What metal to use?

[Marco321]

Hey
I made some picks from hacksaw blades but they sometimes bend. I was wondering if anyone could recomend a type of metal i could buy to make picks out of.
Thanks
Marco

[Shrub]

I can reccomend you search the site before posting otherwise hacksaw blades are your number one perfect source for pick making,

If yours are bending there is one or more things it could be,

You are putting too much pressure on the picks,

You are getting them too hot when you make them,

You are useing cheap crappy blades,

You are making your picks too thin,

Amoungst various other reasons that are more unlikely,

[jimmysmith]

dont get the really expensive ones...
all you need are high speed carbon blades. they work great.

another reason they could be bending and breaking is becuase you are not keeping them cold ehough while making them.. you need to tip the hot metal in water every few seconds...ever time you see that metal get red hot...dip it and cool it.. then keep going.. dipping it is very very important. and if you dont..... your picks will break and bend..

high speed carbon!

[Shrub]

If you see the metal get red hot throw it away as its already scrap!!

Quench it every second or so and give it a stirr, if it gets hotter than yellow ie turns blue youve already damaged the properties deep blue or any darker and its scrapped,

The blades i use and reccomend you use are silica carbide ones,

[Eyes_Only]

In LSS it is recommended to quench the metal in oil to help the metal be more flexible and less prone to becoming brittle and easily break.

[Marco321]

Thanks all
Yeah i wasn't dipping the blade in water every few seconds thanks.

[fredd3039]

Try these links.

http://www.reidsupply.com/catalog.aspx?pn=506

http://www.use-enco.com/CGI/INPDFF?PMPA ... M=240-0242

They sell feeler guage stock in 25 ft coils and 24 in pieces. Both are spring steel and have the properties you are looking for to make durable picks.

Copy and paste to your address bar, sorry I couldn't get them to link.

[devin11]

you should def use chrome