Homebrew questions

[pickingtom]

I want to make a set of picks (though not homemade, i'm just making the design and going to a workshop to get it done). However there are certain things that's a problem. What's a cheap and tough material to use. Cheap aluminiums, crap. Strong modern alloys, too expensive. Whats a good material, say 30x30 to 50x50 cm (20"x20") in size that cost about $2. P.S: would anyone be kind enough to give me a description of a regular pick (handle length, shaft length, thickness, shape, etc), maybe a picture of one with a scale of inches and centimeters?

[UWSDWF]

well judging by your description of this situatition it would be cheapest just to buy a set from a retailer

[criminalhate]

pickingtom why are you having a shop build a set for you? If you do not even know what sizes a standard set of picks are it is going to be really difficult to design something different that works.

To answer some of your questions some form of spring/stainless steel is going to be your best material. Also there should be some templates of a few different styles of picks, if you search for them (I can't rememeber but they may be stickied at the top of this catagory).

[Eyes_Only]

I agree on the spring steel, they're probably the best material for the money. Just gotta make sure the metal isn't overheated during the cutting and grinding procedure. But a good metal shop should know about that.

[pickingtom]

well judging by your description of this situatition it would be cheapest just to buy a set from a retailer

If i'm in America i would. There's absolutely no vendors here in Indonesia. I can't afford it either. Is the thickness of a normal pick approximately 1mm?

[Eyes_Only]

My basic spring steel Majestic picks are about 0.56 to 0.60 mm thick.

[JackNco]

Peterson are about .6mm and Southord are about .5mm

[Raymond]

HPC's are about .55mm. SEARCH on this web sight for "PICK MAKING MATERIAL" and you might find many answers.

I have a difficult time believing you are ready to have picks made for you if you haven't made anything for your self yet. May be you just have not explained enough but this is a strange request.

[maintenanceguy]

There is a templates sticky here somewhere with lots of photos and scans of picks right alongside rulers.

A hard steel is what you want, spring steel or stainless will work.

There are lots of materials mentioned here such as hack saw blades, street sweeper bristlels, etc. These will make okay picks but not as good as the real thing. For the real thing, a machine shop should be able to order spring steel sheets in several thicknesses. These are often used in industry for shim stock to align motor shafts or level equipment. I'd think that something right around .020 inches to .025 inches thick would be perfect. (you'll have to convert to mm)

The material isn't cheap, you could order lock picks and ship overseas cheaper. If Indonesia lets you import lock picks.

[pickingtom]

The material isn't cheap, you could order lock picks and ship overseas cheaper. If Indonesia lets you import lock picks.

Uh, well, you don't get it. I'm just 14 and i don't have a bank account, the money, or the permission.

I also tought i could use a stainless steel ones (about 50c each) from a metal ruler, but my dad says it's too wobbly and should be made of hard iron.

SEARCH on this web sight for "PICK MAKING MATERIAL" and you might find many answers.

I just did. Look what i've found
http://www.gregmiller.net/locks/makelockpicks.html

[Iceberg_Slim]

spring steel is what works well.

[zeke79]

A stainless ruler will work just fine as will metal inserts from windshield wiper blades from a car, a small plumbing snake for sinks, feeler gauge, kitchen knives if you thin the pick shank down, the possibilities are endless.

[pickingtom]

spring steel is what works well.

Hmm, spring steel like hacksaw blades? I don't think so. I'm looking for a strong and cheap material. Hacksaw blades are just too wobbly for me.

[robotmaxtron]

i think there are a great many lock pick creators here that have crafted a pick from the very material you feel is too wobbly.

but i wish you good luck on your adventures of pick creation.

[maintenanceguy]

I misunderstood.

I thought you were looking for the real thing but couldn't get them in your country. When you said you were going to a workshop to get them done, I thought you were hiring a machine shop to make them for you.

So I figured if you're paying top dollar to have them custom made, you should have them made from the best materials...no matter what the cost.

Now I understand your situation. Hacksaw blades will make a fine set of picks. A tiny bit softer than what is usually bought commercially but still a set that will work very well. Lockpicking needs to be done gently so hacksaw blade picks will hold up fine.

Almost all of my tools are bought. I've made a couple out of an old band saw blade from a metal cutting band saw. The metal's harder than a hacksaw blade but a little more springy than a bought set. Si it's note exactly what I could have bought but I've been happy with them.

I did not mean to discourage you from making something yourself from materials you can get. I just thought that if you were spending $300 on a machine shop, why not spend another $100 in material?

Use the template sticky here: viewtopic.php?t=17326

And material ideas all over this forum.

Post your pictures when you're done so we can see how you made out.