metal for making picks

[kspec]

I found another source of metal for making picks. well its not new, but the price is right. its a drain and trap cleaner. its 5mm wide and 12 feet in length, and depending where you go( dollar stores or bargain shops) you can get it for as little as a buck! 12 feet for 1 dollar. now thats cheap. I will be making alot of stuff hopefully within the next day or 2. I will be posting more photos of my stuff very soon. if anyone has made picks from this metal before send some photos or info here. it would be greatly appreciated

[Rodfather23]

Is that stuff not the same as plumbing snake or whatever?

[Kaotik]

Is that stuff not the same as plumbing snake or whatever?

I was thinking the same thing when I saw Drain in his description. It also sounds like electricians fish tape, the kind electricians use to fish the wire/cables through conduent, walls and such.

Definitely a good price. Can't wait to see what kspec comes up with.

Good find!

[LockNewbie21]

Personally I thin drain cleaners/wire fishers are way to thick for a good pick.

Feeler gauges are the best, you can approximate this thickness .15 being standard, if you can't grind/file/dremel straight then go with .17-.19 so you have so leeway on sanding and proper finish.

They are good for handels though

[zeke79]

I use the same plumbing snake to make picks too. They are a bit thicker than normal stock but work well in most keyways. IIRC, southord picks are around .026" thick and work well for most US locks.

I find .015" to be too thin. The peterson slim picks are anound that area and seem flimsy to me even being light handed. I suppose if they laminated their handles it would solve alot of the problem though.

[robin11]

Good Idea
you have done good job -
a drain and trap cleaner is also used for making picks
and come up soon with photos of that.

[kspec]

this metal is thinner then the expensive plumbing snake. I have found another manufacturer that makes it, in a store called buck or two. for 2 dollars, I have made one pick and a few torque wrenches. ( double sided wrenches)

I am still having issues with this machine. i tried re-installing the drivers for the usb card.

i find the pick seems to be a bit too flexible for me, im used to the hacksaw blades i guess. since it is spring steel i was thinking of learning more about tempering...maybe i can stiff it up a bit like that without ruining the picks. anyone with suggestions for this would be greatly appreciated.

I promise to get some pics up as soon as i get the usb ports working again. maybe my cpu needs an exorcism?