wondering if i should make own picks

[devildogelite]

I want to start lock picking but since X-mas is coming soon i was wondering if
i should get a grinder to make all the picks or just keep buying picks. Just
wondering if its easier to make them everytime they break or just have
an extra one i bot. thx

[josh0094]

eh. i love to make my own picks. i use a dremal tool and a pair of pliers. but thats just me. never had one brake. my best ones about to ware out tho. oh well....

J

[devildogelite]

i thinking u could do that but i was looking at stuff on it and they all used a grinding stone so thx

[josh0094]

well grinding stones are the world. they grind. dremals cut. cuttings faster. so thats why i use that. but anyway good way to have fun!

[MBI]

Generally speaking, if a lock picker is breaking a lot of picks then he's doing something wrong. Picks can break but it shouldn't happen a lot. When I first got started picking I was rather ham-handed and managed to bend one of my hooks a bit, but I haven't broken one yet (knock on wood).

If you want what's easiest then store bought picks are your answer, although in the end it's really just a matter of whether you WANT to make your picks or not. I like making picks, but sometimes I also like to tweak and modify my store bought picks.

As for a grinder, if you're only buying one to make picks, remember that you can buy a lot of picks for the same price as a grinder. I bought my grinder to sharpen knives and tools, and only started using it to make picks as an afterthought. If you do get a grinder, consider getting a wet grinder. The stone is usually a very fine grit, turns much more slowly than a regular grinder, and the bottom half of the stone sits in a container of water. I find that with my wet grinder I have a lot more control over how much and how quickly I remove material from the blank. Using a wet grinder also saves me from having to constantly stop to quench the picks in order to keep the metal from heating up and losing its temper. I'm not necessarily saying that a wet grinder is the best option, but I like it.

Lastly, here's the most important piece of advice I can give you on this subject: Before you go and spend a lot of money on picks, tools, or equipment, read the FAQs on this site (if you haven't done so already). In fact, read them twice. There is a wealth of free knowledge there and you're cheating yourself if you don't take advantage of it.

Good luck and have fun.

[raimundo]

Remember one thing, about a wet grinder, any grinder will take a but of water, and you can arraing a dish soap bottle to drip right on the point of grinding but if you use a grinder that actually has the wheel in a water dish at the bottom, you must use this at low speed, as grindstones on high speed wheels have killed people when the stone is heavier and unbalanced due to have of it being wet and the other half dry, they break apart and send a high energy stone at whoever is in front of the grinder.

even a slow grinder that is meant to be wet should have the water emptied after use. it will evaportate anyway, but it is full of grit and steel and this buildup will eventually cause some kind of problem, adhearing to the stone or whatever.

[josh0094]

thats a good point. dont get a grinder. get a set of picks. but a grinder is multiuse. so i would get a grinder because sparkys are fun and make me happy

[PhR0Z3N_PhL4M3]

I'd suggest seeing / holding a pick in real life to get its dimensions down, When I made my first one I made it way to big, picks are pretty small and thin, so it would probably be beneficial to see how big/small different picks really are just my opinion.

[robin11]

Remember one thing, about a wet grinder, any grinder will take a but of water, and you can arraing a dish soap bottle to drip right on the point of grinding but if you use a grinder that actually has the wheel in a water dish at the bottom, you must use this at low speed, as grindstones on high speed wheels have killed people when the stone is heavier and unbalanced due to have of it being wet and the other half dry, they break apart and send a high energy stone at whoever is in front of the grinder.

even a slow grinder that is meant to be wet should have the water emptied after use. it will evaportate anyway, but it is full of grit and steel and this buildup will eventually cause some kind of problem, adhearing to the stone or whatever.

yeah I am completely agree with you

[razlex]

i'd say a grinder is always a good investment. it has so many uses other than just making picks. so assuming your a hands on kinda guy, it's a nice tool to have around anyways.

as far as buying or making? well, i'm pretty happy that i made my first picks before buying a set... and i still use both. depends on my mood i guess. besides, you get more bragging rights when you've made all your tools :P

[Marco]

If you want to take the time and effort to make picks yourself, then make them. If you want to take the easy option, then buy commercial picks. It's really up to you what you want to do.

[fuzz]

If you were to make your own picks, you'll probably feel better - more pride and save money, but its much quicker to buy them, try making one and see how you feel

[charlies]

your picks shouldnt break unless your one of those idiots that rakes like your on speed or just bends it but then jus get a burn o matic and bend it back

[ady1989]

Make the picks yourself. I guarantee the first pick or two won't turn out too good but practice makes perfect. In the end you will make awesome pics that are designed by you and made to fit your hand, etc. I suggest you stay away from a grinder and get a Dremel rotary tool. They are a bit on the expensive side but mine never lets me down. The grinding bits are a LOT smaller than a grinding wheel on a bench grinder, therefore allowing you to make more intricate and delicate cuts. It takes practice to get good with a dremel but it's well worth it. I do a lot of DIY things around the house as well and I use the Dremel whenever I get the chance. You should look into one, they are worth it! Once you get the shape down, don't forget to SAND SAND SAND! The smoother the pick the better the feedback and the better it glides inside the lock. This means the lock is easier to pick. Start with some 100 grit wet sanding paper and work your way up through the grits (try something like 100, 400, 600, 1000, 1500, 2000, 2500). Good luck!

[Jaakko]

I suggest you stay away from a grinder and get a Dremel rotary tool. They are a bit on the expensive side but mine never lets me down. The grinding bits are a LOT smaller than a grinding wheel on a bench grinder, therefore allowing you to make more intricate and delicate cuts.

I have to disagree with this bit of comment. A bench grinder is more than fine to work, you just have to know how to use it and how to keep the wheels in good shape. Juust take a look at these: http://koti.mbnet.fi/einstein/tiirikointi/tiirikanteko/. All of those were made with my 150W bench grinder, Dremel was only used for removing the paint roughly.