I hear exactly what you're saying Ray! I don't know what the on-going fascination with rare metals like Titanium has been about, especially when you can order some of these babies:
http://www.easterngage.com/stock-feeler-gages.asp
You've got your precise thickness you want (I prefer .032), and you even have a choice between high quality carbon steel or 300 series stainless steel.
Cheap too, all things considered. Drop 20 bucks for a box of 12 inch feeler gauges (12 in a box.)
And if you're REALLY hardcore, this company boasts custom cutting your gauges for you too if you want. Example:
Some of those look very close to being customized pick blanks. Instead of having the tang of the blade cut off short, like the very top one in the picture, or the second from the bottom on the right, I would suggest having it taper back up to a full half inch at the end of the tang.
Ideally if I were to order mine, I would get a box of the spring steel and stainless steel, custom cut to 5 inches, with one end rounded off, and the opposite end tapering down to a width I've yet to determinem kinda like the second from the bottom right tool in the picture. Then bring the last half-inch to an inch in length of the blade back up to the full width. Delivered right to my door, all I have to do is take them out (of their vinyl sleeve) and grind whatever pick shape I want onto the end of the pick blank and file/sand/polish. Maybe add a handle too, I suppose I could get those custom cut perfectly out of a thicker gauge and delivered too. Oh the possibilities!
You're welcome folks
