Making a tubular pick; update 2

[Kranmer]

I wanted to post a few quick pics before getting to the next step, I appreciate the feedback. before I get it for taking all this time to build this, keep in mind I have nothing but time on my hands and nothing better to do

Being the tinkerer that I am, I started this last night, its now got the ways cut for the pins, I cut the key-way slots for the torque pin and knurled the handle albeit it came out horrible, its a grip..

I used my little CNC to cut the ways, they are shallow - just enough for the pins to slide with out coming out the ways. Everything was done by hand manually, I figured it would be a real pain to do a cad drawing so.. eyeballing and careful setting in an easy jig made all 7 ways happen in about 20 minutes.

its now a search for the perfect pins, I was going to use bobby pins but we have none here so I am going to look around to see what I have in scrap bins, if all else fails I am going to have to buy bobby pins I guess. It seems to be the choice for those who build their own.

For the locking part I am going to make a simple slip lock with a set screw that will tighten just like a chuck or spindle nut..

Included is a picture of the lathe I am using, its in my garage/shop, my get away if you will. I'm a machining and electronics nut and very serious about my hobbies AND have a very supportive wife to boot!









Enjoy..
more to come..

[hydruh]

<drool>

Wow, Kranmer. That's something to behold for a hobbyist shop.

S

[Kranmer]

<drool>

Wow, Kranmer. That's something to behold for a hobbyist shop.

S

I am serious about my hobbies

There is a CNC just outside of the photo.. Small one but its nice to have..
I dabble with robotics so its required unless I want to spend a fortune having another shop do my work.

Picking is a hobby of mine and has been for quite a while albeit just minimal, I can open most locks I come across. I see it as a mechanical matter which it is and if man made it, we can open it.

Try this one on for size.. No BS either..

I get to my home in a high water vehicle, head to the back yard where my boat is but its locked lol.. I am standing in 1.5 foot of water picking my own lock off my boat.. I could not find the keys because we ransacked the house preparing for the big one and everything like keys were packed up in some bag down the street at my friends building where we rode out the storm. Needing more boats we went back for the flat boat. I had a few other picking adventures during that event but it was LE sanctioned before people get up in arms and I was also LE at that time too.

Ahhhh!!!!

Thinking back, I have pictures of a massive safe we had to open after it soaked for a month in SALT WATER.

Would that go over ok here????

Belonged to a very close friend that owned a competition gun store in the worst hit area of LA. It was full of cash and guns, lots of cash which came out in the form of bricks of paper hard as rocks.

If interested I can detail the drilling and such, it was a monster jewelers safe, made in France by Fichet - Bauche. No relocker but the armor was serious and with out a center lubed bit, we had to peel after I destroyed about 300 bucks in drill bits. I was drilling in the right spot though We wont mention those specifics here.

[BraveHeart.]

wow nice

im jealous



how did you make the slots for the pins?

[lunchb0x]

maybe instead of bobby pins you can use small lengths of spring steel? looks like its coming along nicely.

as for the safe, it can only be discussed in the advanced section, sounds like you would of had fun opening it though

[Squelchtone]

very nice shop you have there.

I do want to ask you to keep this thread in 1 post instead of starting a new post each time. just got to an existing post and hit Reply. It will be difficult to track your progress as your 3 threads get pushed down by other users threads. Keep adding photos to that newest thread, that way we can follow along and I'm sure as speak for everyone when I say that we can't wait to see how it comes out.

thanks,
Squelchtone

[Kranmer]

I will do that, thanks for letting me know..


I have a question for everyone.. What would you use for the pins?? I was thinking of unwinding a clock spring and hammering it to remove the radius bend but I dont have any more clock parts left lol. I am outa ideas with the exception of spending money on bobby pins which is not a big deal except I dont feel like making a trip - gas prices you know

I also understand that the bobby pins need to be thinned out, another pain in the neck I would like to avoid. I can see these strips of metal I just cant think where I saw them and what they were used for.

I put it to the crowd here - what would you use?

[lunchb0x]

maybe use hacksaw baldes and grind them down to be thin enough to slide in the groves you have milled into the pick, or windshield wiper blades, which will be alot thinner than the hacksaw blades

[Kranmer]

maybe use hacksaw baldes and grind them down to be thin enough to slide in the groves you have milled into the pick, or windshield wiper blades, which will be alot thinner than the hacksaw blades

I thought about hacksaw blades but its such a pain to cut them down to size. I was thinking the top of a paint can would yield thin enough strips if I use my shears..

[Kranmer]

Too thin and flimsy.

Next..

[wolfie]

the wiperblade thing may work o.O and true, that hacksaw blades are a pain to cut unless you got an airpowered cutoff saw

[Kranmer]

the wiperblade thing may work o.O and true, that hacksaw blades are a pain to cut unless you got an airpowered cutoff saw

I do have one but it is such a pain in the neck that I rather wait for another suggestion.. I also dont have any wipers laying around and this waiting thing is killing me - I want to get it done.

Something I need to make is a shear, that is something I have been needing for a while now. If I had one of those this whole problem would be void.

[steve0527]

I would trade my wife for a shop like that

[steve0527]

the wiperblade thing may work o.O and true, that hacksaw blades are a pain to cut unless you got an airpowered cutoff saw

I do have one but it is such a pain in the neck that I rather wait for another suggestion.. I also dont have any wipers laying around and this waiting thing is killing me - I want to get it done.

Something I need to make is a shear, that is something I have been needing for a while now. If I had one of those this whole problem would be void.

I have a shear at work I might be able to cut you stuff what do you need cut like size material and such.

[Kranmer]

Here are pictures of the ..keeper?? Its similar to a collett as it pushes together and compresses down onto the shaft and uses a single #4-40 hex head to lock the entire thing in place.





I appreciate your generous comments on the shop, it really keeps me sane these days. in fact it has kept me sane for some time, no sooner did we get the house I started building the bench before anything else was done on the house lol.. The entire kitchen was torn out but i was building the bench in the shop

I have been collecting tools and such for years. My CNC was a machine that was paid for by Pfizer believe it or not. One of my friends built their viagra display for a convention and used the CNC to cut out these little blue plexiglass men HAHA!! 50 of them!!

he didnt need the machine anymore and gave it to me along with the display when they were done with it. I salvaged stepper motors, controllers, little blue men, vacuum fl displays, etc.. was a great gig.. You would be amazed at how much money they paid out for that display too. it didnt hurt a bit to give me that CNC.

So Steve, is your Wife hot???




more to come....as soon as I figure out what I am going to use. I might hit Harbor Freight tomorrow and see what they have that I can tear apart for good pins..