Shrub basic guide to lock pick making

[c2nah]

You should check the slideshow by clicking on Kaotic's graphic above on page 2 of this thread. Those picks are som NSB's baby. You would never find as nice a pick mass produced.

I build pcs as another hobby besides picking and some other things, and love the satisfaction of creating/building a custom PC the way I want it, much more than buying a prebuilt rig Even if it only need a few tweaks, it just isn't mine unless I built it from scratch. Our homebrew pics are a work of art and provide a means of expressing ourselves. So far I have made some torquing wrenches from windshield wiper bladesI have some ideas for picks for certain locks that I would have to make because the mass produced ones would not be so specific. I did buy my first set from Southord and like them. Now that I have watched the video and read this post. I feel more prepared to venture into picks.

Thanks Shrub for such a detailed post! You have been more help to me than the video which was good as well.

[Sansenoi]

I was just messing around in my garden shed, deciding what to throw out and what to keep. I picked up my old lawn and leaf rake that had been ran over by a automobile. I picked up the end with the long metal tines and was about to toss it when I saw (insert bright flash and lightbulb over head here) dozens of picks looking out at me from within all those thin, long rake tines.....
There isn't a safe rake in the city now......heheheheh

[no1169n]

great guide, since I think it is sort of dangerous to use a desk grinder, I have desided not too, but using a file? Doesn't that take hours?

[illusion]

great guide, since I think it is sort of dangerous to use a desk grinder, I have desided not too, but using a file? Doesn't that take hours?

Yes, it really does take ages...

Desk grinders are alright - you just have to be careful and go slowly.

[Tonka]

I read the awesome post that started this thread and many of the amplifying comments, but one question lingers that I could use some help with. Has anyone ever bought sheet metal to make their picks, and if so, what material, specifically, did you use? Hacksaw blades have been working pretty well for me, but I am looking to get some sheet metal to allow me a little more flexibility to make wider, ergonomically shaped handles. I have had some success, but need something just a little wider than the saw blades allow for. I can't wait to get some sheet metal to bring my idea to fruition so I can take some pics of my work and post them here since I think others might like what I have in mind. The problem is, there are various types of sheet metal. I am leaning towards cold rolled, steel sheet metal in the .020-.025 thickness range since although there is comparable stainless sheet metal available, I think I would prefer the extra rigidity steel offers since I am not kept up at night worrying about a little rust. Anyone got any ideas?

[blade10327]

where do i get street sweeper bristles??

[MBI]

where do i get street sweeper bristles??

Look in the gutter after one of the big street sweeper trucks drives past. Bristles break off their brushes all the time. That's how I made my first picks, a loooong time ago.

[Jaakko]

where do i get street sweeper bristles??

Look in the gutter after one of the big street sweeper trucks drives past. Bristles break off their brushes all the time. That's how I made my first picks, a loooong time ago.

Or walk to the place where the street sweepers are stored and ask from there. You might get a whole sweeper thingie for free from the dumpster if you just ask

[ialma]

I would also add some nose protection to Shrub's list.
I've been intensively hand filing for a month or so and my nostrils have been literally full of steel dust, which gave me a kind of rinitis.
This kind of dust mask is pollen proof, so it must be able to block steel dust as well.
Peace

[skylar]

Hi,

I have read this guide and made multiple pick using the guide. The problem is that all the picks I have made in the last few days have all cracked. I would like to know if I could be using bad hack saw blades. Could anyone tell me the blades they are using so I can go buy some?

[SquallLHeart]

the failures could be from different reasons... from having a material that's too hard and brittle.. making the pick without undercuts to reduce stress on the pick shape... or you could be just manhandling the pick while using it.

do you have pictures?

[Agent47]

I'm using a file because thats all i have and i was wondering if annealing the metal multiple times would help me. Could it damage the metal?

[CarsonReidDavis]

Agent47,

What exactly do you need help with? Do you feel like it is taking you a long time to file your picks and you want to reduce the time involved by annealing the metal before filing it? If so, annealing should soften the metal and make it easier to work with. However you will have to be careful, because the resulting pick will also be soft and bendy, which is not typically a desirable quality. To remedy this you can try reheating the finished pick and then quenching it in ice water. However, although this might work, it could also leave you with a brittle and easily breakable pick; it all depends on the temperatures you reach and the initial composition of the steel. You should try it and tell us how it goes. As a side note, you might also consider case hardening your picks.

See this website for a simple description of hardening and tempering: http://www.technologystudent.com/equip1/heat1.htm.

Good luck, and Happy Picking!

[annavictoriajohn]

Great guide Shrub. Thanks for making it comprehensive and easy to read.

[lucysmith]

Nice guide. Been through about this but this is good.
Thanks!