sanding picks with re-enforced handles?

[n00bking]

OK. Sanding Picks. I hear you should do it to A. Make them shine and make them very smooth. B. Smoothness=feedback...so you can feel the pins easier...I am all for that...but if you have a pick that is anything but a standard handle, like a laminated handle or if it is from lockpicktools.com something ripple-ish, should you still sand the pick? I mean doesn't the handle not give you as much feedback? And like I have rubber grips on my picks, should I take the grips off as to sand the whole picks and then just have like the 1 inch show? I mean what is the point of sanding? I think I may have missed it, and is sanding as crucial on picks that have some type of re-enforced handle or plastic cover or something to that nature?

Thanks.

[UWSDWF]

the sanding it to make it smoother inside the lock....




I am resisting the urge to make fun of this so very hard that my heart is actually pounding

[Exodus5000]

Ok, you just want to sand the part of the pick that will be in contact with the pins if you have handles on them already, sanding a handle is only for aesthetics. Sanding the pick tip will increase sensitivity because it will be able to more eloquently manipulate the pins, and not scratch the heck out of the lock.

Tip: You can get UWSDWF off your heels in the future by searchin' a bit more.

[Afisch]

should I take the grips off as to sand the whole picks

You need to sand the section that goes into the lock, raimundo has exelent information on this somewhere on this site. There is no need to sand a handle which will be recovered with plastic or to sand the plastic.

[blake1803]

One thing I'd just like to point out is that certain profiles benefit more from sanding than others. For example I wouldn't want a perfectly smooth hook; if a hook were gliding around too freely, you'd actually end up with less useful feedback and have more trouble making the distinction between pins. I don't mean to say that you shouldn't sand a hook, but do not over-do it.

Rakes, on the other hand, can really use a good sanding. If you're raking, good feedback (usually) isn't as important as the ability to quickly move in the keyway without the pick getting snagged on anything.

[n00bking]

O...well then I am quite the n00b. I always thought sanding was for polishing...so that like hour it took me to sand my homemade picks last night was in vane because I didn't even touch the actual pick heads other than the sides to polish? Crap...

[Trip Doctor]

Yep, -vain-