Rake

[maldotcom2]

Hey can anyone give me a picture of a snake rake (i think there the best for raking pin tumblers)
but it needs to have a ruler or something to indicate size

thanks

[WhiteHat]

I think chucklz posted some in his latest "my picks" post..

[maldotcom2]

i've searched but obviously i suck so could you include a link?

[Romstar]

Hey, try here.

http://www.lockpicking101.com/viewtopic.php?t=2844
viewtopic.php?t=2844

That should keep you busy for a while. As for the classic snake, it's still the one that drives me batty grinding it by hand. I think it's the only pick I have ever seriously considered making a punch die set for.

I'm just too busy lately to make a new set of dies. There is a lot of work in making tools like that.

Good luck,
Romstar

[CitySpider]

In the future, if you're looking for "Chucklz's latest "my picks" post," just go to the search screen and punch his name into the "written by" thread. Right now, it's the third thread down. It's actually caled "my set," but that's close enough.

[maldotcom2]

ok thanks

that should help but...... being the idiot that i can be i posted this thread and then the next day without checking for replies, i jammed it into the bench grinder and tried to do it off by heart........it screwed up. its a pretty secondary job but within seconds i managed to rake open one of my padlocks (interisting surprise)

but i dont like raking because i think homemade rakes are too rough (without enormous work) and i noticed i was getting brass filings on the rake (really bad) so i think i'll do a better job next time or just not rake.

thanks

[Romstar]

but i dont like raking because i think homemade rakes are too rough (without enormous work) and i noticed i was getting brass filings on the rake (really bad) so i think i'll do a better job next time or just not rake.

File and polish, file and polish, file and polish.......
Repeat after me: File and polish, file and polish, file and polish.......

Are you seeing a theme here?

Use a hollow half round file to smooth the tips of the rake, and then sand with a good quality wet/dry emery cloth. What you are looking for in most cases is a nice rounded over hump.

If you can be very gentle, ease the sharp points of the pick toward the the grinding wheel, and watch very closely. You barely want to brush the pick in this case. In addition, a dense wire brush is a very useful tool for polishing.

I have several grinders, so I don't have to swap wheels, so you may want to consider waiting until all your picks are made before you wire bush them.

Have fun,
Romstar

[maldotcom2]

Maybe i should just buy one? (when i get old enough)

[Romstar]

Maybe i should just buy one? (when i get old enough)

No, not at all. You can do this if you just watch carefully and take your time.

The files are cheap, and so is the sand paper. I assume you have a grinder of some sort, so just go slow and careful.

If the wheel on the grinder is too large to make the proper size depths, the use the files to finish up.

Trust me on this, I know you can do it.

Good luck,
Romstar

[maldotcom2]

yes i have a grinder,sandpaper,files
i have a hell of a lot of tools

thanks

[CitySpider]

You absolutely can make one, and make one that's just as good, if not better, than anything sold out there.

However, I wouldn't rule out buying one, even just so you know exactly what one "interpretation" of the snake-rake idea looks like.

[Romstar]

Hey Spider....

You ever notice that every company has the same shape rake?

Only the advanced (and more expensive) sets have other interpretations of the snake.

I think that everyone copied Majestic's snake and it's just sort of become the standard.

Romstar

[CitySpider]

I agree, although I don't have enough historical knowledge to say conclusively who ripped off whom.

[Romstar]

Yes, I do know what you mean.

The locksmithing business isn't exactly the easiest historical study. I think we're lucky to know some of the things we do know.

I would like to know who designed the common snake as we know it now. My say is that it was Majestic, but I'm sort of in the same boat as you. My historical perspective isn't the best on this one.

Regards,
Romstar

[Exodus5000]

I guess that's the problem with security through secrecy. A google search brings up VERY little about history of lockpicking, and even less about the history of lockpicks. You can however find a good deal about the history of locks.