Feeler Gauges and alternatives

[Mr. Glass]

Hi Everyone.

I've been hearing alot lately about using feeler gauges to make picks. The cheapest ones that I have been able to find come in a set and run about $5.00USD. Do you just make pics in different thicknesses, or purchase multiple sets. Has anyone been able to find some place that sells quantities of the same size feeler gauge?

What about alternatives? Is there some place that I could find a sheet of the same type of spring steel or stainless that a pick manufacturer uses?

Thanks.

[raimundo]

Look up machinests jobber, in the yello pages, and ask for the footlong by half inch feeler gauge, specify the nearest thousands of an inch, and buy as many as they have in stock. Don't go for the collection of sizes on a rivet. thats not the way to go unless you have ideas for all those sizes,
A machinest jobber is the guy who sells tool bits to machine shops.

[JackNco]

i cant see any reason why you couldn't take a set make your self some (as close as you can) identical picks out of the metal in them. see which works best for you and then get a big sheet to make full sized picks with.

[Tygart]

I use feeler gauges, and they work great..

I got mine at a tool pawn shop. I only paid $1 for each set.

[JackNco]

do you not find them quite short. any pics?

[Tygart]

Ill get some pics up soon.. They are the first picks I have ever made, so they don't look all that wonderfull.

[JackNco]

If they work thats the point.

[Tygart]

Here they are.. YES I need to sand them more.

[JackNco]

what did u file them down with?

[Tygart]

I used my grinder. And yes they work really good. They are small but I haven't had any trouble.

[JackNco]

there u go then. thats the point in the things.