How BrianP makes picks (warning: lots of pictures)

[brianp]

I have been asked how I make the picks I posted on the site. I thought I would take some pictures to help explain how I am doing it better for the people who have PM'd me asking and anyone else who is interested. If you still have any questions please feel free to ask. Once again thanks for all the help I have gotten on the site from everyone. I couldn't have done it without you.



These are the blades I use and this is what my template looks like. I make it by scanning an existing pick or using one of the templates I found on the web.



This is the template glued on the blade. I use crazy glue because the water doesn't affect it when I am quenching the blade. Sometimes there are fumes but the shop is well ventilated so it isn't a major concern. In retrospect this was just a template of a pick put on a copy machine and it could have been better but I was trying to work quickly to get the tutorial done.



Here I am roughing the blade into a shape that closely resembles the pick I want. I am just using a standard grinding wheel here. Please remember to have a cup of water hand to quench the blade and keep it from getting hot. I did every few seconds so the heat doesn’t ruin the blade. If it is getting warm it is time to dip.



Here's just one more pic at the grinding wheel shaping the pick to an approximate shape.



Notice the dremel I use is mounted to a bench. This gives a much higher degree of accuracy when using the dremel. I couldn't imagine using a dremel without it mounted when making picks. I am just using a standard dremel grinding wheel to get the detail closer. Go slow and don’t cut, think of it more like shaving the metal off. The hose is attached to a giant vacuum that catches the debris.



This is the pick after being roughed into shape. Because I used a so-so template the handle is too wide right now. Not until I am ready to polish do I notice it. It doesn't pay to be in a hurry. The paper is still glued onto the blade at this time.



Here's a close up of the blade after being roughed into shape.



This is the 3M deburring wheel I use to remove the paint, paper and any residual sharp edges. It leaves the pick sanded to about 600 grit. This is the biggest help and makes working with metal a dream.



Here's the pick with some of the paint and paper removed but still needing a little more work.



Now I use the dremel with a kratex bit to get the finishing touches on the areas that need more detail then the 3M deburring wheel can do. I shape the kratex bit with a grinding stone to make it easier to get into the small areas. Just hold part of an old grinding wheel against the bit while it is spinning and you can get whatever shape you need.



This is the pick before being getting the final polish and the handle is still too wide. I just noticed it at this point and I took care of it. I make the handles 5/16" wide.



Here's the polishing compound I use on the picks. I actually use #2, #6 and an finer jewelry rouge we get from a mail order house. You'll notice this isn't the wheel I am using in the next picture. The next wheel you will see is the finish wheel.



Here I am on the final finish wheel working to get the shine just right. This wheel is a 6" polish wheel you can find at lowes for about $6.



Here is the finished pick. It actually got a once over on the final polishing wheel again because it wasn't perfect here but you get the idea.

I really want to thank everyone here for the help. I also want to thank my close friend Craig Chin for everything he taught me about working with metal and for dealing with me in the shop. Like I said, please feel free to ask any questions you have and I will be happy to answer.

[zsoutendijk]

NICE!

where did you get the polishing compound?

i make my picks the same way minus the dremel and the templates... yup i do my picks freehand with a grinder

-Zack

[brianp]

Polishing compound comes from Lowes in the tool section. It is with the yellow polishing wheels.

Thanks,

Brian

[vrocco]

Very good tutorial!!

Thanks for sharing. One of these days, I am going to get enough time and courage to try making my own picks.

[Exodus5000]

Good tutorial. While it's nothing revolutionary in terms of pick production, it's very well put together never the less.

I have a question though, I've stopped using hacksaw blades ever since they stopped selling the kind I used to buy (some unknown brand.) Now all I can find are stupid 'non-shatter' blades that are altogether way too flexible to make a good pick. I want some cheap-o shattering hacksaw blades that made amazing lock picks...
Oh yeah the question, do your blades shatter or are they non shatter?

[brianp]

Mine will break if you bend them in half. They are not the bendable ones, at least not that I can tell and the package doesn't advertise anything about it. I know the tutorial is nothing really new but I had enough people asking that I thought I would post on the process. Like I said, I couldn't have done it without the advice I got on this site.

Thanks,

Brian

[Exodus5000]

Didn't mean to minimize your work, you've done a bang up job and you should be proud.

Could you estimate at about what angle your blades break at? Do they *snap* suddenly or does it take more of a 'back and forth' motion after they're broken a bit to get it to snap completely?

[brianp]

I didn't think you were minimizing the work. I felt hesistant to post anything like this as a new guy anyway. I know there are already great tutorials out there to learn from. That's how I learned. I just bent a blade and it snapped immediately. No wiggle. I hope this helps.

Thanks,

Brian

[muskratt]

nice job. you have a niice little setup there

[freakparade3]

Your grinder scares me. I see no safety features. Where are the guards? I can just see a finger getting grabbed and pulled between the wheel and the shroud. It's not a terrible tutorial but I always like to see safety tips offered when posting something potentially very dangerous aimed at helping newcomers. Safety glasses, proper way to use a grinder, never grind on the side of the wheel, etc.

[brianp]

Your right, I forgot to add the safety recommendations. It won't let me edit it to add them now either. I do wear safety glasses always and I highly recommend them. I wouldn't grind a piece of metal without them. The risk is too great. As for the guards, it isn't primarily my equipment. It is a small shop setup in the back of my job where jewelry is made from time to time. The guy who uses it normally, has it setup for himself and I really only use it for small projects like this. I realize the risks associated and I try to be as conscientious about the safety defects. I guess I was aiming this tutorial at people who were already making picks that had asked about it. I should have figured that some people would use this who weren't experienced with the equipment. Good point and well taken. Hopefully, whoever uses this thread will read this far. Thanks for the heads up freakparade3.

BrianP

[gstrendkill]

like i said before, wonderful craftsmanship.

safety first of course

[dougfarre]

I cant wait till the picks i ordered arrive

[LockNewbie21]

Great Post mate, your polishing job is very good.

[rekonstrukted]

great post mate, i've been wondering about the polishing bit myself.

here's my question though. i purchased a few of those same hacksaw blades awhile back. do yours retain their sturdiness? the reason i ask is because when i first bought mine, i could bend them and they straighten right back out on their own. now if i bend them they hold shape. they are the exact same brand carbon steel blades. has anyone else ran into this?