My Newest "Ray Bogota's"

[th3anvil]

Hey Guys,

I just finished these two "Ray Bogota's". Let me know what you think.




I've been thinking of different ways to make them more comfortable to use. Any ideas besides putting on a huge handle?

Best,
J

[tmaxx258]

nice job,they look great!

[UWSDWF]

sre those made of copper?

[blake1803]

sre those made of copper?

I was wondering that, too. I think the color is probably just the lighting though.


th3anvil: Very nice work! I don't know what to say about comfort. I've never tried to make a pick with that style of handle, but I do have a set that ray made and after a bit of practice I actually find the handles very functional and comfort doesn't really enter the equation. Because of the sort of rapid rake/twist motion I usually grip them tightly enough that I don't think I'd really benefit from any other type of handle, if that makes sense. That said, I wonder what would happen if you just tried a thin coat of some sort of heat shrink/dip etc.

[raimundo]

wiper stiffener?

How do those handles work for ya?

Good work.

Ray

[th3anvil]

Thanks for the kind words guys!

You are right about the color. It is just the lighting. I don't have a good camera and the room I took the pictures in is a yellow color...so the reflections from the wall paint are shown there. That picture below is AFTER as much color correction I could do

blake1803: ...That said, I wonder what would happen if you just tried a thin coat of some sort of heat shrink/dip etc.

I was definitely contemplating this. I saw some rubberized dip at the hardware store. I'll try that next and post some pictures (hopefully with a better camera).

raimundo: wiper stiffener? How do those handles work for ya?

They are from a wiper stiffener. I had been making them out of SS bristles, which are great. I just wanted to try a different medium. The Wiper stiffener is a little taller, so its possible to make higher peaks with them.

These handles work so far. I was trying to loop them so they would hook onto my middle finger, but I couldn't go any further without heating them up. I didn't want to risk hurting them


The picture doesn't do them complete justice. They are actually silver with almost a mirror finish. I wish I could find 1200 grit. Then they would be really nice and shiny

Do any of you have any other suggestions for handles?

Thanks again guys!

[Kaotik]

For the ones i've made and for the ones I have gotten from ray, I see no need to put handles on them. When used, they work really quickly given the right technique is used and therefore don't require a long time of use for them to feel uncomfortable.

Remember, the end of the handle doubles as a tension wrench for each other, so unless you use a seperate wrench you may have to cut a little bit of the coating/shrink wrap off the end to accomadate that.

Very good job. I tend to see a bit of yellow in my pictures when I use minimal flash and flourescent lighting combined. My picks are so shiny that with just a flash from the camera makes a big white shiny spot over everything.

[JackNco]

Better job than i could have done there dude. nice one.

[th3anvil]

Thanks again for your input. I guess it makes sense to leave them handle-less, as that is the nature of the pick design.

The reason I was asking is I was thinking about other picks with this "handle" style in mind, such as a hook. I wanted to make them more comfortable, since when using the hook, it usually takes a little bit longer to pick.

Since I don't plan on using them as tension wrenches, I think I will be trying the rubber dip-grip stuff, just to see how it feels. I may heat them up a bit and curve the handles under a little more to allow it to loop around my middle finger. I think that make be more comfortable.

My picks are so shiny that with just a flash from the camera makes a big white shiny spot over everything.

I get the same thing. This picture was with the flash turned off so that giant white spot didn't show. I'll have to play with the lighting to get them to look normal.

[Trip Doctor]

Well you could have left them straight if you prefered the regular style, and then adding a handle or heat shrink would be easier. Personally I like the fact that the tension wrench is in the back. I think the handles can actually be pretty comfortable to use if you're holding the lock (or if the lock is mounted) sideways.

[th3anvil]

Straight is "ok". My first ones I made were straight, double ended, with a twist in the center. They were semi-comfortable, however, they bent after some usage.

I'll try the rubber grip dip, or heatshrink and post them up.