What is the best bit for pick making?

by **Safety0ff** » 11 Jul 2007 3:15

I've recently got myself a rotary tool ( mastercraft maximum 500 piece set 60% off on clearance.) I'm wondering which bit would be for making picks.

The set came with 80 of the "Heavy duty" ( 0.8mm thick) cut off wheels, this would be the cheapest way to go, but I'm not a fan of getting peppered with high speed fragments of the cut off discs when they break.

I've read that tungsten carbide cutters having a longer life than the cut off wheels and work fairly well. I read this somewhere in this forum. I would like feed back on how clean the cuts on the hacksaw blades are.

What bits do you people use? Has anyone tried the engraving cutter? The metal or diamond cut off wheels would probably be better than the other ones.

When I say the "best" bit, I mean the best life and precision in function of the price.

Please give me your suggestions and thoughts on the subject.

P.S. This is my first attempt at home brew picks, I'm a total n00b to lock picking, but I look forward to taking it up as a hobby. I also have a bench grinder that I intend to use to remove the biggest part of the material, but I'd like to have more precision when I get closer to the template as the work area surrounding the grinder is less than adequate.

by **quickpicks** » 11 Jul 2007 6:19

I just use all cut off wheels. Sometimes I will start with a bench grinder and just get it roughly down to size.

by **raimundo** » 11 Jul 2007 7:41

did you get the wraparound safety glasses?

by **Safety0ff** » 11 Jul 2007 12:40

Yea, I got some safety glasses separately.

by **Kaotik** » 11 Jul 2007 12:53

I use different cut-off wheels as well. The same kind that are breakable, though I have never broken any while making my picks. These types of cut-off wheels will break if not used properly.

Diamond coated wheels I don't use because IMO they do not remove material as fast as the others.

The best feedback you could get when asking about them would be personal experience. We can tell you what works best for us, but until you experiment with them yourself you won't know what works best for you.

by **Trip Doctor** » 11 Jul 2007 13:14

Safety0ff wrote:Yea, I got some safety glasses separately.

Anyone else find this funny?

Perhaps that's why Raimundo asked, haha.

Personally, I just use the cheap ones (the ones that probably came with your dremel). They wear off fairly quick, but hey, who cares when they're like 5 cents a peice. If you're using them for presision stuff you have to worry even less about them wearing off. You won't need more than one for each pick you make, in fact, one will probably last you for quite a few picks, depending on how much you grind off the picks. I've used one to grind off the back of a master combo lock (that's 2 walls), and it still lasted me after. I haven't had one break yet, but if you're wearing your safete glasses you don't really have to worry about that either.

by **Kaotik** » 11 Jul 2007 13:47

Well there are other areas other than the eyes that an injury could occure when sparks or debris get to flying. No body wants a puncture or laceration wound to the face.

Though if the thought of such an injury would bring fear to someone, then a full face mask would be a better solution that just safety glasses. So no, I didn't find the humor in that question.

I'll stick with the safety glasses, I ain't skeeerd. :lol:

by **Safety0ff** » 11 Jul 2007 14:14

I was simply wondering if there was any alternatives to the cut off wheels.

I think I'll just go with the cut off wheels I have now and then possibly try the metal cutting wheels.

Did you find the question/answer about the safety glasses funny because you think I'm afraid? I'm just trying to avoid Murphy's law here.

I'll head over to the hardware store and get some hacksaw blades later today.
Thanks for the replies.[/quote]

by **unjust** » 11 Jul 2007 15:19

oh there's choices...

cut off wheels are great for cutting things. they are not so good for grinding edges.

abrasive stones are quite good for grinding edges, but remember that they'll wear down and you can get a groove in if you're going perpendicular to the collet. i find the tops of the round stones are good for getting straight lines trued up.

carbide cutting bits are good for softer metals but will get HOT.

diamond abrasives (discs, columns)can be very agressive or fine, but if you us them with too much pressure you'll wear them out quickly, gently they're great.

jewlers saws will die on steel.

by **Rodfather23** » 11 Jul 2007 16:58

Yeah I messed up my eye glasses a while ago when I was using the cut off wheel (I usually wear safety goggles but I couldn't find them that one time) anyways figures the one time I do not wear them the cut off wheel breaks and out of the 360 degrees it can go it comes up and nicks my eye glass lens pretty bad. It could've been worse I guess and hit my eye. So I went and bought an extra pair the next day.......and I have yet to get my glasses lens fixed.

As for which cutting tool to use ........for extra safety I use the reinforced ones now. It does make a little wider of a cut, but its easy to compensate for. I have a dremel brand tungsten carbide cutting tool, but I find it gets away from me a lot of times and messes up my cut. It also doesn't cut very well....even at 30000 rpm.

by **Trip Doctor** » 11 Jul 2007 18:36

Haha no man I found it funny because of you name. "Safety off" .. "I just bought some safete glasses".

by **raimundo** » 12 Jul 2007 9:00

I got it, but really any time anyone starts talking about haveing a new experience with a motor, its good for someone to remind them about the safty glasses and wearing a tie.

by **LockNewbie21** » 12 Jul 2007 11:02

Cut off wheels. Use two or three at once to get good vally's for rakes and such.

Your carbide bit its great for rounding edges.. though you will need to file them, they will be round and save your files.

Use your pollishing compound and rubber buffer to apply, then use the cloth wheels to buff them mirror.

Hmm what else is in my kit, Oh, go buy yourself some needle files there invaluable. And some diamond files for more round filing (always file forward, backwards will kill your little file)

600- 1600 grit emory paper.

Some silicon lube

Case of beer and your set.

by **Legion303** » 14 Jul 2007 0:01

LN21: that rubber thing is a buffer? I thought it was just a drum to hold sanding cylinders on...

-steve

by **Kaotik** » 14 Jul 2007 0:29

LN21, I would like to ask the same question. I don't think that your mistaking the sanding drum holder for a buffing wheel, I hope. But I am curious as to what you mean.

Could you post a pic?

What is the best bit for pick making?

What is the best bit for pick making?

saftey glasses

I got it

Who is online