at a welding supply store, that would work well.

Using a screwdriver must be hard not fun.

around the home, hmmmm.

A flattened out bike spoke or clothes hanger could work, but would be less than ideal.

other than that, I dunno. ANy one else have any ideas?

If your parents do repairs, look around for scrap metal that you could use.

[FallenCloud]

I saw a post about using flattened nails.... would they be good for tension wrenches at all, because i know they were used for picks in the post.... cant really buy anything for lockpicking atm really bad position in the money area for a few weeks.... sadly to say i live in a small small small town in Texas so theres not really much around to get to .

[unbreakable]

Yeah, flattened nails would work.

Flattened, then probably filed down.

[FallenCloud]

I just went out and flattened a coat hanger some... whew lol any im going to file it and try that out first thank you very much for your help so far =)

[VashTSPD]

there was a good sized list thread going around, let me go find it.

Here ya go.

Many of the materials have been mentioned already, but some have not. Good luck. And if you plan on staying, fill in your location on your profile.

[flaming jag]

hacksaw blades are the best in my opinion. Your bound to find a hacksaw blade in your parents shop or just pop down to the hardware store. They're only 2bucks Australian dollars.

[Spossum]

Search thru the junk drawer and find one of your Mom's old nailfiles. Use Pyro's method on your bench grinder. Sand off the gritty stuff. I don't know what kind of metal these are made of, but this is one the first picks I ever made, it took about 10 minutes. Still one of my favorites. Comes with built in handle. I never thought I would be showing it on here though.

[Bittersweet]

I've been using nails, the 2" kind, first flattened with hammer/anvil, then ground to shapes somewhat resembling a pick and tension wrench.
They aren't the best thing to use, but they're better then the paperclip! One thing I've noticed, the nails that I've been using at least have a tendancy to crack if you try to bend them too far. Otherwise, my only problems has been a bit of bending when they get to thin, since the metal isn't springy.
If you can get some hacksaw blades, I would seriously reccomend it. I haven't turned mine into picks yet, but i can already tell they'll outdo the nails. Blades are cheap too. <$3
Happy Picking!

[Shrub]

Click on my www button for a guide on making picks,

Could you also please resize your sig so its within 80 pixels height, thanks,

[raimundo]

do they still make those lawn mowers that you wind a spring with a crank and then trip it to start the mower? I used to buy the replacement springs, made of flat steel stock in a holder, and wound like a clock spring, these make good picks, they are not as wide as hacksaw blades so there is less mass wasting to get to the part you are going to make a pick out of and they can be straightend out without much difficulty. also street sweeper bristle is useful for tensors, and if you make picks of it, there is the least amount of masswasting necessary to cut out a pick.

[FallenCloud]

I finally got an old hacksaw blade just havent gotten to time to grind it up yet =) thanks EVERYONE for the ideas the file 1 looks really nice =)

P.S. Sorry about the sig its from a different site i use (what is the pixel limit for the site H and W? i was planning on making 1 for the site =).

[Romstar]

do they still make those lawn mowers that you wind a spring with a crank and then trip it to start the mower? I used to buy the replacement springs, made of flat steel stock in a holder, and wound like a clock spring, these make good picks, they are not as wide as hacksaw blades so there is less mass wasting to get to the part you are going to make a pick out of and they can be straightend out without much difficulty. also street sweeper bristle is useful for tensors, and if you make picks of it, there is the least amount of masswasting necessary to cut out a pick.

I thought my grandfather was the last person in the world to have a relic like that.

I have absolutely no idea if they still make the springs for those things or not. Although, they would be great for making picks.

If anybody finds out, let us know.

Romstar